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

Bretey, 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 Bretey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bretey in America

Bretey is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bretey surname appeared 115 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 Bretey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bretey 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 Bretey

The surname Bretey has its origins in France, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Breton language, an ancient Celtic tongue spoken in the northwestern region of Brittany. The name is closely linked to the Breton word "brethon," which means "Breton" or "Briton."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bretey can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Here, the name appears as "Bretey," indicating the presence of individuals with this surname during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, records show a Jean Bretey, a prominent landowner in the Brittany region of France. His descendants continued to use the surname, contributing to its spread across the region. Another notable figure bearing the name was Pierre Bretey, a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) against the English.

During the 16th century, the Bretey family gained prominence in the town of Dinan, located in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany. Here, the name was sometimes spelled as "Bretaye" or "Brettay," reflecting local variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One of the most significant figures associated with the surname Bretey was François Bretey (1592-1670), a renowned French jurist and legal scholar. He authored several influential works on French civil law and served as a judge in the Parlement of Brittany, one of the highest courts in the region.

Another notable individual was Jean-Baptiste Bretey (1718-1789), a French nobleman and military officer who served in the French Army during the Seven Years' War. He was awarded the prestigious Order of Saint Louis for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the 19th century, the Bretey family continued to make contributions in various fields. Marie-Thérèse Bretey (1819-1891) was a celebrated French writer and poet, known for her works on Breton folklore and traditions. Her brother, Louis Bretey (1823-1898), was a respected architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of Rennes.

Throughout its history, the surname Bretey has maintained a strong connection to its Breton roots, reflecting the enduring cultural identity of the region where it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bretey

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

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

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

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