NameCensus.

UK surname

Breed

An occupational surname referring to a person who raised or managed livestock, especially chickens or other poultry.

In the 1881 census there were 517 people recorded with the Breed surname, ranking it #6,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 596, ranked #8,758, down from #6,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Southill, Biggleswade and Kempston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Boswells and Newtown Area, Bedford and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Breed is 829 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.3%.

1881 census count

517

Ranked #6,593

Modern count

596

2016, ranked #8,758

Peak year

1911

829 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Breed had 517 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016, ranked #8,758.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 829 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Breed surname distribution map

The map shows where the Breed surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Breed surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Breed over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 286 #7,933
1861 historical 356 #7,171
1881 historical 517 #6,593
1891 historical 647 #5,998
1901 historical 713 #6,189
1911 historical 829 #5,327
1997 modern 684 #7,373
1998 modern 712 #7,378
1999 modern 706 #7,470
2000 modern 708 #7,428
2001 modern 699 #7,375
2002 modern 684 #7,650
2003 modern 645 #7,868
2004 modern 653 #7,807
2005 modern 620 #8,064
2006 modern 607 #8,214
2007 modern 612 #8,231
2008 modern 615 #8,252
2009 modern 624 #8,338
2010 modern 628 #8,485
2011 modern 627 #8,394
2012 modern 615 #8,441
2013 modern 605 #8,691
2014 modern 612 #8,667
2015 modern 607 #8,659
2016 modern 596 #8,758

Geography

Back to top

Where Breeds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Southill, Biggleswade, Kempston, London parishes and Hatley, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Boswells and Newtown Area, Bedford, Teignbridge, North Hertfordshire and Charnwood. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Southill Bedfordshire
2 Biggleswade Bedfordshire
3 Kempston Bedfordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Hatley, East Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Boswells and Newtown Area Scottish Borders
2 Bedford 003 Bedford
3 Teignbridge 010 Teignbridge
4 North Hertfordshire 014 North Hertfordshire
5 Charnwood 016 Charnwood

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Breed

These lists show first names that appear often with the Breed surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Breed

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Breed, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Breed surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Breed household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Breed is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Breed is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Breed falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Breed is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Breed, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Breed

The surname Breed is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "brædan," meaning "to spread out" or "to breed." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone involved in animal husbandry or breeding livestock.

One of the earliest mentions of the Breed surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which lists a William Breed as a resident of the county. The Hundred Rolls were a census-like record compiled during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insight into the names and occupations of people living in various parts of England at the time.

In the 14th century, the Breed surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, which were tax records documenting the names of those liable for paying subsidies to the crown. This suggests that the Breed family had established a presence in the West Midlands region of England by this period.

The Breed name can also be found in the Hearth Tax Returns of the late 17th century, which were records of households required to pay a tax based on the number of hearths or fireplaces they had. These records provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution of the surname across various counties in England.

One notable individual with the Breed surname was Sir John Breed (1570-1641), a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in Dorset during the reign of King Charles I. He played a role in the events leading up to the English Civil War and was a vocal supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.

Another individual of note was William Breed (1660-1728), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Sutton Waldron in Dorset. He published several works, including a treatise on the sacrament of baptism and a defense of the Church of England.

In the 18th century, Thomas Breed (1718-1786) was a prominent merchant and shipowner in Boston, Massachusetts, having emigrated from England to the American colonies. He played a role in the maritime trade and was involved in the sugar and rum industries.

During the 19th century, John Breed (1810-1884) was a noted architect and builder from England who designed and constructed several notable buildings, including the Shire Hall in Gloucester and the Chapel of St. John's College in Cambridge.

Finally, one of the most renowned individuals with the Breed surname was George Breed Loring (1832-1904), an American inventor and engineer who is credited with patenting the first practical, portable fire extinguisher in 1881. His invention revolutionized fire safety and paved the way for modern fire-fighting equipment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Breed families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Breed surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Bedfordshire leads with 150 Breeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.55x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 150 57.55x
Middlesex 75 1.49x
Hertfordshire 61 17.58x
Cambridgeshire 55 17.25x
Essex 44 4.43x
Norfolk 26 3.36x
Surrey 21 0.86x
Yorkshire 19 0.38x
Hampshire 15 1.45x
Kent 13 0.76x
Durham 7 0.47x
Northamptonshire 7 1.48x
Huntingdonshire 6 6.00x
Warwickshire 4 0.32x
Oxfordshire 3 0.97x
Sussex 3 0.35x
Derbyshire 2 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.33x
Devon 1 0.10x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Monmouthshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kempston in Bedfordshire leads with 32 Breeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 540.54x.

Place Total Index
Kempston 32 540.54x
Orwell 27 1956.52x
Southill 27 1279.62x
Biggleswade 23 269.32x
Hatley East 20 9090.91x
Norwich St Paul 20 431.97x
Northill 16 655.74x
Hemel Hempstead 15 95.97x
West Ham 14 6.38x
Braintree 13 145.74x
Camberwell 11 3.42x
Kensington London 11 3.93x
Luton 11 24.38x
Bishop Stortford 10 86.28x
Edmonton 10 24.65x
Enfield 10 30.28x
Sutton 10 1960.78x
Finchley 9 46.63x
Tottenham 9 11.23x
Abbots Langley 8 155.34x
Bramshott 8 314.96x
Clifton 8 317.46x
Elstow 8 833.33x
Friern Barnet 8 72.14x
St Ippollitts 8 457.14x
Cranbrook 7 96.29x
Cressing 7 752.69x
Lilley 7 804.60x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 7 115.13x
St Luke London 7 8.67x
Thrapston 7 294.12x
Hatley St George 6 2608.70x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 9.25x
Hilton 6 983.61x
North Ockendon 6 1034.48x
Penge 6 18.66x
Vernham Dean 6 582.52x
Totteridge 5 458.72x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 4 22.09x
Beckenham 4 17.82x
Bocking 4 66.89x
Norwich St Giles 4 161.29x
Shefford 4 216.22x
York St Mary 4 19.36x
Aston 3 0.86x
Dorchester 3 171.43x
Hitchin 3 19.16x
Islington London 3 0.61x
Potton 3 86.71x
St Marylebone London 3 1.12x
Willesden 3 6.32x
Battersea 2 1.08x
Bedford St Paul 2 11.19x
Derby St Werburgh 2 4.40x
Gamlingay 2 60.24x
Kings Walden 2 102.04x
Leeds 2 0.71x
Norwich St Clement 2 22.30x
Rye 2 24.78x
Shefford Hardwick 2 2222.22x
Toddington 2 53.48x
Walmer 2 26.77x
Amersham 1 23.20x
Ampthill 1 25.71x
Bibury 1 84.03x
Birmingham 1 0.24x
Brighton 1 0.58x
Great Wymondley 1 212.77x
Henlow 1 62.11x
Holdenhurst 1 3.70x
Hornsey 1 1.57x
Lambeth 1 0.23x
Middlesbrough 1 1.54x
Mountsorrel 1 100.00x
Newport 1 5.76x
Northam 1 13.09x
Scarborough 1 2.21x
St Pancras London 1 0.25x
Stranton 1 1.98x
Wallington 1 303.03x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Breed surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 24
Mary 21
Emma 17
Sarah 17
Jane 15
Eliza 11
Ann 10
Ellen 10
Alice 9
Hannah 9
Fanny 7
Martha 6
Edith 5
Rose 5
Anne 4
Emily 4
Gertrude 4
Maria 4
Charlotte 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Clarissa 2
Ethel 2
Rachel 2
Sophia 2
Annie 1
Cicely 1
Elizth.Jane 1
Emilia 1
Eunice 1
Eveline 1
Fanney 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Liddy 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Breed surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Breed surname: questions and answers

How common was the Breed surname in 1881?

In 1881, 517 people were recorded with the Breed surname. That placed it at #6,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Breed surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 596 in 2016. That gives Breed a modern rank of #8,758.

What does the Breed surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who raised or managed livestock, especially chickens or other poultry.

What does the Breed map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Breed bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.