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Breese Family History

Breese Surname Meaning

English (Montgomeryshire; also Norfolk): nickname for an irritating person from Middle English brese ‘gadfly’ (Old English brēosa). See also Breeze compare Breece.

German: habitational name from any of numerous places called Breese or Breesen in Mecklenburg, Wendland (near Hanover), Brandenburg and Pomerania.

In some cases, the placename is derived from a Slavic word meaning ‘birch’ (brěza in Old Slavic).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Breese family from?

You can see how Breese families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Breese family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Breese families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 109 Breese families living in Montgomeryshire. This was about 18% of all the recorded Breese's in United Kingdom. Montgomeryshire had the highest population of Breese families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Breese surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Breese ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Breese. 36% of Breese men worked as a Farmer and 70% of Breese women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Breese were Farm Worker and Housewife.

View Census Data for Breese | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Farmer
    36%
  • Bricklayer
    4%
  • Motor Mechanic Driver
    4%
  • Farm Worker
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Breese family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 30,000 census records available for the last name Breese. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Breese census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Breese

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Breese. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Breese immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Breese. For the veterans among your Breese ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Breese military records

You've only scratched the surface of Breese family history

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What is the average Breese lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Breese life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Breese in 1947 was 31, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Breese

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Breese ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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