Bradbury

Bradbury is a surname of English origin and also appears as a place name in several English-speaking regions. The surname is toponymic, derived from the Old English elements brād "broad" and burh/bury "fortified place" or "town," referring to a broad fort or a broad enclosure.

Historically, Bradbury appears in medieval records as a family name for people from a place called Bradbury in England; as British migration spread, the surname was adopted by descendants in North America and other colonies. Today, Bradbury is found in various English-speaking countries and may also designate localities named after families bearing the name.

Notable individuals with the surname include Ray Bradbury (1920–2012), an American author renowned for Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles. His work, along with others bearing the name, has helped popularize the surname in modern culture.

Bradbury, California, is a small incorporated city in Los Angeles County, United States. The name is also used in other place names and institutions, reflecting the common practice of adopting surnames as geographical names.