Braithwaite Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Braithwaite last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Braithwaite last name
Meaning of the Braithwaite last name: broad clearing. Braithwaite is an English surname from places in Cumberland and Yorkshire, from Old Norse breithr, "broad", and thveit, "clearing". The Norse elements show the Viking settlement of northern England. As a last name it is also common in the Caribbean, especially Barbados.
Arms associated with the Braithwaite name
Coats of arms associated with the Braithwaite last name belong to the English heraldic tradition, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Braithwaite family history
This is only a glimpse of the Braithwaite story. The full Braithwaite history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Braithwaite coat of arms. Get the full Braithwaite report.
Braithwaite name FAQ
What does the Braithwaite name mean?
Broad clearing. Common variants include Brathwaite, Braithwait.
Where does the Braithwaite surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Braithwaite coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Braithwaite coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).