History of your Surname
Get access to Brereton family records.Start a free trial

Brereton Family History

Brereton Name Meaning

English: habitational name from any of the places called Brereton in Cheshire and Staffordshire and sometimes from Brearton in Yorkshire or Brierton in Durham. Brereton in Staffordshire is named with Old English brǣr brēr ‘briar’ + Old English dūn ‘hill’ as its final element; the others are named with Old English brǣr brēr ‘briar’ + tūn ‘enclosure settlement’.

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


Similar surnames: Brenton, Brierton, Overton, Beaston, Branton, Brinton, Cureton

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Brereton family from?

You can see how Brereton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Brereton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Brereton families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 453 Brereton families living in Cheshire. This was about 31% of all the recorded Brereton's in United Kingdom. Cheshire had the highest population of Brereton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Brereton surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Brereton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Brereton. 14% of Brereton men worked as a Bricklayer and 68% of Brereton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Brereton were Railway Clerk and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Brereton | 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

  • Bricklayer
    14%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Railway Clerk
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Brereton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 32,000 census records available for the last name Brereton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Brereton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Brereton

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Brereton. 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 Brereton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Brereton. For the veterans among your Brereton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Brereton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Brereton family history

Discover More

What is the average Brereton lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Brereton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Brereton in 1958 was 60, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Brereton

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Brereton family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Brereton last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial