Breslin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The Irish surname Breslin is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic name Ó Breisláin, or "descendant of Breisleán."

Early Origins of the Breslin family

The surname Breslin was first found in Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel where the O'Breislein Sept, branch of the Cenél Enda held the district of Fanad, located in the Barony of Kilmacrenan. They were one of the principal Brehon families of Ireland, mentioned frequently by the Four Masters. Brehons served as judges, ambassadors and negotiators, brokering deals and treaties, and settling disputes between the feudal lords of medieval Ireland. They were the interpreters of Brehon law.

Early History of the Breslin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breslin research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1260, 1306, 1307 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Breslin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breslin Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Breslin family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including O'Breislein, O'Berislein, O'Breslin, Breslin and others.

Early Notables of the Breslin family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

the Breslin family, Chiefs of Fanad

Breslin Ranking

In the United States, the name Breslin is the 10,657^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Breslin migration to the United States +

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Breslin:

Breslin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Breslin, who settled in Virginia in 1765

Breslin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Patrick Breslin, who landed in New York in 1824 2
Ann Breslin, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Donegal, Ireland, in 1893
Annie Breslin, aged 18, who landed in America, in 1895
Annie Breslin, aged 50, who settled in America, in 1895

Breslin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Bernard Breslin, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Tyrone, in 1900
Bridget Breslin, aged 23, who landed in America from Donegal, in 1905
Annie Breslin, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Donegal, Ireland, in 1908
Agnes Breslin, aged 18, who landed in America from Elphm, Ireland, in 1910
Annie Breslin, aged 22, who landed in America from Ballina, Ireland, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Breslin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Breslin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Breslin, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
Mr. James Breslin, aged 1 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Louisa" departing 8th May 1847 from Limerick, Ireland; the ship arrived on 25th June 1847 but he died on board 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Breslin (post 1700) +

Jimmy Breslin (1929-2017), American columnist and novelist who won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
Herbert Breslin (1924-2012), American music industry executive
Abigail Breslin (b. 1996), American child actor
Spencer Breslin (b. 1992), American actor
Joseph R. Breslin, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 7th District, 1970 4
John J. Breslin Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1932, 1940, 1944, 1948 4
James E. Breslin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1972 4
James A. Breslin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1948; Mayor of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, 1955 4
Edward J. Breslin, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 32nd District, 1928 4
Corry Breslin, American politician, Burgess of Lansford, Pennsylvania, 1933-35 4
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 66)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html