Surname Bressie - Meaning and Origin
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Bressie: What does the surname Bressie mean?
The last name Bressie is of French origin and is derived from the French term briçe which means "hedge." During the Middle Ages, nobles and aristocrats in France often used hedge plants as a form of fencing surrounding their residential or agricultural properties. The use of a hedge was a physical form of establishing political, personal, and economic boundaries. This is likely the reason why individuals with the Bressie surname adopted it as their own—as a symbolic association with the notion of establishing boundaries.
Bressies are thought to be native to Normandy, located in the northern part of France. From there, the Bressie surname began to spread within Europe and to settlements in the United States during the 1700s and 1800s.
Today, the Bressie name is most commonly found in the United States, Australia, and England. It is also used as a first name, given primarily to boys.
Overall, the name Bressie traces its roots to the French term briçe, conveying the notion of establishing boundaries. A bearer of the Bressie surname may take on this characteristic and use it as a symbol of protection or marking a significant milestone in life.
Order DNA origin analysisBressie: Where does the name Bressie come from?
The last name Bressie appears to be most common today in the United States, particularly in the Southern states. Reports from the US Census show that the name is found most frequently in Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee, though it’s not exclusive to the region. It’s also reported to be found in areas of the Midwest, such as Iowa.
The origin of the name is likely French, derived from the surname Bressier, meaning cutting or sowing instrument. The name was likely adopted by French-speaking immigrants who settled the Southern US states in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
The Bressie surname appears in records from the 1700s onwards, cropping up in the notable works of many authors, including the novels written by William Faulkner in the first half of the twentieth century.
Today, the Bressie surname is spread all across the 10 states of the south, and numerous other states of the US. Its variants—Bress and Bressye—are also found widely across the continent.
Variations of the surname Bressie
The surname Bressie is believed to be of French origin, though there is some dispute over the true etymology. Variants of the surname include Bressy, Bresse, Bressey, Bressi, Bressieux, and Bresson.
In some cases, the surname may also be spelled Bressy or Bresssy, with the former being the most common. In other cases, Bressi may reflect a variant of the French pronounciation.
Many spellings of this name are found in many cultures. In Germany, the spelling Bresse is found, and in the south of France, Bresson is commonly found. In Italy, Bressi and Bressieux are often seen, and in England, Bressy is most common.
Along with different spellings, Bressie is also seen in a variety of surnames of similar origin. Bressiers is a French surname originating from the Picardy region, and is of Germanic origins. Bressieux is a French surname primarily found in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France, while Bresson also has its origin in France, found mainly in the south.
The Anglo-Norman surname Bressey also shares the same origin, and is derived from the Old French 'Bresce'. Bressie, Bressey, and Bresson all have an English origin, and are believed to derive from a topographical name for someone who lived near a piece of dark or thorny ground.
Overall, the surname Bressie has a variety of spellings and surname derivatives, all believed to originate from French or Anglo-Norman origins.
Famous people with the name Bressie
- Niall Breslin, otherwise known as Bressie, is an Irish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and author. He rose to fame with the band The Blizzards and then embarked on a solo career in 2011.
- Ella Bressie is an American actress and Pieta Brown's best friend. She is known for her roles in the television shows "Charmed," "Gossip Girl," and "High Maintenance."
- Andrew Bressie is an American soccer player who currently plays as a midfielder for the USL Championship Team San Antonio FC.
- Billy Bressie is an American retired professional basketball player who had a career spanning from 1977 to 1984. He is mostly known for winning the U.S. National Basketball Association Championship in 1979 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Frank Bressie, also known as "Big Frank", is a Canadian sports journalist and radio personality. He has hosted several radio shows for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Score Radio Network.
- Cory Bressie is an American basketball coach and former player who is currently an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point men's basketball team.
- Garrett Bressie is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and a former college baseball coach at Avila University.
- Catherine Bressie-Gee is an American lawyer who specialises in anti-corruption legal advice, financial crime compliance and international development. She has worked in legal services in both the public and private sector in the United States.
- Terri Bressie is an American employee benefits consultant and former Member of the Thousand Oaks (California) City Council. She was re-elected in 2020.
- Paul Bressie is an American politician and former mayor of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2020.