The ancient name Breeks is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name was a name given to a cheerful or lively person. The name stems from the Old English root, bragge, which means lively, gay, or active. A Norman derivation is slightly different, and suggests that the word stems from the root braggi, which means a hero, or man of great accomplishment. [1]
The surname Breeks was first found in Somerset where Walter Bragge was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1243. A few years later in Cambridgeshire, Henry Brag was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1260 [2] and later in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. [3]
The Register of the University of Oxford list Edward Bragge in 1573 and Edmund Bragge in 1601. [3]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breeks research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 110 and 1100 are included under the topic Early Breeks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Breeks were recorded, including Bragg, Brag, Braggs, Bragge and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Breeks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Breeks family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Breeks arrived in North America very early: John Bragg who settled in Barbados in 1654; Mary Bragge settled in Virginia in 1774; William Bragg settled in Barbados in 1680 with his wife, three children, and servants.