What does Bradley mean?

Answer 1

The name "Bradley" originated as a location name and surname in mid-19th Century Britain and derives from a compound form of the Old English words 'brode' (broad) and 'leah' (wood, meadow or clearing).

While superficial transliteration of the compound word may insinuate that the name, "Bradley," simply means "broad wood" or "broad meadow," a more proper meaning of the name is derived from its use as a surname (i.e., not necessarily as a place name).

The etymological meaning of Old English surnames, as in the case of "Bradley," often indicated the place or location along the English countryside from whence a person and/or their family originally hailed.

In this fashion, the meaning of surnames which indicate place of origin often include the initial preposition "from" attached at the start of what would otherwise simply be the definition of a location name. As a matter of fact, the term "from" used in the meaning of Old English surnames was the only verifiable word-form in a surname's meaning which distinguished it from the family's location of origin.

It is thus more correct and proper to assume that any definition of a given name, taken from a surname which originally derived from a place name, infers the use and presence of the initial preposition "from" in the given name's meaning.

Therefore, the name "Bradley" is properly defined (not as 'Wendy's man,' as a previous contributor would purport, but...) as "from the broad meadow" or "from a broad clearing in the woods."

No etymological evidence is readily found on the web to support certain contributors' definitions of the name "Bradley" as meaning "short & mighty;" however, upon further in depth investigation, some websites which provide enhanced given name & surname definitions for pay in fact do portend to define the physical/personality characteristics of persons named "Bradley" as being just that: "short & mighty."

This particular contributor only speaks from personal experience when confirming that the "short & mighty" characteristics are all too fitting for persons named "Bradley," as it stands that this contributor's elder sibling, rightfully named "Bradley", indeed embodies both those physical/personality traits.

A previous contributor was well-intentioned & informed enough to describe the correct reason behind the rise in popularity of the American boys name, "Bradley," as being linked to the celebrated life & military career of Omar Nelson Bradley(February 12, 1893 - April 8, 1981), ... one of the main U.S. Army field commanders in North Africa & Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army. He was the last surviving five-star commissioned officer of the United States and the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"Bradley" became a commonplace boys name in America, more so than in Canada, Great Britain, or Australia, due in great part to the growing popularity of General Omar N. Bradley, during the latter part of the venerated U.S. Army officer's life (i.e., circa 1970/80's). By this period in popular American history, the name "Bradley" would gain and continue to retain its position amongst the top 150 most popular boys names, in America.

In a peculiar instance of what some might called "reversed Imperialism" or "reversed colonialism," the given name "Bradley" is now gaining in popularity there where it once only served as a rather plebeian place name or surname for families living near, in or around such a place. That is to say, the name "Bradley" is now commonly given to both sons and daughters of Canadian, British, & Australian origin.

The growing popularity across the globe of the given name "Bradley" (and, of its diminutive form, "Brad") can easily be argued to be due in great part to the near universal celebrity of the megalithic star of movies: American-born actor, Brad(Bradley) Pitt.