This interesting surname is of English locational origin from Long or Little Bredy in Dorset, so called from its situation on the river Bride, which is related to the Welsh word "Brydio", to boil. The placename, itself was recorded "Brydian", circa 910 in Cartularium Saxonicum, and "Langebridia" and "Litelbride" in the Domesday Book of 1086. In some instances, the name may be locational from Brede, north of Hastings, Sussex or topographical, describing someone who lived by a broad strip of land, both from the old English word "braedu", meaning "breadth or flat expanse of land". William de Bredes and John de Brede are mentioned in the 1296 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex. Elena atte Brede was listed in the Assize Rolls of Kent in 1317. Jane, daughter of Gregorie and Mary Bready was christened on February 22nd 1623 at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London. The ship "Transport", carried Patrick Breedy, aged 21 yrs, to the Plantations of Virginia, America in 1635. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Brian de Brede, which was dated 1195, The Feet of Fines of Norfolk, during the reign of King Richard 1, "Richard the Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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