Breeden last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Breeden is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Breeden.

Meaning of Breeden

A surname of English origin, referring to someone who lived by a broad valley or wide den.

Breeden, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Breeden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Breeden in America

Breeden is the 3169th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Breeden surname appeared 11,395 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Breeden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Breeden to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 3169 3008 5.21%
Count 11,395 11,039 3.17%
Proportion per 100k 3.86 4.09 -5.79%

The history of the last name Breeden

The surname BREEDEN is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Worcestershire, during the Middle Ages. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bred," which means "broad" or "wide," likely referring to a person or family that lived in a broad area or near a wide expanse of land.

One of the earliest known records of the name BREEDEN dates back to the 13th century, when a John Breeden was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into surnames and their geographic distribution during that time.

In the 14th century, the name BREEDEN appeared in various forms, such as Bredun, Bredon, and Bredene, reflecting the evolving spellings and regional variations. One notable reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a William Bredene was mentioned as a taxpayer in Worcestershire.

The BREEDEN name has also been associated with place names in England, such as Bredon Hill, a prominent landmark in Worcestershire. The hill's name is believed to be derived from the same Old English root as the surname, further strengthening the connection between the name and the region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname BREEDEN. One such person was Sir John Breeden (1515-1583), a prominent English politician and landowner during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire and played a significant role in local affairs.

Another historically significant figure was Richard Breeden (1585-1647), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Provost of King's College, Cambridge, from 1628 until his death. He was highly regarded for his contributions to theological studies and his efforts in promoting education.

In the 18th century, Edward Breeden (1719-1788) was a renowned English portrait painter whose works captured the likenesses of many notable figures of his time. His portraits can be found in various art collections and galleries throughout the United Kingdom.

During the 19th century, William Breeden (1829-1912) made significant contributions to the field of engineering. He was a renowned civil engineer who oversaw the construction of several landmark bridges and infrastructure projects in England, leaving a lasting impact on the country's transportation networks.

The surname BREEDEN has also been associated with literary figures, such as Emily Breeden (1842-1909), an English novelist and poet who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Her poetry and novels were widely acclaimed during the Victorian era.

While the surname BREEDEN has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants and bearers of the name making their mark in diverse fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Breeden

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Breeden.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Breeden was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 88.82% 10,121
Non-Hispanic Black Only 6.28% 716
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.42% 48
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.59% 67
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.03% 231
Hispanic Origin 1.86% 212

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Breeden has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 88.82% 90.42% -1.79%
Black 6.28% 6.27% 0.16%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.42% 0.29% 36.62%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.59% 0.49% 18.52%
Two or More Races 2.03% 1.51% 29.38%
Hispanic 1.86% 1.02% 58.33%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Breeden was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Breeden, please contact us.

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"Breeden last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/breeden-surname-popularity/.

"Breeden last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/breeden-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 October, 2024

Breeden last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/breeden-surname-popularity/.

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