Bradley Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Bradley Family History

Bradley Family History

The Bradley ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Bradley include Bradly and Bradlee. This is a locational name meaning 'from the broad meadow' from a person who lived on a wide meadow. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Robert de Bradeleye of Cambridge, England, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273 and a Willemus Brodelegh who was recorded in the 'Poll Tax', of the West Riding of Yorkshire, in 379. In Scotland John de Bradely rendered homage at Berwick in 1291. In Ireland Bradley is taken from the Gaelic surname O'Brollachain. In a few places, notably County Derry, it is called O'Brallaghan. The Sept originated in both County Derry and in County Cork, although the modern homeland is in Counties Tyrone and Donegal.The Bradley family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Bradley descendants.