Broadbent
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a broad bent or curve, likely in a road or river.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,182 Americans carry the last name Broadbent. That puts it at #9,066 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 81,959 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Broadbent surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
4.2K
1 in 81,959
Census rank
#9,066
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,605 bearers of the surname Broadbent in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9066th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Broadbent, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Broadbent
The surname BROADBENT is of English origin, derived from a combination of the Old English words 'brad' meaning broad and 'bene' meaning bent grass or coarse grass. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive name referring to someone who lived near a broad expanse of grassland or a broad valley.
The earliest recorded instance of the BROADBENT surname dates back to the 13th century in Lancashire, England. In 1292, a Robert de Bradebent was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire. This spelling variation highlights the connection to the Old English roots of the name.
During the 14th century, the BROADBENT surname appeared in various records across Yorkshire and Lancashire. For instance, in 1379, a John de Brodebent was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns. The name was also found in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1317, which mentioned a William de Brodebent.
The BROADBENT surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Thomas Broadbent (1638-1688), an English Nonconformist minister and writer who served as the chaplain to the Duke of Albemarle. Another prominent bearer of the name was John Broadbent (1751-1835), a British engineer and inventor who patented an early design for a self-righting lifeboat.
In the realm of literature, the BROADBENT name gained recognition through the works of George Broadbent (1838-1922), an English novelist and playwright. His most well-known work is the novel "The Intrusion of Peggy," published in 1905.
The BROADBENT surname has also been carried by several notable athletes. One example is Derek Broadbent (1933-2003), an English footballer who played for Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday in the 1950s and 1960s. Another is Tom Broadbent (born 1989), an English rugby league player who has represented the England national team.
While the BROADBENT surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly to countries with strong British colonial ties. However, the majority of historical records and notable individuals bearing this name can be traced back to its English roots.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Broadbent
Among Census respondents with the surname Broadbent, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Broadbent bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Broadbent surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.4%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Black or African American1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Broadbent surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,907 | #9,066 | -1.8% |
| Count | 3,379 | 3,605 | 6.7% |
| Per 100K | 1.25 | 1.22 | -2.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Broadbent bearers went from 3,379 to 3,605 (+6.7% change). The surname moved down 159 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,907 to #9,066.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Broadbent
FAQ
Broadbent surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Broadbent?
The surname Broadbent holds position #9,066 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,182 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.22 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Broadbent surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Broadbent, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.