Braithwaite Family Secrets: Exploring the Hidden Roots of the Surname We weren’t able to create a summary for you. Refresh your page to try again. What does the name Braithwaite mean? The surname Braithwaite was first used in the Scottish/English Borderlands by an ancient Scottish people called the Strathclyde- Britons. It was a name for someone who lived in any of the places so named in Cumberland or Yorkshire, bordering on Scotland. What does the name Braithwaite mean? The surname Braithwaite was first used in the Scottish/English Borderlands by an ancient Scottish people called the Strathclyde- Britons. It was a name for someone who lived in any of the places so named in Cumberland or Yorkshire, bordering on Scotland. The histories of these early Braithwaite families have been described in a number of publications. Below are a few excerpts from four books which describes the Braithwaite clan and kin of Lancashire and beyond. The histories of these early Braithwaite families have been described in a number of publications. Below are a few excerpts from four books which describes the Braithwaite clan and kin of Lancashire and beyond.