Surname Brett - Meaning and Origin
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Brett: What does the surname Brett mean?
The surname Brett is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name. It is derived from the family name of Breton, referring to someone from the region of Brittany, France. It is believed to have arrived in Britain with the Norman Conquest of 1066.
In the Middle Ages, the name Brett was applied to numerous families, especially in Cornwall, Devon, and some parts of Wales. The most prominent branch of this family was the Earls of Stafford, whose baronial line held large estates in Shropshire and Staffordshire.
The first recorded use of the name Brett was in 1273 in the county of Devon. Since that time, the name Brett has been used throughout Britain. It is one of the most common surnames in England and some of the other countries of the Commonwealth.
Modern day Brett's use the surname as a source of pride and strength, because of its long and venerable heritage. In certain circles, especially those with a strong sense of connection to the past, the surname Brett is seen as a symbol of wealth and status.
In recent years, the surname Brett has gained recognition with the creation of famous celebrities, singers, and sports stars with this surname. This has increased the public's visibility of the surname Brett and made it more popular.
Overall, the name Brett carries an impressive and noble history. It is a testament to those who have borne it, and the legacy of this one name continues to live on.
Order DNA origin analysisBrett: Where does the name Brett come from?
The last name Brett is common in many parts of the world today. In the United States, Brett is a slightly less common surname, ranking 355th in population according to US Census Bureau data. It is most commonly found in states like California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
In Canada, Brett is the 219th most common last name. It is especially common in the province of Ontario.
The United Kingdom is the country with the most Brett's, according to the UK Census of 2018. It is the 87th most common last name, a large jump from 2002 when it was the 287th most common name.
Brett's are also relatively common throughout Europe, particularly in France, Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland. In France, it is the 120th most common name, while in Ireland, it is the 98th most common name. In Germany, it is the 385th most common name, and in Switzerland, it is the 645th most common name.
Overall, Brett is a relatively unique surname throughout the world but is still fairly common in some parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Brett
The surname Brett is believed to have originated from Breton, a term that was used in the early Middle Ages in Great Britain and France. The name can take many different forms, depending on the country and language of origin. Generally, spelling variations of Brett include Brette, Bretton, Bratt, Brettin, Bretin, Bretine, Bretayne, Bretch and Bruite. Common surnames from the same origin are Bredesen, Breton, Bretell, Brettinga, Brettschneider, Bretzke, Bretschneider, Bretthauer, Brettmann and Bretton.
In England, Bretts were originally found in the area of Staffordshire and Derbyshire. Along the Welsh border, the name was also found in Shropshire and Herefordshire. Records of the surname in Scotland date back to 13th century Stirlingshire, North Lanarkshire, Roxburghshire, Aberdeenshire and Stirlingshire.
In the United States, the surname has been passed down from those with English or French roots. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many people bearing the name Brett disembarked in the US, hailing from various European countries. During this period, Brett was a common variation of the name Bretton, which was most likely derived from the Old French word breton, meaning "one from Brittany or Britain".
Today, the Brett surname is found across the English-speaking world, and variations can be found in countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
Famous people with the name Brett
- Brett Favre: an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons.
- George Brett: a former American professional baseball player who spent his entire 21-year career in Major League Baseball as the third baseman for the Kansas City Royals.
- Steve Brett: a former American swimmer who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
- Robin Brett: an American geologist and astrobiologist, and one of the directors of the NASA Astrobiology Institute.
- Brett Gelman: an American actor, comedian, and writer known for his roles in television comedies such as Eagleheart and Go On and films such as The Other Guys and Up in the Air.
- Rachel Brett: an English mountaineer who was the first woman to climb the Seven Summits, the world's seven highest major summits.
- Julian Brett: the first openly gay mayor in Britain, leading London's Vauxhall Borough Council between 1982 and 1986.
- Dave Brett: an American former professional basketball player, playing at the center position for the National Basketball Association (NBA) Boston Celtics.
- George Brett Jr.: an American businessman and executive best known as the President of George Brett Enterprises and Chief operating officer of the Kansas City Royals.
- David Brett: a British academic and philanthropist, and the former president of the Royal Astronomical Society.