The Anglo-Saxon name Bream comes from the family having resided in Gloucestershire, where they held the manor and lands of Breme in the village and parish of that name. It is from the manorial name from which the family name is derived. The name Breme meant fierce, or vigorous.
The surname Bream was first found in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bream research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bream History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bream has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Breame, Bream, Breme and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Bream Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Breams to arrive on North American shores:
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: