Breiman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Breiman

What does the name Breiman mean?

The name Breiman comes from the Rhineland, an ancient region of Germany. In pre-medieval times, the Germans used only one name, but later they were forced by a growing population to adopt hereditary surnames, so as to remain distinct from others using the same personal (first) name. Local names derived from place names, were often chosen. They originally indicated land ownership, and frequently carried the prefix von, meaning "of" or "from", which is often taken as an indication of aristocratic lineage. Breiman was a name for some one lived beside a marshy region. The surname Breiman originally derived from the Old German word Brede which referred to a marsh. Breiman is a topographic surname, a type of local name given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

Early Origins of the Breiman family

The surname Breiman was first found in the Rhineland, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century on, the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. The name derives from the word "Brede," which describes an area of marshy land; Breymann or Breymeyer are variations of Bredemann or Breymeyer.

Early History of the Breiman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breiman research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1793 and 1794 are included under the topic Early Breiman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breiman Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Breiman include Breymann, Breyman, Breymeyer, Breymeier, Breymaier, Breimann, Breiman, Braymann and many more.

Early Notables of the Breiman family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Breiman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Breiman family

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Breiman were among of the early German families that came to North America: Thomas Breymayer, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1747; Johann Georg Breymayer also came to Philadelphia in 1752; Johann Christian Breymann arrived in Winterhill, Massachusetts in 1778..