| ![Show Contents]() Brodwater History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Brodwater come from when the family resided near a wide body of water; this may have been either a river or a lake. The surname Brodwater may also be derived from residence in the old parish of Broadwater, which now a suburb of Worthing in Sussex. This parish was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, under the name of Bradewatre. This land, which was held by William de Braose at that time, was the site of a church and a mill. Early Origins of the Brodwater familyThe surname Brodwater was first found in Sussex, at Broadwater, originally a parish, in the union of Preston and in the hundred of Brightford. 1 St. Mary's Church, Broadwater, is a Church of England parish church that is listed in the Domesday Book. It is thought to have been built over and ancient Saxon church as in 1939, a Saxon doorway in the south wall of the chancel was discovered. Saxon doorjambs and window arches are preserved within the walls of the present tower. Thomas Bradwardine (1290?-1349), was Archbishop of Canterbury and is commonly called Doctor Profundus. His surname is variously spelt Bragwardin (Gerson), Brandnardinus (Gesner), Bredwardyn (Birchington), and Bradwardyn (William de Dene). "In public documents he is usually designated as Thomas de Bradwardina or de Bredewardina. His family may have originally come from Bradwardine near Hereford, but he himself says that he was born in Chichester, and implies that his father and grandfather were also natives of that city. " 2 Early History of the Brodwater familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brodwater research. Another 210 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1290, 1349, 1500, 1590, 1610 and 1623 are included under the topic Early Brodwater History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brodwater Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Brodwater has been recorded under many different variations, including Broadwater, Bradewatre, Brawatere, Brawdwater, Bradwater, Broadwatter and many more. Early Notables of the Brodwater familyAnother 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brodwater Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Brodwater familyFor many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Brodwater or a variant listed above: Hugh Broadwater, who came to Virginia in 1663; John Broadwater, who arrived in America in 1671; as well asThomas Broadwater who arrived in Jamaica in 1684..
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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