Breit History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The name Breit comes from the Rhineland, an ancient region of Germany. In pre-medieval times, the Germans used only one name, but later they were forced by a growing population to adopt hereditary surnames, so as to remain distinct from others using the same personal (first) name. Local names derived from place names, were often chosen. They originally indicated land ownership, and frequently carried the prefix von, meaning "of" or "from", which is often taken as an indication of aristocratic lineage. Breit was a name for some one lived near a wide brook or body of water. Breit is a topographic surname, a type of name given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

Early Origins of the Breit family

The surname Breit was first found in the Rhineland, where the name Breidbach became noted for its many branches with the region, with each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. Over time, the family became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility.

Early History of the Breit family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breit research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1690 is included under the topic Early Breit History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breit Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Breit include Breidbach, Breidbache, Breidback, Breidbacke, Breidbakke, Breidbauch, Breidebach, Breitbache, Breitbach, Breitback, Breitbacke, Breitbakke, Breitbauch, Bredebach, Bredebache, Bredeback, Bredebacke, Breidbacher, Breidbacker, Breidbeck, Breidbecker, Breitbacher, Breitbacker, Breitbeck and many more.

Early Notables of the Breit family

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

Breit Ranking

In the United States, the name Breit is the 17,862^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Breit migration to the United States +

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Breit were among of the early German families that came to North America:

Breit Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ludwig Breit, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 2

Breit Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Miss Breit, who arrived in New York in 1873 2
Catherine Breit, aged 19, who landed in New York, NY in 1876 2
John Breit, who landed in Kansas in 1876 2
Peter Breit, who arrived in Kansas in 1876 2
Johannes Breit, who arrived in Kansas in 1878 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Breit (post 1700) +

P. C. Breit, American Republican politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Andrew County, 1933-34 3
Jeffrey Breit, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1996, 2004 3
Herman R. Breit, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Missouri State House of Representatives from Andrew County, 1964 3

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html