Surname Breese - Meaning and Origin

Breese: What does the surname Breese mean?

Breese is a surname of Welsh origin, derived from the name "Ap Rhys" meaning "son of Rhys." In Welsh, "ap" or "ab" means "son of," and "Rhys" is a common Welsh first name, meaning "enthusiasm" or "ardor". The surname has undergone several spelling variations over centuries, especially as members of the family moved to different regions. The surname is more commonly found in the form 'Rees', 'Reece', or 'Rhys' in Wales and 'Price' in England. Over time, pronunciation and Anglicization resulted in the current form "Breese". The name could also be locational originating from the place 'Brize' or 'Brysa' in Oxfordshire. Like many surnames, Breese may provide historical links to a geographical area, denote a familial relationship, or indicate a profession, but its exact lineage is unique to each individual who bears it.

Breese: Where does the name Breese come from?

The surname Breese predominantly originates from Britain, specifically Wales and England. The last name is a variant of the Welsh name "Ap Rhys" which translates to "Son of Rhys". Over time, spelling variations such as "Prys", "Prees", and "Breese" were developed due to the lack of strict rules for spelling in the middle-ages.

Rhys, a common Welsh first name, means "enthusiasm" in Welsh. Therefore, the surname Breese can be interpreted as "Son of the Enthusiastic One".

Although the Breese family originated in Wales, many families bearing the last name immigrated to other parts of the world due to political and economic struggles. Notably, in the 17th century, many Welsh moved to the New World (the Americas). Today, the Breese surname is most common in the United States, followed by England and Australia. Genealogical records indicate a higher prevalence of the surname in the US states of Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York. In spite of these migrations, the last name Breese is still considered to be relatively uncommon overall.

Variations of the surname Breese

The surname Breese has different variants and spelling due to regional differences, typos, or translation techniques. Variants of this surname involve: Brees, Breese, Breece, Breez, Bree, Bris, and Bruce. Other similar sounding surnames such as Brice or Bryce can also be associated with Breese.

In some cases, the surname Breese might be anglicized or modified form of a foreign surname. For example, it can be derived from the Dutch surname 'Brise', French surname 'Bris', or the Welsh name "Ap Rhys" becoming 'Price' in English, which can also be spelled 'Prys' or 'Pryse'.

Genealogically, the surname Breese is found in many records under different spellings and forms due to human error or interpretation, including Breez, Breze, Brews, Brice etc. Sometimes, it was also spelled phonetically or recorded as it sounded to the clerk or scribe.

In Old English, the surname could be related to the word "brēost", indicating "chest, front part of body", and thus may relate to this human trait in its origin. Each variant of Breese carries a unique heritage and source, providing a rich house of shared and diverse histories.

Famous people with the name Breese

• Katherine Breese: American film director, producer, post-production supervisor, and editor.
• Charles Breese: American film producer and editor.
• Philip Heywood Breese: American attorney and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.
• Arthur Breese: American journalist and author.
• Wesley Breese: American film editor and assistant director.
• Irving Breese: American actor and comedian.
• Nehemiah Breese: American farmer and politician.
• Coleen Breese: American actress.
• Earl Breese: American stage, silent film, and sound film actor.
• Richard Breese: English businessman and boardgame designer.
• Jenna Breese: American model.
• William Breese: British Army officer and politician.
• Gary Breese: American Major League Baseball player.
• John Breese: American football player.
• Christian Breese: American actor, stunt performer, and writer.

Other surnames

BreesBreeson