Surname Breedon - Meaning and Origin
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Breedon: What does the surname Breedon mean?
The last name Breedon is of British or Irish origin and is a variation of the name Bradon, which in turn is derived from an Old English word meaning 'wide valley' or 'broad hillside'. Breedon is an ancient and distinguished surname which can date as far back as the 8th century. Its roots in medieval times in England are from the region of Devon, where the first record of the name was found in the 14th century.
The Breedon family first appeared in Devon, a county on the English West Country, and they were later found in Gloucestershire. In early records, the surname is found in various forms, including Braddone, Braiddon, Bradon, Britton, Draighton, and Breedon. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, many new people from the North of France came to England and adopted Old English surnames.
Generally, Breedon is a patronymic form of the Old English personal name 'Brād', which means "broad". This name indicates that the family were descended from a broad-shouldered relative, or someone who resided beside a wide valley or broad hillside.
Over the centuries, the family flourished and the Breedon name came to be recognised as one of the great families of English aristocracy and history. In later centuries, the family striving for higher social status gave rise to the peerage of Baron Breedon in 1710.
Today, Breedon is still used as a surname of distinction across many different parts of the world, from the United Kingdom to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisBreedon: Where does the name Breedon come from?
The surname Breedon is most commonly found in England today, though it is not a particularly common name. It is believed to be of Norman origin, likely derived from the personal name "Brutus". This name may refer to the legendary Trojan prince Aeneas, a descendant of the gods Zeus and Aphrodite and the ancestor of the Romans, perhaps referring to the fact that the Normans were also descended from the Romans.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname was in 1086 in the Domesday Book, when a man named Bernard le Brut held a small estate in the parish of Prestwood, Buckinghamshire. From then onwards, the surname was adopted by various families across the country, with some of the notable variations including Breton, Briton, Braydon, and Breathnach, among others.
Many of the families who adopted this surname were likely of Norman descent, meaning that they originated in northern France. The name is most commonly found in the English counties of Lancashire and Shropshire, while records of the Breedon family from Ireland date back to the 16th century and are now found throughout the Irish counties of Mayo, Dublin, Cork, and Galway.
Today, the surname Breedon may also be found throughout other parts of Europe, most notably in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. People carrying this surname will also be found in the United States and Canada, where some descendants of 19th-century British immigrants settled.
Variations of the surname Breedon
The surname Breedon is a variant of the English name Breydon, which is derived from the Old Norse name Breið-am, meaning “wide river”. It is an occupational surname for someone who worked on or by a river.
Variants of the name Breedon include: Breydon, Breedan, Breeden, Braydon, and Brayden.
Spellings of the name can appear to include Bréeden, Breeden, Breedan and Bréedon.
Surnames associated with Breedon include: Brayden, Briton, Breton, Breaden, Brenton, and Bretonne.
The name is not particularly common, but it is most frequently seen in England and Australia, though it is found in other countries with English influence, such as Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Individuals with the Breeden surname often have many related names. This is because the people with the name often modify it for personal preference or to appear unique. As such, individuals may also have the names: Breeden, Breden, Braydin, Breydon, Breiden, Breidden, Brayden, and Briden.
The Breeden (or variants) surname is quite old and dates back to the medieval period. It prominently appears in records from the United Kingdom, beginning in the 14th century with recordings of Adam de Bréedon, who was living in the county of Sussex in 1296.
Famous people with the name Breedon
- Bobby Breedon: British actor best known for roles in Chariots of Fire and The Elephant Man.
- Frank Breedon: Irish-born former soccer player who went on to play for massive clubs like Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wimbledon.
- Celeste Breedon: American singer/songwriter who has released a few EP's and toured extensively in the United States.
- Ryan Breedon: Professional soccer player who currently plays for Inter Miami CF.
- Tom Breedon: Professional golfer who has won several tournaments including the English Amateur Championship in 2019.
- Hannah Breedon: British actress who has appeared in films like Love Actually and television shows such as Holby City.
- arose Breedon: English rugby league player who has been playing for multiple clubs such as St. Helens and Warrington Wolves.
- Brian Breedon: Award-winning English playwright who was a nominee for both an Olivier Award and the John Whiting Award.
- Tommy Breedon: Australian racing driver who competed in both the Australian Touring Car Championship and the World Touring Car Championship.
- Luke Breedon: British historian and political analyst who has written extensively on British and European politics.