The Breen surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 14,170 people carried this name — #2,549 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 20,800 people counted. That is up 7% from 13,237 in 2000.

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In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 112 births for the Breen name in 1890.

Most were registered in Leinster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 5,000 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 2 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Wexford, Dublin, and Kerry.”

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Leinster 57
Munster 32
Ulster 23

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 44 people named Breen.

10 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 7 départements, most often Nord.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 10
Nord 19
Calvados 5
Alpes-Maritimes 3
Hauts-de-Seine 3
Seine-et-Marne 2
Paris 1
Seine-Saint-Denis 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

332 people named Breen is counted in Norway.

Norway publishes only surnames with 200 or more bearers.

Counted, by country

Norway (2025) 332

Statistics Norway (SSB, ssb.no), table 12891, 2025 — CC BY 4.0.

In Scotland’s registers today

Breen was recorded 31 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 793rd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 27. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Breen in American newspapers,
1906–1932.

Newspaper page from Burlington Weekly Free Press carrying the name Breen
Burlington Weekly Free Press 1906-05-31
Newspaper page from East Oregonian : E.O carrying the name Breen
East Oregonian : E.O 1908-03-27
Newspaper page from Roanoke Rapids Herald carrying the name Breen
Roanoke Rapids Herald 1932-06-30

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 110,046 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Breen in Australian newspapers,
1840s–2000s.

35,273 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Breen. The most, 8,229, date from the 1940s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 12,413
Victoria 11,503
Queensland 5,780
Western Australia 2,696
Tasmania 1,450
South Australia 1,110
ACT (Canberra) 214
Northern Territory 44

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Breen.

Who carried it

People named Breen,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Andrew Breen
    Andrew Breen 1863–1938 · Catholic priest
  • Billy Breen
    Billy Breen 1882–1927 · ice hockey player
  • May Singhi Breen
    May Singhi Breen 1891–1970 · composer
  • Dan Breen
    Dan Breen 1894–1969 · politician
  • John Breen
    John Breen 1898–1966 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 151 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Breen,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States4,158 records

4,158 records of the Breen name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,411
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,189
  • Other U.S. records 1,558
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Roy C. Breen

    Born 1907 in Mexico. Enlisted 1942 at Los Angeles, California; driver. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1980, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Lina Breen

    Arrived at New York in 1896 aboard the La Bourgogne from Havre, aged 23; cook. From New York, Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record David Thomas Breen

    Born 1949; from Easton, Pennsylvania. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 4,158 records for Breen in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,457 records

1,457 records of the Breen name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 601
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 322
  • Other Australian records 534
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Catherine Breen

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Waverley, sailing from London Dublin in 1847. Native of Kerry. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1849.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Michael Breen

    Died 1921 in Tunnel, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1921.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Bridget Breen

    Died 1901 in Hobart, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1901.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,457 records for Breen in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands1,178 records

1,178 records of the Breen name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 862
  • Dutch population registers 286
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 30
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hendricus Breen

    Married in 1896 in Amsterdam; watchmaker. Died 1936 in Velsen, aged 67.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Frederik Breen

    Married in 1895 in Sluis; minister. Died 1920 in Loenen, aged 54.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Cornelis Breen

    Married in 1917 in Brielle; "bouwknecht". Died 1970 in Brielle, aged 76.

    Open Archives, Streekarchief Voorne-Putten (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,178 records for Breen in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada312 records

312 records of the Breen name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 250
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 23
  • Other Canadian records 39
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record James Irving Breen

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 25; buried at Liscomb.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Morris Breen

    Came to Ontario in 1865 aboard the Pensylvania, landing at New York, bound for New Market, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Veronica Lee Breen

    Buried in 1963 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 84.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 312 records for Breen in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Norway63 records

63 records of the Breen name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Thor Breen

    Census of 1910: Conradisgate, Kristiania; dock worker, born 1885 in Bjerke Nanestad.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Marit Breen

    Census of 1910: Bruenget, Opdal; farmer, born 1852 in Opdal.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Ingjerd!! Breen

    Census of 1910: Killingdals grube, Aalen; miner, born 1873 in Os.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 3 of 63 records for Breen in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France29 records

29 records of the Breen name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marcel Lucien Breen

    Born 1921 in Lille; died 1997 in Roubaix (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Estelle Julia Breen

    Born 1909 in Lille; died 1996 in Lille (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Bernard Joseph Marcel Breen

    Born 1953 in Looberghe; died 1994 in Steene (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 29 records for Breen in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

New Zealand27 records

27 records of the Breen name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 17
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 6
  • Timaru and Mackenzie District cemetery records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patrick Breen

    Buried in 1946 at Lyttelton Catholic Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury, aged 64.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jessie Isabella Breen

    Buried in 1992 at Buffalo Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 93.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Rebecca Breen

    Died 1925, aged 70; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 27 records for Breen in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom8 records

8 records of the Breen name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 7
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Mary Breen

    Will proved in 1940; of Swansea, Glamorgan.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Breen

    Royal Munster Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 2 of 8 records for Breen in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Breen.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Breen is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Breen volume
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