BROOM
The surname Broom is of English origin and derives from the Old English word brom, meaning broom bush or shrub.
It is a topographic surname, given to a person who lived near a place where broom shrubs grew in abundance, or who was involved in the manufacture or sale of brooms. In some instances it may have also been used as a nickname for someone with a broom‑like appearance or a profession that involved brooms.
The name is also locational, referring to various villages and settlements named Broom, Broome or Brome in England. Notable examples include Broom in Bedfordshire, Durham and Worcestershire; Broome in Norfolk, Shropshire and Warwickshire; and Brome in Suffolk. These places are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Brume or Brom and all carry the same meaning – "place of broom" or gorse.
Historical evidence for the surname dates back to the late 12th century. The earliest recorded spelling is that of Robert de Brome in the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire in 1193, during the reign of King Richard I. In 1618 the christening of Thomas Broom was recorded at All Hallows, Honey Lane, London, and by 1635 Roger Broome, a Londoner, had left for the New World aboard the Truelove.
In the 13th and 14th centuries the Broom family held a lordship over a manor in Worcestershire, with the family seat recorded during the reign of King John. By the early modern period the surname was common throughout the Midlands and Southern England, particularly in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Sussex.
English emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries brought many bearers of the surname to the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Recent census data show the greatest number of individuals named Broom live in the United States, followed by England and then Australia.
Spelling variants of the surname include Broome, Brome and Broomes. These differences arose from the phonetic spelling practices of scribes and clerks and from regional accents. The surname may also be related to Bloom or Blum in some cases where Jewish families altered their names upon immigration. Occupationally related names are Broomer, Broomman and Broomseller.
Thus, the surname Broom reflects a deep connection to the natural environment of the British Isles and to the occupations and communities of its early bearers.
Typical given names associated with the Broom surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Charlotte
- Claire
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jane
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Broom in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 5,661 people named Broom in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,673rd most common surname in Britain. Around 87 in a million people in Britain are named Broom.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Broom
- Christina Broom - Photographer (1862 to 1939)
- Donald Broom - Biologist
- Mark Broom - Techno musician and DJ
- Ryan Broom - Welsh football player
- Ivor Broom - Royal Air Force officer (1920 to 2003)
- William Broom - Football player (1895 to 1971)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.