Show ContentsBreeland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Breeland name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the settlement of Brierley in Staffordshire or in Brierly in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Early Origins of the Breeland family

The surname Breeland was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Breeland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breeland research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Breeland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breeland Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Breeland has undergone many spelling variations, including Brearly, Breary, Breereley, Breerly and others.

Early Notables of the Breeland family

More information is included under the topic Early Breeland Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Breeland family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Breeland were among those contributors: Thomas Brearly who settled in Barbados with his wife and servants in 1680; Martin Brearly settled in New England in 1679; Edward Brearly settled in Jamaica in 1685.


Contemporary Notables of the name Breeland (post 1700) +

  • Floyd Breeland (1933-2020), American politician, Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives (1992-2008)
  • James L. Breeland, American politician, Representative from Michigan 14th District, 1988 1


The Breeland Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Jesus seul bon et bel
Motto Translation: Jesus alone good and fair.


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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