Bradshaw

Bradshaw is a surname of English origin and the name of several places in the English-speaking world. The surname originated as a habitational name for people from a place called Bradshaw, which itself derives from Old English elements meaning broad and a copse or wood, indicating a broad clearing in a wooded area.

Bradshaw as a toponym appears in multiple locations in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, and the name has been carried to the Americas and other regions through migration. As with many English place names, it reflects the landscape of its origin.

Bradshaw's Guide, first published in 1839 by George Bradshaw, was among the most influential railway travel guides of the 19th century. It compiled timetables, routes, maps, and town information, helping to standardize travel planning during the expansion of the railway network. The name became synonymous with comprehensive travel information in that era.

In contemporary usage, Bradshaw remains a surname and a place name, appearing in genealogical, historical, and regional contexts. The name is also encountered in cultural and literary references that draw on its long association with geography and travel.