Thank you for your response. There's not much doubt that Broadus is a shortening of Broadhurst. The tricky part is figuring out the connections of the various English Broadhursts. In Ashby de la Zouch, in 1841, there were 5-6 Broadhurst families; and there were more in neighboring towns in Leicestershire and Derby. The oft repeated given (first) names suggest a connection but I don't have enough information yet to sort it out. When I have time and access to early census info (if such exists), birth and burial registrations, etc., I intend to try to sort it out. [Anybody with information is invited to share it to help us all with this complex detective story.] Melanie, anything that you can find out about your Wales/English connection will help us all establish the early history and how the lines developed. Please keep in touch as you learn more. Arthur G. Broadhurst, Vero Beach, Florida [email protected] on 09/17/98 09:20:04 PM To: Art Broadhurst/HQ/UIMC cc: Subject: Re: [BROADHURST-L] BROADHURST/WARDLE/GRUNDY; LEI, ENG; 1700-1850 My maiden name is Broadus, which was originally Broadhurst before the 1700's I presume. This info probably won't help, but in case there may be any connection, here goes: Edward Broadus and Dolly Gwynn lived in Virginia in the early 1700's. They migrated from Wales. Their children were Thomas, Dolly, and Richard. Edward's second wife was Mary Shipley. Their children were John, William, James, Shipley, Robin, and Elizabeth. John Albert Broadus was a member of the Virginia State Legislature. He graduated from the Univ. of VA in1850, and was appointed asst. professor of ancient languages.He died in 1895. That's just a little bit of the info that I will give you, since I doubt that it's part of the lines that you're looking for. Melanie