This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Breaker family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Breaker Family History

Breaker Surname Meaning

Americanized form of Swiss German Bräker (see Braker). Americanized form (translation into English) of German Brecher.

English (Dorset and London): occupational name either for one who ‘breaks’ (i.e. combs or cards) wool (a sense of breaker first recorded in 1514 but probably also current in Middle English).

It may also refer to one who uses a brake, the Middle English word for a crushing or pounding implement.

This could include tools such as a flax brake (for thrashing flax), a pestle (for pounding meal, etc. in a kitchen), or a mallet for softening materials such as leather.

The dual meanings highlight the connection between professions and the tools used in various trades, illustrating the evolution of the terminology in English usage.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Breaker family from?

You can see how Breaker families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Breaker family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Breaker families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 3 Breaker families living in Quebec. This was about 43% of all the recorded Breaker's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Breaker families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Breaker surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Breaker ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Breaker. 37% of Breaker men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Breaker women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Breaker were Machinist and Bookkeeper.

View Census Data for Breaker | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    37%
  • Salesman
    17%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Machinist
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    50%
  • Bookkeeper
    50%

What Breaker family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Breaker. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Breaker census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Breaker

Passenger Lists

There are 439 immigration records available for the last name Breaker. 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 Breaker immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 983 military records available for the last name Breaker. For the veterans among your Breaker ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Breaker military records

You've only scratched the surface of Breaker family history

Discover More

What is the average Breaker lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Breaker life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1988, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Breaker in 1964 was 75, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Breaker

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Breaker ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Breaker family tree

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