NameCensus.

UK surname

Breton

A French geographical surname referring to a person from Brittany, a region in northwestern France.

In the 1881 census there were 190 people recorded with the Breton surname, ranking it #13,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 223, ranked #18,222, down from #13,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St George the Martyr and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Springburn, Meadowbank and Abbeyhill North and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Breton is 234 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.4%.

1881 census count

190

Ranked #13,270

Modern count

223

2016, ranked #18,222

Peak year

2013

234 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Breton had 190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 223 in 2016, ranked #18,222.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 231 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Breton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Breton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Breton 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 140 #13,593
1861 historical 220 #11,076
1881 historical 190 #13,270
1891 historical 219 #13,974
1901 historical 222 #14,169
1911 historical 231 #13,636
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 210 #17,670
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 207 #17,911
2003 modern 205 #17,851
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 188 #18,866
2006 modern 190 #18,898
2007 modern 194 #18,855
2008 modern 192 #19,143
2009 modern 201 #18,965
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 219 #18,145
2012 modern 211 #18,539
2013 modern 234 #17,556
2014 modern 228 #17,977
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 223 #18,222

Geography

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Where Bretons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St George the Martyr, St John Hackney and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Springburn, Meadowbank and Abbeyhill North, Ealing, Bexley and Leeds. 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 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Springburn Glasgow City
2 Meadowbank and Abbeyhill North City of Edinburgh
3 Ealing 027 Ealing
4 Bexley 004 Bexley
5 Leeds 003 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Breton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Breton

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Breton 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

Breton is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Breton falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Breton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Breton

The surname Breton originated from the Brittany region of northwestern France. It derives from the Breton people, a Celtic ethnic group who migrated from southwestern Britain across the English Channel between the 4th and 7th centuries AD.

The name Breton literally means "Breton" or "Briton" in French, referring to the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Breton people. Their language, Breton, is a Brittonic Celtic language closely related to Cornish and Welsh.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Breton can be found in medieval French records and documents. One notable example is Jehan Breton, a French knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century.

The Breton surname is also associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous is André Breton (1896-1966), a French writer, poet, and leader of the Surrealist movement in the early 20th century.

Another prominent individual with the surname Breton was Léon Breton (1724-1808), a French painter and engraver known for his landscapes and historical scenes. He was a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts and received numerous commissions from the French royal court.

In the realm of literature, Jules Breton (1827-1906) was a celebrated French Naturalist painter and poet. He is best known for his depictions of rural life and peasant scenes, capturing the beauty and hardship of the French countryside.

The Breton surname can also be found in the English-speaking world. One notable example is Sir Nicholas Breton (c. 1545-c. 1626), an English poet, novelist, and courtier during the late Renaissance period.

Another individual with the surname Breton was Jacques Breton (1901-1981), a French-Canadian painter and member of the Automatist movement. His surrealist paintings and experimental techniques influenced the development of modern art in Quebec.

While the surname Breton has its roots in the Brittany region of France, it has spread across various countries and cultures over the centuries, reflecting the diverse histories and experiences of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Breton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Breton 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. Middlesex leads with 50 Bretons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.36x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 50 2.36x
Surrey 37 3.59x
Channel Islands 27 43.05x
Sussex 19 5.32x
Kent 14 1.94x
Yorkshire 14 0.67x
Lancashire 9 0.36x
Stirlingshire 9 11.53x
Hampshire 8 1.84x
Warwickshire 7 1.31x
Staffordshire 6 0.84x
Buteshire 3 23.40x
Glamorgan 3 0.81x
Somerset 3 0.88x
Lanarkshire 2 0.29x
Anglesey 1 2.67x
Berkshire 1 0.63x
Cornwall 1 0.42x
Devon 1 0.23x
Inverness-shire 1 1.58x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 14 Bretons recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.22x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 14 22.22x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 25.83x
Islington London 10 4.87x
Kilsyth 9 180.72x
Netherthong 9 1323.53x
St Maryde Castro 9 584.42x
Southampton St Lawrence 8 3478.26x
St Saviour 8 230.55x
St Marylebone London 7 6.19x
West Malling 7 429.45x
Westham 7 958.90x
Chelsea London 6 9.41x
Eastbourne 6 36.54x
Kirkdale 6 14.20x
Limehouse London 6 25.82x
Castle Church 5 116.55x
Hackney London 5 4.21x
St Martin In Fields 5 39.46x
Camberwell 4 2.96x
Forest 4 930.23x
Hartshill 4 1000.00x
Hastings St Mary 4 45.05x
Minster In Sheppey 4 33.44x
Penge 4 29.59x
Bute North 3 344.83x
Kimberworth 3 25.77x
St Helier 3 14.69x
Walcot 3 16.53x
Westminster St Margaret 3 29.38x
Ystradyfodwg 3 9.28x
Birmingham 2 1.12x
Glasgow 2 1.65x
Kensington London 2 1.70x
Newington 2 2.56x
Putney 2 20.73x
St George Hanover Square 2 5.36x
Amlwch 1 28.33x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.09x
Bexley 1 15.67x
Binfield 1 81.97x
Boleskine Abertarff 1 95.24x
Castleton 1 3.99x
Cheriton 1 34.01x
East Budleigh 1 48.08x
Edgbaston 1 6.04x
Falmouth 1 11.79x
Hastings St Leonards 1 19.05x
Hove 1 6.39x
Kingswinford 1 3.86x
Kirk Smeaton 1 357.14x
Liverpool 1 0.66x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 1 39.06x
North Meols 1 4.07x
Northfleet 1 15.72x
Selston 1 31.35x
Shoreditch London 1 1.09x
St George Bloomsbury 1 8.24x
St John 1 83.33x
St Michaelinthe Vale 1 44.64x
St Peter Port 1 8.62x
Westminster St James 1 4.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Ann 5
Sarah 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Louisa 4
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
A. 2
Agnes 2
Charlotte 2
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Adelade 1
Aidele 1
Angela 1
Anne 1
Cicely 1
Elaine 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Esther 1
Eugenia 1
Fanny 1
Georgiana 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Judith 1
Kate 1
Louise 1
Lousia 1
Lucia 1
Mabel 1
Marie 1
Milicent 1
Mona 1
Rachel 1
Sophy 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Breton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Breton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 190 people were recorded with the Breton surname. That placed it at #13,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Breton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 223 in 2016. That gives Breton a modern rank of #18,222.

What does the Breton surname mean?

A French geographical surname referring to a person from Brittany, a region in northwestern France.

What does the Breton map show?

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