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

Brehon, 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 Brehon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Brehon in America

Brehon is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brehon surname appeared 134 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Brehon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Brehon 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.

The history of the last name Brehon

The surname Brehon is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "breitheamh", meaning "judge" or "lawgiver". It originated in Ireland during the medieval period, referring to the hereditary class of judges and legal scholars who administered the ancient laws and customs of Irish society.

The Brehons were a highly esteemed class of legal professionals who played a crucial role in preserving and interpreting the intricate system of Irish Brehon laws. These laws governed various aspects of life, including property rights, contracts, and criminal matters. Brehons were required to undergo rigorous training and possess an extensive knowledge of legal precedents and customary practices.

One of the earliest known references to the Brehons can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval chronicle that recorded significant events in Irish history. The annals mention several prominent Brehons, such as Flaithbertach Ua Cléirig, who lived in the 12th century and was renowned for his legal expertise.

During the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, the Brehon legal system faced challenges, but it continued to function in parts of the country that remained under Irish control. Notable Brehons from this period include Gilla na Naem Ua Duanairi (fl. 1339-1380), who served as the chief judge of the Kingdom of Thomond, and Gille Isa Mor Mac an Bhaird (c. 1300-1390), a renowned Brehon from County Donegal.

As the influence of the English common law system grew in Ireland, the role of the Brehons gradually diminished. However, their legacy and contributions to Irish legal traditions have been widely recognized and studied by scholars. One of the most famous Brehons in later centuries was Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (c. 1600-1671), who compiled an extensive collection of Brehon law manuscripts and worked to preserve the knowledge of the ancient legal system.

Other notable individuals with the surname Brehon include Seán Brehon (1839-1923), an Irish nationalist and journalist, and Michael Brehon (1911-1998), an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a member of the Irish Parliament.

The surname Brehon is a testament to the rich legal heritage of Ireland and the enduring legacy of the Brehon legal scholars who played a pivotal role in shaping Irish society and culture over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brehon

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

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 Brehon was:

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 Brehon has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Brehon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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