Breen - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Braoin
Meaning: “sorrow” or “moisture”
Traditional stronghold: Wexford, Roscommon
Pronunciation: BREEN; Irish O Braoin: oh BREE-in
History of the Breen name
Breen derives from O Braoin, 'descendant of Braon', a personal name meaning a drop or moisture, possibly figuratively suggesting generosity. Septs of the name arose separately in several regions, most notably in County Roscommon and County Waterford, with a further branch in County Kerry, so that unlike many single-origin surnames, Breen has several distinct historical roots across Connacht, Munster and Leinster. This scattered origin has given the surname a wide modern distribution rather than a single tight heartland, though Waterford and the south-east retain a strong concentration. The name kept close to its Gaelic sound through anglicisation.
Variants: Bryan (in some cases) · O'Breen
Famous bearers of the name
- Dan Breen - Irish War of Independence guerrilla leader who took part in the 1919 Soloheadbeg ambush and later served as a TD
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Murphy · Kelly · O'Connor · Doyle · Murray · Brennan · Flynn · Kavanagh