Show ContentsBreim History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the bearers of the Breim family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Gloucestershire, where they held the manor and lands of Breme in the village and parish of that name. 1 It is from the manorial name from which the family name is derived. The name Breim means fierce, or vigorous. 2

Early Origins of the Breim family

The surname Breim was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the singular name Breme was recorded in Suffolk. 3

Later, Hugo Brem was found in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221 and Simon Brim was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279 in Cambridgeshire. Again in Cambridgeshire, we found Agatha Breme in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327 and in the same year, Robert Brymme was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex. 2

Early History of the Breim family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breim research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Breim History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breim Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Breim include Breame, Bream, Breme and others.

Early Notables of the Breim family

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

Migration of the Breim family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Breim or a variant listed above: William Breame who settled in Barbados in 1654; John Bream arrived in Pennsylvania in 1866 and moved westward.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. 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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