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Irish surname

Broderick: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Bruadair · 'descendant of Bruadar' (the Norse Broddr)

In Ireland, Woulfe lists Broderick, in brackets, among the English forms of Ó Bruadair. His brackets mark a form adopted by assimilation rather than derived from the Irish name. Ó Bruadair means 'descendant of Bruadar', a personal name Woulfe traces to the Norse Broddr, and he counts at least five distinct Ó Bruadair families, in Kilkenny, Galway, Donegal, Wexford and Cork. In 1890 Broderick births were found mainly in Galway, Cork, Kerry and Dublin.

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Coat of arms associated with the Broderick surname
Irish formÓ Bruadair
Meaning'descendant of Bruadar' (the Norse Broddr)
CountiesKilkenny, Galway, Cork, Donegal
Other spellings10

Origin of the Broderick name

Woulfe calls Ó Bruadair 'the name of at least five distinct families in Ireland': in Ossory (chiefs of Iverk, south Kilkenny), Galway, Inishowen (Donegal), Ui Ceinnsealaigh (Wexford) and Corca Laoighdhe (Cork), the last 'of the same stock as the O'Driscolls'.[1]

  1. 16th centuryÓ Bruadair of Galway 'a respectable family'; Inishowen family still in place.[1]
  2. 17th centuryDáibhí Ó Bruadair, Irish-language poet born in East Cork.[3]
  3. 1890Birth indexes: 39 births, mainly Galway, Cork, Kerry and Dublin.[2]
  4. 1961John Broderick of Athlone publishes his first novel, The Pilgrimage.[4][5]

Where in Ireland

Co. KilkennyÓ Bruadair of Ossory: its head was chief of Iverk in south Kilkenny.[1]
Co. Galway'A respectable family in the 16th century'; among the counties where Broderick births were principally found in 1890.[1][2]
Co. CorkÓ Bruadair of Corca Laoighdhe, same stock as the O'Driscolls; 1890 births.[1][2]
Co. DonegalÓ Bruadair of Carraic Brachaidhe in Inishowen, still there early 16th century.[1]
Co. WexfordÓ Bruadair of Ui Ceinnsealaigh.[1]
Co. LimerickWoulfe: the O'Brouders of Limerick 'almost certainly' belong to the Cork family.[1]
Co. KerryAmong the counties where Broderick births were principally found in 1890.[2]

Notable people named Broderick

Dáibhí Ó Bruadair17th centuryIrish-language poet born in East Cork, long resident in Co. Limerick; about 20 poems survive.[3]
John Broderick1924–1989Novelist born in Athlone; his first novel, The Pilgrimage (1961), was banned in Ireland.[4][7]

Other spellings

Brouder · Broder · Brooder · Bruder · Brother · Brothers · Brauders · Brodders · O Bruadar · O Brouder[1]

The Broderick coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Broderick surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Broderick crest gifts

Clan Broderick Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapJD68 Classic Cap - Broderick Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Broderick Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45

Broderick surname: questions

Is Broderick an Irish name?

In Ireland, Woulfe lists Broderick among the English forms of the Gaelic Ó Bruadair. He prints it in brackets, his mark for a form adopted by assimilation rather than derived from the Irish name.[1][6]

What does Broderick mean?

Broderick is an English form that Woulfe gives for the Irish Ó Bruadair. Ó Bruadair means 'descendant of Bruadar', a personal name Woulfe derives from the Norse Broddr.[1][6]

Where in Ireland is Broderick from?

Woulfe names at least five Ó Bruadair families, in Kilkenny, Galway, Donegal, Wexford and Cork. In 1890 Broderick births were mainly in Galway, Cork, Kerry and Dublin.[1][2]

Are Broderick and Brouder the same name?

Woulfe lists Brouder, Broder and Bruder as forms of Ó Bruadair. He also lists Broderick, but in brackets, which in his book marks a form adopted by assimilation rather than derived from the Irish name.[1][6]

Sources

  1. Ó Bruadair – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/names/ob/o-bruadair.php
  2. Broderick – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909; 1890 birth indexes), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/broderick.php
  3. Dáibhí Ó Bruadair – Life, Ricorso (Irish literature database). ricorso.net/rx/az-data/authors/o/OBruadair_D/life.htm
  4. John Broderick, Literature Ireland. literatureireland.com/author/john-broderick
  5. John Broderick – Life, Ricorso (Irish literature database). ricorso.net/rx/az-data/authors/b/Broderick_J/life.htm
  6. Explanatory Note on Irish Names – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/names/explanatory-note.php
  7. Broderick, John (1924-1989) – authority record, Bibliothèque nationale de France. catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb118941196

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).