Irish Surname - Breen
The Irish surname Breen is derived from the Gaelic name Ó Braoin or Ó Broidín, meaning "descendant of Braon" or "descendant of Broidín". The name Braon/Broidín is derived from the Gaelic word braon, meaning "drop" or "moisture".
The Breen surname is particularly common in the province of Munster in Ireland, with County Clare being a notable location. Breen is also a relatively common surname in other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where many Irish immigrants settled.
Famous People with surname Breen
- Eileen Breen, Irish harpist and singer
- James Breen, Australian politician and lawyer
- Paul Breen, Australian footballer
- Tommy Breen, Irish footballer
- Philip Breen, English theatre and opera director
Variations of the surname Breen
- O'Breen: This surname is an Irish variant of the surname Breen, which is derived from the Gaelic Ó Braoin or Ó Broidín, meaning "descendant of Braon" or "descendant of Broidín".
- Breenan: This surname is a variation of Breen, with the addition of the suffix "-an".
- McBreen: This surname is another Irish variant of the surname Breen, derived from the Gaelic Mac Braoin, meaning "son of Braon".
The coat of arms and motto of the Irish surname Breen
Breen's coat of arms features a shield divided into four quarters. The top left and bottom right quarters depict a black lion on a silver background, while the top right and bottom left quarters feature three red cinquefoils on a silver background. Above the shield is a helmet with a silver and blue mantling, and on top of the helmet is a crest featuring a black lion holding a gold sword.
The motto for the Breen family is "Malo More Quam Foedari", which translates to "I would rather die than be disgraced".
Please Note
There is often limited information available on a specific coat of arms and motto for an Irish surname. Sometimes there are many variations, sometimes none, we have compiled a representative, but by no means exhaustive, selection. Please visit our Coat of Arms and Motto page for more information.
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