Show ContentsBreeding History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Breeding

What does the name Breeding mean?

The prominent surname Breeding claims its ancestry as an ancient Celtic name derived from "brez" (meaning hill) and the Old English word "dun" which combined roughly translates as "hill called Bre" 1

Early Origins of the Breeding family

The surname Breeding was first found in Worcestershire at Bredon, a parish in the union of Tewkesbury, part of the hundred of Oswaldslow. It is generally understood that Bredon was given by Ethelbald, King of Mercia, before the year 716, to his kinsman, Eanulph, who founded a monastery there in honor of St. Peter. The first listed spelling of the place name was found in 772 when it was listed as Breodun. 1 The Domesday Book lists it as part of the Church of St. Mary and had two entries: Bredon (Breodun) and Bredon's Norton. The former comprised land enough for twenty-three ploughs. Bredon's Norton was considerably smaller with room enough for one plough, about 6 acres. 2 While the Domesday Book does not list the number of acres for Bredon, a latter reference lists the parish as comprising by computation between 5000 and 6000 acres, of which 963 are in the hamlet of Bredon. Breedon on the Hill is a village and civil parish in North West Leicestershire.

Early History of the Breeding family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breeding research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1204, 1207, 1272, 1273, 1300, 1372, 1379, 1638 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Breeding History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breeding 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 Breeding have been found, including Bredon, Breedon, Breedin, Bredin and others.

Early Notables of the Breeding family

Distinguished members of the family include Reverend John Symonds who on inheriting the estate of the Bredon senior line changed his name to Bredon, thereby continuing the line. Simon Bredon (c.1300-1372) was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, arithmetician, geometrician, and medic. He was a member of...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Breeding Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breeding Ranking

In the United States, the name Breeding is the 5,350th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Breeding family to Ireland

Some of the Breeding family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 108 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Breeding migration to the United States +

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 Breeding, or a variant listed above:

Breeding Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Andrew Breeding, aged 20, who arrived in Maryland in 1684 4
  • John Breeding, who arrived in Virginia in 1697 4
Breeding Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Wm. J. Breeding, aged 47, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
  • Wm. P. Breeding, aged 53, who landed in America, in 1892
Breeding Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Jessie Alfred Breeding, aged 32, who settled in America, in 1918
  • Minnie Breeding, aged 49, who immigrated to the United States, in 1922
  • William Breeding, aged 49, who settled in America, in 1922
  • Mary Breeding, aged 20, who immigrated to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1924
  • Corinne Breeding, aged 27, who immigrated to New York City, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Breeding (post 1700) +

  • Hugh Thomas Breeding (1890-1982), American trucking industry pioneer, founder of Hugh Breeding Inc., the second largest bulk transportation company in the United States
  • Marvin Eugene "Marv" Breeding (1934-2006), American Major League Baseball infielder who played from 1960 through 1963
  • Brett Breeding (b. 1961), American comic book artist, known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel
  • Ryland Breeding (b. 1985), American actor
  • Mark Breeding, American two-time Daytime Emmy nominated composer
  • Larry Breeding (1946-1982), American actor who appeared on Laverne and Shirley, Lou Grant, Hart to Hart and Love Boat
  • James Floyd Breeding (1901-1977), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Kansas State House of Representatives, 1947-49; Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Kansas, 1950 5
  • Mrs. Floyd Breeding, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1952 5
  • Blaine Breeding, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Delaware, 2004 5


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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