| ![Show Contents]() Briest History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Germany
Etymology of BriestWhat does the name Briest mean? The name Briest comes from Prussia, a historic region that originally encompassed the coastal lands of the southeast Baltic, but over time expanded to include much of Poland and the majority of Germany. In pre-medieval times, these Prussians used only one name, but later they were forced by a growing population to adopt hereditary surnames so that they would remain distinct from the many others with the same first name. Local 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. Briest was a name for some one lived in Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany. By the 19th century, Brandenburg-Prussia had incorporated East Prussia, West Prussia and many other German territories. Moreover, in the late 19th century, it led the German states in the unification of Germany. Early Origins of the Briest familyThe surname Briest was first found in Brandenburg, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power. Early History of the Briest familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Briest research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1821 is included under the topic Early Briest History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Briest Spelling VariationsMany 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 Briest include Briest, Brieste, Briestte, Briestt, Breest and many more. Early Notables of the Briest family- Friedrich Wilhelm August von Briest (d. 1821), who possessed extensive lands
| Briest migration to the United States | + |
The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Briests to arrive in North America, and among them were:
Briest Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- John Briest, who settled in Georgia in 1768
| Contemporary Notables of the name Briest (post 1700) | + |
- Patrick Briest, Department of Computer Science at the University of Liverpool
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