NameCensus.

UK surname

Breen

An Irish surname derived from Ó Braoin, meaning "descendant of Braon," a byname meaning "rain" or "tear."

In the 1881 census there were 833 people recorded with the Breen surname, ranking it #4,520 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,170, ranked #1,627, up from #4,520 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Laurieston and Westquarter, Ardrossan Central and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Breen is 4,264 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 400.6%.

1881 census count

833

Ranked #4,520

Modern count

4,170

2016, ranked #1,627

Peak year

2010

4,264 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Breen had 833 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,520 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,170 in 2016, ranked #1,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,200 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Breen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Breen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Breen 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 307 #7,502
1861 historical 376 #6,792
1881 historical 833 #4,520
1891 historical 945 #4,384
1901 historical 1,200 #4,105
1911 historical 1,071 #4,327
1997 modern 3,933 #1,655
1998 modern 4,085 #1,653
1999 modern 4,109 #1,652
2000 modern 4,078 #1,657
2001 modern 3,995 #1,654
2002 modern 4,184 #1,607
2003 modern 4,114 #1,591
2004 modern 4,063 #1,616
2005 modern 4,006 #1,623
2006 modern 3,981 #1,633
2007 modern 4,032 #1,626
2008 modern 4,047 #1,637
2009 modern 4,137 #1,640
2010 modern 4,264 #1,623
2011 modern 4,195 #1,627
2012 modern 4,107 #1,633
2013 modern 4,186 #1,637
2014 modern 4,222 #1,630
2015 modern 4,148 #1,644
2016 modern 4,170 #1,627

Geography

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Where Breens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Laurieston and Westquarter, Ardrossan Central, County Durham, Stevenston Ardeer and Gateshead. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Laurieston and Westquarter Falkirk
2 Ardrossan Central North Ayrshire
3 County Durham 014 County Durham
4 Stevenston Ardeer North Ayrshire
5 Gateshead 004 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Breen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Breen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Breen, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Breen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Breen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Breen is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Breen is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Breen falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Breen 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Breen

The surname Breen is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic word "broin," which means "sadness" or "sorrow." The name is believed to have originated in County Tipperary during the 11th century.

In its earliest forms, the surname was spelled as "O'Braoin" or "O'Breen," with the prefix "O'" indicating a descendant of a particular clan or family. Over time, the prefix was dropped, and the name evolved into its modern spelling of "Breen."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Breen can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, an Irish chronicle that dates back to the 12th century. The annals mention a notable individual named Aodh O'Breen, who was a member of the clergy and served as the Bishop of Killaloe from 1152 to 1161.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Breen surname was particularly prominent in County Clare and County Limerick. In the 1659 census of Ireland, several Breen families were recorded in these regions, including John Breen of Ballynalackan, County Clare, and William Breen of Gort Breen, County Limerick.

One notable figure in Irish history bearing the Breen surname was John Breen, a revolutionary leader who fought against British rule in the late 18th century. Born in County Wexford in 1759, Breen played a pivotal role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and was eventually executed for his involvement in the uprising.

In the literary world, the Irish writer Brian Breen (1923-1993) gained recognition for his novels and short stories that explored themes of Irish identity and culture. His best-known works include "The Lilac Bus" (1969) and "The Final Door" (1980).

Another significant individual with the Breen surname was Sir John Breen (1836-1904), a British naval officer and explorer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions in the late 19th century. His contributions to polar exploration earned him recognition and honors, including a knighthood in 1897.

While the Breen name has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Irish emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Breen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Breen 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. Lancashire leads with 292 Breens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.98x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 292 2.98x
Middlesex 68 0.82x
Lanarkshire 66 2.47x
Cheshire 48 2.63x
Yorkshire 47 0.57x
Durham 41 1.67x
Dunbartonshire 36 16.23x
Kent 30 1.07x
Cornwall 25 2.68x
Surrey 23 0.57x
Devon 21 1.22x
Cumberland 17 2.39x
Channel Islands 12 4.91x
Glamorgan 12 0.84x
Northumberland 12 0.98x
Hampshire 11 0.65x
Angus 9 1.18x
Somerset 9 0.68x
Warwickshire 9 0.43x
Argyllshire 7 3.05x
Derbyshire 7 0.54x
Essex 6 0.37x
Norfolk 6 0.47x
Ayrshire 5 0.81x
Anglesey 4 2.74x
Gloucestershire 4 0.25x
Sussex 4 0.29x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.86x
Staffordshire 3 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.18x
Oxfordshire 2 0.39x
Royal Navy 2 2.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.23x
Hertfordshire 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 87 Breens recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.63x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 87 14.63x
Everton 34 10.89x
Bradford 23 11.62x
Glasgow 23 4.85x
New Kilpatrick 22 104.27x
Salford 22 7.64x
Govan 20 3.03x
Birkenhead 15 10.33x
St Stephens By Saltash 15 372.21x
Barony 13 1.92x
Kirkdale 13 7.89x
Old Kilpatrick 13 49.60x
Darlington 12 12.66x
St Helier 12 15.07x
Ashton Under Lyne 11 5.14x
Manchester 11 2.50x
Plumstead 11 11.72x
Ulverston 11 38.57x
Ardwick 10 11.32x
Finchley 10 31.61x
Aston 9 1.57x
Beswick 9 35.94x
St George Hanover Square 9 6.19x
Wallasey 9 145.16x
Elswick 8 8.16x
Hunwick Helmington 8 135.59x
Islington London 8 1.00x
Merthyr Tydfil 8 5.79x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 6.05x
Heap 7 13.48x
North Bedburn 7 102.04x
Portsea 7 2.11x
Rotherhithe 7 6.87x
Toxteth Park 7 2.11x
Bromborough 6 158.73x
Chester St Oswald 6 18.19x
Compton Martin 6 512.82x
Dunoon Kilmun 6 33.48x
Greenwich 6 4.57x
Monkwearmouth 6 25.53x
Plymouth Charles The 6 7.93x
Sheffield 6 2.30x
St Austell 6 18.79x
St Marylebone London 6 1.36x
Stoke Damerel 6 4.99x
West Derby 6 2.09x
Widnes 6 8.50x
Arlecdon 5 26.46x
Bingley 5 9.60x
Camberwell 5 0.95x
Dundee 5 1.75x
Garston 5 17.30x
Great Bolton 5 3.85x
Litchurch 5 9.62x
Marple 5 39.97x
Over Darwen 5 6.39x
Pendleton In Salford 5 4.29x
Poplar London 5 3.21x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 13.99x
St Bees 5 151.98x
Walton Le Dale 5 19.00x
Woolwich 5 4.81x
Bodedern 4 138.41x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 5.14x
Burnley 4 4.85x
Cambusnethan 4 6.75x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 2.57x
Cleator 4 13.53x
Hartlepool 4 11.46x
Hedley Woodside 4 317.46x
Heigham 4 5.87x
Liff Benvie 4 3.45x
Penge 4 7.59x
St Anne Soho London 4 8.49x
St Martin In Fields 4 8.10x
West Ham 4 1.11x
Aldershot 3 5.29x
Bowling 3 3.70x
Cardiff St John 3 6.39x
Landrake 3 144.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 73
Elizabeth 29
Ellen 28
Margaret 25
Catherine 20
Sarah 12
Bridget 11
Annie 10
Eliza 10
Ann 9
Jane 9
Alice 8
Frances 5
Harriet 5
Kate 5
Anne 4
Emma 4
Julia 4
Susan 4
Elizth. 3
Margt. 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Johanna 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Mercy 2
Ruth 2
Winifred 2
An 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Bridit 1
Catharine 1
Dorothy 1
E.R. 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Emily 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Hanora 1
Helen 1
Jessie 1
Johannah 1
Johanora 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 55
James 43
Thomas 34
William 33
Edward 20
Patrick 15
Michael 12
Peter 12
Charles 7
George 7
David 6
Hugh 6
Joseph 6
Henry 5
Daniel 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Martin 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Cornelius 3
Ernest 3
Laurence 3
Maurice 3
Nicholas 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Harry 2
Mathew 2
Philip 2
Samuel 2
Timothy 2
Bernard 1
Edmund 1
Fredk. 1
G.W. 1
Garrett 1
Gerald 1
Goodwin 1
Issac 1
J.E. 1
Joshua 1
Lawrence 1
Lorance 1
Mark 1
Mathaniel 1
Michal 1

FAQ

Breen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Breen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 833 people were recorded with the Breen surname. That placed it at #4,520 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Breen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,170 in 2016. That gives Breen a modern rank of #1,627.

What does the Breen surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Ó Braoin, meaning "descendant of Braon," a byname meaning "rain" or "tear."

What does the Breen map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Breen 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.