Show ContentsBreaden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The prominent surname Breaden claims its ancestry as an ancient Celtic name derived from "brez" (meaning hill) and the Old English word "dun" which combined roughly translates as "hill called Bre" [1]

Early Origins of the Breaden family

The surname Breaden was first found in Worcestershire at Bredon, a parish in the union of Tewkesbury, part of the hundred of Oswaldslow. It is generally understood that Bredon was given by Ethelbald, King of Mercia, before the year 716, to his kinsman, Eanulph, who founded a monastery there in honor of St. Peter. The first listed spelling of the place name was found in 772 when it was listed as Breodun. [1] The Domesday Book lists it as part of the Church of St. Mary and had two entries: Bredon (Breodun) and Bredon's Norton. The former comprised land enough for twenty-three ploughs. Bredon's Norton was considerably smaller with room enough for one plough, about 6 acres. [2] While the Domesday Book does not list the number of acres for Bredon, a latter reference lists the parish as comprising by computation between 5000 and 6000 acres, of which 963 are in the hamlet of Bredon. Breedon on the Hill is a village and civil parish in North West Leicestershire.

Early History of the Breaden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breaden research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1204, 1207, 1272, 1273, 1300, 1372, 1379, 1638 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Breaden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breaden Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Breaden has been spelled many different ways, including Bredon, Breedon, Breedin, Bredin and others.

Early Notables of the Breaden family

Distinguished members of the family include Reverend John Symonds who on inheriting the estate of the Bredon senior line changed his name to Bredon, thereby continuing the line. Simon Bredon (c.1300-1372) was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, arithmetician, geometrician, and medic. He was a member of...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Breaden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Breaden family to Ireland

Some of the Breaden family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 108 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Breaden family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Breadens to arrive in North America: Elizabeth Breedon who settled in Rappahannock Virginia in 1725; Beatrice Breedon settled in New England in 1679; James Breden settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1772.


Contemporary Notables of the name Breaden (post 1700) +

  • Joseph Albert Breaden, Australian landholder who in 1902 acquired Todmorden Station, better known as Todmorden, a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in South Australia which occupies about 7,169 square kilometres (2,768 sq mi)
  • The Rev Canon Robert William Breaden (b. 1937), Irish prelate, Dean of Brechin from 1984 until 2007


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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