The given name Britney is an English name derived from the Celtic words "bry" meaning hill, and "tan" meaning small or little. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 10th century in Britain.

In ancient texts, the name appears as "Brihtny" in the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book lists a landowner named Brihtny in the county of Yorkshire.

The name Britney grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly among the nobility and upper classes in England. Britney de Vere, born in 1212, was a notable figure from this era, serving as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Eleanor of Provence.

During the Renaissance period, the name Britney appeared in various literary works. William Shakespeare's play "Henry VI, Part 2" features a character named Britney, believed to be based on a real person from the 15th century.

In the 17th century, Britney Cartwright (1635-1702) was a renowned English botanist and one of the first women to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1697.

The name Britney also has ties to the American colonies. Britney Winthrop (1678-1732) was a notable figure in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, known for her work in promoting education and establishing one of the first schools for girls in the colonies.

In more recent history, Britney Cooper (1892-1986) was an influential American civil rights activist and one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.