This interesting name combines two of the major elements which made up the Old English and Anglo-Saxon social life. It derives from the elements "Brade" which has a general meaning of "Broad", but in this case is associated with "Stoc", (a place), and implies "the big house" or more probably the Council Chamber or even Market Hall. If such a place as "Bradestoc" existed, this does not appear to be the case now, and it must therefore be considered as one of the estimated seven thousand plus "lost" medieval villages. The name recordings include William Brodstock who married Mabell Wichelawe at St. Dunstans, Stepney on November 30th 1607, whilst on July 23rd 1690, Anne Broadstock was christened at the church of St. Katherine by the wardrobe, London, in the reign of William and Mary (1689-1694). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henrie Brodstok, which was dated June 15th 1607, married Dorcas Snowde at St. Mary Woolchurch, London, during the reign of King James 1 of England and V1 of Scotland, 1603 - 1625. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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