Surname Brereton - Meaning and Origin
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Brereton: What does the surname Brereton mean?
The last name Brereton is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "brer" meaning abreast, and "tun" meaning a settlement or homestead. As such, the name would have originally been used to denote someone who lived by or near an area of land that was cleared for cultivating crops. It was also a name for someone who lived by a briar patch, referring to a thicket of thorny shrubs. It is believed that the name Brereton was first used as a surname in the 12th century in England.
Brereton is commonly found in the Northwest of England and in parts of Wales and Ireland. Records show the name first appearing in the Cheshire area in the 13th century, and the Breretons have remained a prominent family there ever since. The noble Brereton family have been Lords of the manors and estates in Cheshire since the 13th century, including the distinguished Brereton Hall estate near Malpas which served as the family's ancestral home.
Today, the Brereton name is more widely spread and is present throughout the United Kingdom, North American, Australia, and some other countries that were part of the British Empire at one time. For those who bear the Brereton surname, it is an indication of a strong connection to their Anglo-Saxon origins, and a proud history of living and working together in families.
Order DNA origin analysisBrereton: Where does the name Brereton come from?
The last name Brereton is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland today. Brereton is an English surname, which originated from Freyja, a Norse goddess, by way of Brereton in Cheshire. Brereton has been used since medieval times. Its first recorded appearance dates back to 1187 when a William de Brereton was documented in the 'Feudal Documents from the Abbey of Bury St-Edmunds'.
Brereton has spread and can now be found in other countries, including the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and more. It is also still found in some parts of England where it was first established.
Brereton is the 13,063 most common surname in the United States, is most concentrated in Virginia, and is also popular in North Carolina, Maryland, and Rhode Island. In England, the surname Brereton is most common in the city of Manchester. The least common county for Brereton is Lancashire, where it ranks 33rd (out of 98).
Brereton is also a popular surname in Ireland, ranking 37th there. The name can be found mainly in the southern provinces, with the highest concentrations in Dublin, Carlow, and Louth.
Overall, Brereton is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but the surname is widely spread throughout other countries as well.
Variations of the surname Brereton
The surname Brereton has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Brearton, Brearton, Brettyon, Brirton, Breredon, Bredon, Bredon, Bremond, and Bron.
Most common variant of Brereton is Bredon, which is an English topographic surname derived from the Old English words ‘breg’ meaning hill and ‘dun’ meaning hill. This suggests that Bredon is a locational name for places in England called Bredon Hill. This would suggest that the Brereton family originated from somewhere in England with a hill named Bredon.
The surname Brereton is also spelt as Bremond and Bron, which are variants of Brereton. These variants are derived from French regional surnames which are derived from the place name Bremen, a place in Lower Saxony, Germany. Bremen has historically been an important port city and this suggests that the Brereton family may have ties to the place or to the harbouring of trade goods in the area.
The surname Brearton, is derived from the Old English words 'brêd' and 'tūn' meaning 'broad settlement or wide clearing'. This suggests that the Brereton family may have originated from a settlement or hamlet with the same name as their surname in medieval England.
Finally, Breirton is an English variant of Brereton, derived from the Old English words ‘bræd’, meaning ‘broad’ and ‘tūn’, meaning enclosure or settlement. This suggests that the Brereton family originally came from a settlement or estate with the same name as their surname.
Famous people with the name Brereton
- Leigh Brereton: Australian comedy writer and performer.
- Brian Brereton: Irish journalist and political commentator.
- Kristin Brereton: former Radio 1 DJ and television presenter from Australia
- Ruth Brereton: Australian journalist and radio host.
- Michael Brereton: American actor and terror expert.
- Bob Brereton: English footballer.
- Mark Brereton: Irish broadcaster and political commentator.
- Deborah Brereton: Australian author
- John Brereton: English art historian, author and critic.
- Richard Brereton: English portrait painter.
- Richard Brereton: English artist and illustrator.
- John Brereton: British physician and author.
- Jack Brereton: English priest, author and missionary.
- Jill Brereton: Australian author and researcher.
- George Brereton: Canadian soldier and author.
- Correll Brereton: American actor, director and producer.
- Robert Brereton: Australian politician.
- Tim Brereton: English actor, singer and presenter.
- Sam Brereton: British classical pianist and composer.
- Ruth Brereton-Ely: British ballroom dancer and choreographer.