Show ContentsBreeze History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The first family to use the name Breeze lived among the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. The name Breeze is derived from the Gaulish saint Bricius, a nephew of St. Martin of Tours in the 5th century. From Gaelic, the name means quick or speedy.

Early Origins of the Breeze family

The surname Breeze was first found in Morayshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, around the 12th century. The name was originally Bricius, a Gaulish Saint of the fifth century, a nephew of St. Martin of Tours.

Early History of the Breeze family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breeze research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1203, 1296, 1370, 1532, 1569, 1570, 1636, 1648, 1690, 1696 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Breeze History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breeze Spelling Variations

Repeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. Breeze has appeared Bryce, Brice, Bricius, Bryse, Breise, Bryces, Brices, Bryses, Breises, Bryse, Brise, Briece and many more.

Early Notables of the Breeze family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Bishop Bricius of Moray; Edmund Brice (fl. 1648 - 1696), an English translator and schoolmaster; Edward Brice or Bryce (1569?-1636), Scottish Presbyterian minister; and Elizabeth Brice (Amadas) (died 1532), a lady at the royal court of King Henry VIII of England who was accused of treason and claimed to be a mistress of the king.Thomas Brice (d. 1570), was an English martyrologist who was engaged early in Queen...
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Breeze Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breeze Ranking

In the United States, the name Breeze is the 12,885th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Breeze family to Ireland

Some of the Breeze family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Breeze migration to the United States +

Many Scottish families suffered enormous hardships and were compelled to leave their country of birth. They traveled to Ireland and Australia, but mostly to the colonies of North America, where many found the freedom and opportunity they sought. It was not without a fight, though, as many were forced to stand up and defend their freedom in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of these Scots abroad have rediscovered their heritage in the last century through the Clan societies and other organizations that have sprung up across North America. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Breeze:

Breeze Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin Breeze, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1871 2

Australia Breeze migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Breeze Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Breeze, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • Thomas Breeze, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Robert Smith Breeze, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "John Renwick" in 1837 5
  • Jane Breeze, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "John Renwick" in 1837 5
  • Joseph Breeze, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Susannah" in 1849 6

New Zealand Breeze migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Breeze Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Breeze, aged 34, a millwright, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
  • Miss Elizabeth Breeze, (b. 1852), aged 18, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1870 7
  • Miss Hannah Breeze, (b. 1856), aged 14, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1870 7
  • Mr. Matthew Breeze, (b. 1830), aged 40, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd December 1870 8
  • Mr. John Breeze, (b. 1850), aged 20, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd December 1870 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Breeze (post 1700) +

  • Joe Breeze (1953-1988), American bicycle designer and bicycling advocate, inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1988
  • William Breeze (b. 1955), American musician and occultist
  • Theresa Breeze, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1916 9
  • Cleo N. Breeze, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1980 9
  • Carl Breeze (b. 1979), British auto racing driver
  • Michaela Alica Breeze MBE (b. 1979), British two-time gold, three-time silver and bronze medalist weightlifter
  • Matthew Christopher Breeze (b. 1972), Australian association football referee

Victoria steamboat disaster
  • Thomas Breeze, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881


The Breeze 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: Fiat justitia
Motto Translation: Let justice be done.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN RENWICK 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837JohnRenwick.htm
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SUSANNAH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Susannah.htm
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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