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Bready History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Bready History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
England

The Irish name Bready originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Bradaigh, possibly derived from bradach, which means spirited, which is in turn derived from brad, which means urging.

Early Origins of the Bready family

The surname Bready was first found in Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, and County Clare where they held a family seat from ancient times.

They were descended from Olioll Olum, King of Munster who reigned about 130 A.D. and descended through a line of Chiefs and Kings to John O'Grady, alias O'Brady, who died in 1332 in the Clann territories of Fassaghmore in the county of Clare. His son, Sir Denis O'Grady alias O'Brady of Fassaghmore was knighted by King Henry VI of England.

This great confusion of names continued into the 14th and 15th century and to make matters even more confusing the line frequently reverted from one spelling to the other. The Clann seat became established at Kilballyowen in County Limerick, and the present Chief of the Gradys (or Bradys) is one of the few Chiefs recognized in Ireland. He is Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Vogors de Courcy O'Grady. They were settled in Glenstal Abbey. Many of the name were also found in Cavan.

Early History of the Bready family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bready research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1454, 1710, 1752 and 1827 are included under the topic Early Bready History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bready Spelling Variations

The spelling of one's surname was not as important as it is today. Names were recorded as they sounded and in many cases, one's surname changed with each listing. As a result, surnames often had many spelling variations. For Bready some of these variations included: Grady, Brady, O'Grady, O'Brady, Braidy, Graidy, Bradie, Braidie, Braydy, Braydie, Gradie, Graidie, Graydy, Graydie, Bradigan, O'Bradigan and many more.

Early Notables of the Bready family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Sir Denis O'Brady; Andrew MacBrady, was the first bishop of Kilmore in 1454; Fiachra MacBrady (c.1710), Gaelic poet; James Bernard MacBrady, Count of the Holy Roman Empire...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bready Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bready migration to the United States +

Irish families fled the English-colonized Ireland in record numbers during the 19th century for North America. Many of those destitute families died from disease during, and even shortly after, the long journey. Although those that immigrated before the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s often were granted a tract of land, those that arrived later were generally accommodated in urban centers or in work camps. Those in the urban centers would labor in the manufacturing sector, whereas those in work camps would to build critical infrastructures such as bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Regardless of when these Irish immigrants came to North America, they were critical for the rapid development of the young nations of the United States and Canada. Early immigration and passenger lists have recorded many early immigrants bearing the name of Bready:

Bready Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Bready, who arrived in Maryland in 1673 1

Bready Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hugh Bready, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1773

Bready Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bernard Bready, who arrived in America in 1812 1
James Bready, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1824
Thomas Bready, who settled in Philadelphia in 1826
James Bready, who arrived in New York, NY in 1827 1
Edward Bready, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bready migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bready Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Luke Bready U.E. who settled in Cornwall, Ontario c. 1783 2

Bready migration to Australia +

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

Bready Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Margaret Bready, aged 20, a housemaid, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Macedon" 3
James Bready, aged 31, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Constance" 4
J. Bready, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constance" in 1849 4
Margaret Bready, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Macedon" in 1849 3
James Bready, English convict from Chester, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on April 16, 1855, settling in Western Australia 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The MACEDON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Macedon.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Constance.htm
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Western Australia, Australia in 1855 with 261 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1855