NameCensus.

UK surname

Breeze

An English occupational surname referring to a person who operated a breeze, a sieve used in sifting grain.

In the 1881 census there were 1,847 people recorded with the Breeze surname, ranking it #2,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,157, ranked #2,148, up from #2,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolstanton and Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Bolsover and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Breeze is 3,369 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.9%.

1881 census count

1,847

Ranked #2,362

Modern count

3,157

2016, ranked #2,148

Peak year

2000

3,369 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Breeze had 1,847 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,157 in 2016, ranked #2,148.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,996 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Breeze surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Breeze surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Breeze 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 945 #2,937
1861 historical 935 #2,963
1881 historical 1,847 #2,362
1891 historical 2,166 #2,160
1901 historical 2,744 #2,023
1911 historical 2,996 #1,736
1997 modern 3,110 #2,061
1998 modern 3,354 #1,995
1999 modern 3,360 #2,012
2000 modern 3,369 #2,002
2001 modern 3,286 #2,006
2002 modern 3,276 #2,055
2003 modern 3,192 #2,061
2004 modern 3,193 #2,057
2005 modern 3,114 #2,073
2006 modern 3,110 #2,080
2007 modern 3,092 #2,117
2008 modern 3,083 #2,139
2009 modern 3,177 #2,130
2010 modern 3,242 #2,129
2011 modern 3,252 #2,108
2012 modern 3,210 #2,100
2013 modern 3,250 #2,110
2014 modern 3,259 #2,122
2015 modern 3,211 #2,124
2016 modern 3,157 #2,148

Geography

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Where Breezes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolstanton, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Bolsover and Doncaster. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 002 Powys
2 Powys 008 Powys
3 Bolsover 001 Bolsover
4 Doncaster 031 Doncaster
5 Powys 007 Powys

Forenames

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First names often paired with Breeze

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Breeze

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Breeze surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Breeze household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Breeze 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

Breeze is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Breeze 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 Breeze 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 Breeze, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Breeze

The surname Breeze is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "briz," which means "a gentle wind" or "breeze." This surname may have been initially given as a descriptive name to someone who lived in a breezy area or was known for their calm and gentle demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Breeze surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a person named John Breeze is mentioned. The name also appears in various other historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, which lists a Robert Breeze.

In the 14th century, the Breeze surname was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. Some early bearers of the name include Thomas Breeze, who was mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1332, and John Breeze, who was recorded in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379.

During the 16th century, the Breeze surname began to spread across different regions of England. One notable figure from this time was John Breeze, a scholar and clergyman born in 1520 in Yorkshire. He served as the Vicar of Northallerton and was known for his contributions to the study of theology.

In the 17th century, the Breeze surname continued to be found in various parts of England, including Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. A notable bearer of the name from this period was William Breeze, born in 1635 in Gloucestershire, who served as a member of the English Parliament.

As the centuries progressed, the Breeze surname also spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as families migrated from England. Some notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Charles Breeze (1777-1853), an English engraver and illustrator known for his work on natural history publications. 2. Henry Breeze (1832-1902), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. 3. George Breeze (1846-1920), an English architect best known for designing the Admiralty Arch in London. 4. Hazel Breeze (1891-1972), an Australian writer and journalist who published several novels and short stories. 5. John Breeze (1918-2004), an English actor known for his roles in television series such as Coronation Street and Last of the Summer Wine.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have borne the Breeze surname throughout history, each contributing to various fields and leaving their mark in their respective eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Breeze families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Breeze 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. Shropshire leads with 305 Breezes recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.57x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 305 19.57x
Staffordshire 300 4.93x
Norfolk 249 8.98x
Montgomeryshire 166 40.16x
Lancashire 153 0.71x
Middlesex 122 0.68x
Warwickshire 75 1.65x
Cheshire 59 1.48x
Yorkshire 52 0.29x
Durham 45 0.84x
Surrey 43 0.49x
Essex 27 0.76x
Herefordshire 24 3.25x
Kent 23 0.37x
Glamorgan 20 0.64x
Radnorshire 18 12.37x
Suffolk 18 0.82x
Hertfordshire 14 1.13x
Huntingdonshire 12 3.35x
Lincolnshire 10 0.35x
Monmouthshire 10 0.77x
Worcestershire 10 0.42x
Denbighshire 9 1.32x
Sussex 9 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.70x
Derbyshire 8 0.28x
Devon 7 0.19x
Midlothian 7 0.29x
Northumberland 7 0.26x
Berkshire 6 0.44x
Cardiganshire 6 1.36x
Hampshire 5 0.14x
Lanarkshire 5 0.09x
Bedfordshire 4 0.43x
Royal Navy 3 1.40x
Merionethshire 2 0.61x
Anglesey 1 0.31x
Flintshire 1 0.21x
Kincardineshire 1 0.46x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.09x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Wiltshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 50 Breezes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.74x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 50 7.74x
Aston 46 3.67x
Hethersett 38 542.08x
Wolstanton 38 20.55x
Shrewsbury St Mary 27 43.91x
Pool 24 77.00x
Dawley 23 40.56x
Great Yarmouth 23 10.01x
Burslem 22 12.61x
Chetwynd 22 437.38x
Llanfair Caereinion 20 141.74x
Pontesbury 20 105.54x
Toxteth Park 20 2.76x
Wellington 20 22.84x
Heigham 19 12.76x
Guilsfield 18 119.76x
Oswestry Rural 18 75.38x
Kingswinford 17 7.69x
Liverpool 17 1.31x
Meole Brace 17 210.66x
West Derby 17 2.72x
Wolverhampton 17 3.63x
Birmingham 16 1.06x
Penegoes 16 262.30x
Shrewsbury St Chad 15 27.43x
Walsall Foreign 15 4.77x
Berriew 14 122.81x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.79x
Newport 14 74.43x
Ovington 14 809.25x
Paddington London 14 2.11x
Audley 13 21.58x
Eccleshall 13 56.33x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 13 5.59x
West Ham 13 1.65x
Lowestoft 12 11.56x
Sheffield 12 2.11x
Wicklewood 12 266.08x
Wymondham 12 42.31x
Bermondsey 11 2.05x
Bradford 11 10.98x
Cheswardine 11 165.41x
Llanidloes 11 35.90x
Pelsall 11 60.77x
Eardisley 10 186.92x
Everton 10 1.47x
Norton Canes 10 45.07x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 10 58.11x
Smallthorne 10 44.25x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 5.41x
Hardingham 9 279.50x
Horsham St Faith 9 194.38x
Moulton Eaton In 9 270.27x
Newcastle Under Lyme 9 8.35x
Terrington St Clement 9 71.83x
Woodford 9 22.33x
Barlborough 8 76.63x
Bettws Disserth 8 1194.03x
Birkdale 8 14.77x
Bishops Castle In 8 88.01x
Churchstoke 8 102.56x
Ellesmere 8 29.91x
Over 8 19.77x
Ramsey 8 27.90x
Tyrley 8 169.13x
Worthen 8 48.34x
Darlington 7 3.38x
Elford 7 265.15x
Gt Hanwood 7 350.00x
Islington London 7 0.40x
Lambeth 7 0.45x
Norwich St James 7 32.17x
Runham 7 126.35x
Shoreditch London 7 0.90x
South Leith 7 2.57x
St Sepulchre London 7 26.51x
Westoe 7 2.30x
Wolstanton Knutton 7 18.83x
Wolstanton Oldcott 7 31.75x
Ystradyfodwg 7 2.54x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 144
William 103
Thomas 61
George 53
Richard 39
James 37
Samuel 37
Edward 29
Charles 27
Arthur 26
Alfred 24
Robert 24
Henry 23
Joseph 22
David 19
Walter 15
Frederick 13
Harry 11
Herbert 10
Albert 9
Ernest 7
Benjamin 6
Edwin 6
Wm. 6
Daniel 4
Isaac 4
Stephen 4
Abraham 3
Evan 3
Geo. 3
Jesse 3
Jno. 3
Jonathan 3
SEA 3
Thos. 3
Willm. 3
Amos 2
Benjn. 2
Edwd. 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Josiah 2
Leonard 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Saml. 2
Simeon 2
Simon 2

FAQ

Breeze surname: questions and answers

How common was the Breeze surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,847 people were recorded with the Breeze surname. That placed it at #2,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Breeze surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,157 in 2016. That gives Breeze a modern rank of #2,148.

What does the Breeze surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who operated a breeze, a sieve used in sifting grain.

What does the Breeze map show?

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