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Breton Family History

Breton Name Meaning

French Breton (mainly Finistère) and English (of Norman origin): ethnic name for a Breton from Old French breton oblique case of bret (see Bret ). Compare Lebreton see also English Brett .

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


Similar surnames: Ireton, Brett, Brenton, Brewton, Bruton, Baston, Lebreton, Buxton

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Breton family from?

You can see how Breton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Breton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Breton families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 1,278 Breton families living in Quebec. This was about 92% of all the recorded Breton's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Breton families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Breton surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Breton ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Cultivateur and Journalier were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Breton. 28% of Breton men worked as a Cultivateur and 12% of Breton women worked as a Journalier. Some less common occupations for Americans named Breton were Fils De Cultivateur and Modiste. .

View Census Data for Breton | 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 1921

  • Cultivateur
    28%
  • Journalier
    19%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Fils De Cultivateur
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Journalier
    12%
  • Servante
    11%
  • Colier
    7%
  • Modiste
    6%
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What Breton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 52,000 census records available for the last name Breton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Breton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Breton

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Breton. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Breton immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Breton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Breton family history

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What is the average Breton lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Breton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Breton in 1949 was 36, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Breton

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