Show ContentsBroderick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Broderick

What does the name Broderick mean?

Many variations of the name Broderick have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Ó Bruadair, which is derived from Bruadar, a common Norse forename. It is unclear as to whether or not the family is of Norse origin. But it should be noted that many people named Bruader are recorded as having lived in Ireland prior to the onset of the Danish invasions, including an Irish prince of the Heremon line, from whom the family claims descent. 1

Early Origins of the Broderick family

The surname Broderick was first found in Carlow (Irish: Cheatharlach) a small landlocked area located in the province of Leinster in the South East of Ireland, where they were descended from the Ryans, Lords of Idrone, more specifically from Bruader or Bruadaran an Irish Prince of the Heremon line. His name was derived from the Irish "bruadair" which means "a dream." 1

Early History of the Broderick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broderick research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1627, 1641, 1653, 1654, 1656, 1660, 1670, 1692, 1693, 1695, 1699, 1703, 1711, 1713, 1728 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Broderick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broderick Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name Broderick revealed spelling variations, including Broderick, Brodrick, Brodrig, Brouderick and many more.

Early Notables of the Broderick family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Sir Thomas Brodrick, of Wandsworth; and his son, Sir St. John Brodrick, of Midleton (1627-1711), an Irish Member of Parliament for County Cork (1692-1693) and (1695-1699); and his son, Thomas...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Broderick Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broderick Ranking

In the United States, the name Broderick is the 3,150th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Broderick is ranked the 577th most popular surname with an estimated 80 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Broderick family to Ireland

Some of the Broderick family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 167 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Broderick migration to the United States +

Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name Broderick:

Broderick Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Nich Broderick, who landed in Virginia in 1666 4
Broderick Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Broderick, who arrived in New England in 1708 4
Broderick Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David Broderick, aged 20, who landed in America in 1822 4
  • Edward, Henry, John, Joseph, Patrick Broderick all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860
  • Martin Broderick, who arrived in Mississippi in 1843 4
  • Mr. Broderick, aged 20, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1851 4
  • Briget Broderick, aged 20, who arrived in New York in 1854 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Broderick migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Broderick Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Samuel Broderick, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
  • St. John Broderick, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Broderick Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Broderick, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1836
  • James Broderick, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1842
  • Mrs. Catherine Broderick, aged 69 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Alert" departing 5th June 1847 from Waterford, Ireland; the ship arrived on 15th June 1847 but she died on board 5
  • Mr. Edmond Broderick, aged 4 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Bolton" departing 13th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but he died on board 5
  • Mr. John Broderick, aged 1 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Bee" departing 17th April 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 12th June 1847 but he died on board 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Broderick migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Broderick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Ellen Broderick, (Byrne, McCarthy, Carthy), (b. 1805), aged 24, Irish nurse girl who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years for vagrancy, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Miss Bridget A. Broderick, (Broderip, Broderich, Broderik), (b. 1816), aged 17, Irish servant born in Cork who was convicted in Middlesex, England for lifefor larceny, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1863 7
  • Mr. Daniel Broderick, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Lancashire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 1st January 1850, arriving in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 8
  • Thady Broderick, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Osceola" 9
  • William Broderick, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Isle of Thanet" 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Broderick migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Broderick Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Broderick, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blue Jacket" in 1865
  • Miss Mary Broderick, (b. 1846), aged 20, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 11
  • Daniel Broderick, aged 38, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jessie Osborne" in 1867
  • Thomas Broderick, aged 25, a farmer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874
  • Mr. George Broderick, (b. 1856), aged 19, English farm labourer from Oxon travelling from London aboard the ship "Waimate" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1875 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Broderick (post 1700) +

  • Matthew Broderick (b. 1962), American actor, best known for his role in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
  • Lorraine Broderick (b. 1948), American four-time Daytime Emmy Award winning soap opera writer
  • Helen Broderick (1891-1959), American actress who started as a chorus girl in Ziegfeld's "Follies of 1907", mother of Broderick Crawford
  • David C. Broderick (1820-1859), American senator and anti-slavery advocate
  • Carlfred Broderick (1932-1999), American psychologist and author
  • Beth Broderick (b. 1959), American actress and director
  • Edward F. Broderick, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1948 13
  • Donald J. Broderick, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Wayne County 12th District, 1961 13
  • David Colbreth Broderick (1820-1859), American Democratic Party politician, Member of California State Senate, 1850-52; Lieutenant Governor of California, 1851-52; U.S. Senator from California, 1857-59 13
  • Case Broderick (1839-1920), American Republican politician, Mayor of Holton, Kansas, 1874-75; Member of Kansas State Senate, 1880-84; Justice of Idaho Territorial Supreme Court, 1884-88 13
  • ... (Another 33 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. William Thomas  Broderick (1885-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14


The Broderick Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: A cuspide corona
Motto Translation: By spear a crown.


  1. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 66)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/australasia
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) OSCEOLA / ASCEOLA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Osceola-Asceola.htm
  10. South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Isle of Thanet 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/isleofthanet1854.shtml
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  14. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


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