This interesting surname is French Huguenot in origin and derives from De Brequart or De Brequet, recorded in the Heraldic Rolls of France. The origination of the name is believed to be from the Olde Germanic "Berhta" which translates as "The illustrious one", the name given to a Warrior's son. The name is found in its modern spelling variants, mainly in Ireland, the only recordings in England being as Brickee, Abraham Brickee being a witness at St. Matthews, Bethnal Green on March 3rd 1758. In Ireland the recordings have included Samuell Brrachey, witness at Bonaghmore, Tyrone on November 2nd 1769, Bridget Broukey who married Morgan Williams at Limerick, on May 19th 1802 and Andrew Breakey, christened at Templemichael, Longford on December 6th 1818. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Calab Bracha, which was dated 1709, witness at the Union of Monkstown, Dublin, during the reign of Queen Anne "The Last Stuart Monarch", 1702 - 1714. 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.