Surname Brearty - Meaning and Origin
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Brearty: What does the surname Brearty mean?
The surname Brearty is believed to be an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Breartasaigh, which originated in County Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. This surname translates to mean "descendant of Breartasach", Breartasach being a personal name. In some parts of Ireland, the name is believed to mean "descendant of Bran", Bran being an old Irish word for "raven".
The family of the Ó Breartasaigh clan was an important part of Donegal, and can be traced back to the 9th and 10th centuries. The clan claimed a Norman incursion as their origin, and gained their power through trade and industry, opening merchants', farming, and fishing industries in the area.
Today, the surname Brearty is much less common than it used to be. The decrease in popularity can likely be attributed to the fact that Ireland's population has declined since the 1800s due to a variety of factors, including emigration due to famine and economic hardship. The surname is still present in certain areas of Donegal today, and according to some sources, it may also be found in Scotland due to high rates of migration in the past centuries.
While the exact meaning of the surname Brearty is not known for certain, its long and varied history can tell us that it was once a powerful and influential surname with a rich heritage. It is a cornerstone of Donegal's culture and past, and the legacy of the Ó Breartasaigh clan is something that will remain a part of the county's history for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisBrearty: Where does the name Brearty come from?
The last name Brearty is commonly found in Ireland. According to Statista, it is one of the top 600 surnames in Ireland, where 82 people per 10,000 bear the last name. The Brearty surname is especially common in Ulster and Connacht, two of Ireland's four provinces.
It is thought that the Brearty surname derived from the Irish Ó Breartzaithe, which means "descendent of Breartzaithe". Breartzaithe is Gaelic for "one with a broken road" or a "footpath", referring to someone who walked between towns.
This surname can also be found in other parts of the world due to emigration from Ireland. The Brearty surname is mostly concentrated in Ireland, the UK, the US, Australia, and Canada.
In the US, the Brearty surname is most common in New York, California, and Massachusetts. As of 1990, the highest concentration of Brearty families was in Illinois, followed by Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
There is also a growing Brearty population in Panama, likely due to Irish immigrants who arrived in the 19th century to work on the Panama Canal. This population centers chiefly in Panama City and David.
Overall, the Brearty surname is primarily located in Ireland. It is most heavily concentrated in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht and is beginning to spread to other countries due to emigration from Ireland.
Variations of the surname Brearty
The surname Brearty has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant spelling of Brearty is Brarty. Other variations of the name include O’Breatheartaigh, O’Brearty, Breithart, Breitert, Brighthart, Brighthort, Brighthead, Breithaurt, Brightheid, and Breitheit.
The origin of the Brearty surname is likely derived from the Irish Gaelic surname O’Breithheartaigh, which means “descendant of a man of judgment”. This stems from the Irish term “breith,” which means “judge”, and the suffix “heartaigh”, which means “descent”. The Brearty surname has been found in Ireland since the 14th century.
Other surnames that have the same origin as Brearty include Breathnach, Breathnach, and Breathnacht. These surnames are all derived from the Irish term “breathnach”, which means “of a traveller” or “a traveller”.
Many variants of the Brearty surname have also been found in England and Scotland, including Brighty, Breathwaite, Whitright, Likewright, Wightman, Wheatright, Wightrigg, Wight, and Breitwieser, to name a few.
The Brearty surname has been carried around the world, due to emigration. As the name traveled, it was sometimes changed due to accents and dialects. In some cases, foreign versions of the name have become completely unrelated names, such as in Russia and Poland, where various versions of the name Brearty are seen as Maslowska and Spasir.
Famous people with the name Brearty
- David Brearty: Irish UN worker who received a Leo English Award for Excellence in Education for his work in the Irish education system.
- James Brearty: DJ and producer who has released several singles and remixes since his debut in 2016.
- Michael Brearty: Irish architect who designed the "Brearty Roundhouse" in Galway.
- Siobhán Brearty: Irish singer-songwriter and actress who has released several solo albums and has appeared in numerous films and television series.
- Pat Brearty: former professional baseball player, Major League Baseball scout and executive with the Detroit Tigers organization.
- David James Brearty: entrepreneur and investor who founded the technology company, Brearty Solutions.
- Ciarán Brearty: Member of the Irish Senate and former Mayor of Dublin.
- Richard Brearty: British actor and director who is best known for his film roles in 'The Truman Show' and 'The Thomas Crown Affair'.
- Father Philip Brearty: Roman Catholic priest and former missionary to East Africa.
- Brian Brearty: former American football player in the National Football League (NFL) for the Indianapolis Colts and the Philadelphia Eagles.