Surname meaning

[WildBergamot]

Does anyone know the meaning and origin of the surname Badland?
The family I am researching were living in Worcestershire at the end of the 18th century.

[Hammond Egg]

Are you on genesreunited, WildBergamot?

My sister has the surname Badland in her tree, though hers are mostly from Shropshire some were born in Worcestershire.

[Quizmonster]

Many surnames were based on the place where the person who was originally given the name lived. Hence Wood, Forest, Lea, Marsh, Moss and multitudes of others. At a guess, I'd say the family you are researching were just unfortunate enough to be living on a piece of Worcestershire/Shropshire which was uncultivable...ie the 'land' was 'bad'.

[Hammond Egg]

It seems to have been on the Herefordshire/Radnorshire border - certainly this would fit in with where the Egg family Badland ancestors came from, though it's entirely possible that the name refers to somewhere else, too.


http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.js p?u_id=10171453

[WildBergamot]

Many thanks for your answers.
I had no idea there was a place called Badland. From your link, it seems my Badland family were only living about 40 miles away from the area.
Sorry, I'm not on genesreunited.

[cloudwatchin]

I live at Old Badland, New Radnor, Powys. I have been doing some research and many people with the surname have come to the farm, where they say the family orginated from. The farm was named after the Badland Family. I have old maps goingback to the 1800's, of a welsh long house and building which was located out in the field. It was known as 'Great Badland' then and was purchased by James Watt the inventor of the steam engine in 1806.