Show ContentsBreind History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestry of the name Breind dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in Staffordshire. The name is thought to have been derived from the Middle English words "brend, brent and brind" which are in turn derived from the Old English word "beornan," meaning "to burn." 1

The name may have been derived from Brind, a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, now part of the civil parish of Wressle. This hamlet dates back to 1188 when it was known as Brende, having derived from the Old English word "brende," meaning "place destroyed or cleared by burning." 2

Early Origins of the Breind family

The surname Breind was first found in Staffordshire, where Gilbert Brende was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. Years later in Worcestershire, Adam Brend and John Brent were listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and Hugo le Brent was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls for Oxfordshire in 1279. Over in Suffolk, the Subsidy Rolls recorded Geoffrey le Brende in 1327. 1

Brende (with no first name) was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1188, but no county was recorded.

Early History of the Breind family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breind research. Another 224 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1307, 1327, 1379, 1500, 1516, 1560, 1572, 1598, 1600, 1601 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Breind History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breind Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Breind have been found, including Brend, Brende, Brennde, Breand, Breande and others.

Early Notables of the Breind family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Adam Brend, a prominent 14th century landholder in Worcestershire; Thomas Brend (c. 1516-1598), owner of the land on which the Globe Theatre was built; Nicholas Brend (c. 1560-1601), inherited...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Breind Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Breind family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Breind, or a variant listed above: William Brend who arrived in Boston in 1657 and William Brend in America in 1664.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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