Where Did the Braddocks Come From?

Braddock is an Old English, Anglo-Saxon surname that dates back to the days before the Norman Conquest of England. Braddock is rarely used as a first name. The name derives from two separate words: brad, which means broad in Old English and ac, which means oak. Bringing the two names together means that someone with the name Braddock comes from a family who lived near a broad oak tree.

Last names, family names, or surnames, are rarely given much thought today, except perhaps for a woman getting ready to marry. In some cultures, women can decide to change their last name entirely, keep their maiden name, or choose some combination of names. Beyond that, few people give their last names much thought.

Surnames began during the 12th century but did not become fashionable for at least a few more centuries. Historical records indicate that surnames became important because one third of the population of Europe had one of the following three names: William, Richard or John. Surnames allowed people to distinguish themselves from others with the same first name by referring to themselves using their occupation, parentage, location, physical characteristic, or nickname.

Examples of Surnames

• Occupation: William the blacksmith became William Smith
• Parentage: William son of John became William Johnson
• Location: William from the broad oak became William Braddock
• Physical Characteristic/Nickname: William with the white hair became William White

The Braddock surname originated in England and spread throughout the world as the Braddocks traveled from Europe. Because the spelling of English words did not become standardized until the 19th century, a Braddock may also be known as Braddick, Braddocke, or another close sounding spelling.