Breyke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Breyke

What does the name Breyke mean?

The Breyke name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived near a newly cultivated piece of land. The surname Breyke is derived from the Old English word bræc. 1

Early Origins of the Breyke family

The surname Breyke was first found in Shropshire where Peter de la Breche was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1221. A few years later, Peter de la Brach was listed in Surrey in 1248 and Philip atte Breche was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. Later again, Rose atte Brache was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1309. Robert le Brechere was listed at Oseney, Oxfordshire in 1245, while William le Brechere was found in Cornwall in 1297. 1

Early History of the Breyke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Breyke research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Breyke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Breyke Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Breyke has undergone many spelling variations, including Breach, Brech, Britch, Breashears, Breashear and many more.

Early Notables of the Breyke family

More information is included under the topic Early Breyke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Breyke family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Breyke were among those contributors: William Breach junior who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1844; A. Breach arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1852; Adam Brech arrived in Philadelphia in 1743.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)