Breslin — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: O Breislein
Meaning: possibly related to 'strife' or 'contention'
Traditional stronghold: Derry, Donegal
Pronunciation: BREZ-lin
History of the Breslin name
Breslin comes from O Breislein, a Donegal and Derry sept whose name is often connected to a root suggesting strife or contention. The family held land in the old territory of Tir Chonaill under the O'Donnells and remained closely associated with north-west Ulster through the medieval period. The name travelled widely with emigration in later centuries, becoming particularly well known in Irish-America, most famously through a Queens-born newspaper columnist of Donegal descent.
Variants: Breslane · O'Breslin · Brislane
Famous bearers of the name
- Jimmy Breslin — Irish-American journalist and columnist, author of The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Connor · Gallagher · Boyle · Doherty · Sweeney · O'Donnell · Duffy · McLoughlin