Map of England showing where the Breeden arms are recorded
The Breeden arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Breeden arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Northampton.
Origin & History of the Breeden Family in England
The family name Breeden is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, likely originating as a topographic surname for people who lived near a broad valley or a stretch of open pasture. The name is derived from the Old English words "brad," meaning broad, and "denu," meaning valley. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in Northamptonshire. Records confirm that members of the Breeden family were active in the town of Northampton by 1620, where they participated in the local community as tradespeople and landowners. This period was a time of significant social change in England, and families like the Breedens often played vital roles in the development of local parish life and regional commerce. As the family grew, their influence spread through the county, marking them as a stable and enduring part of the Northamptonshire population during the transition into the colonial era.
Breeden Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
bred
Old English term referring to a broad or wide expanse of land.
This name
BreedenA topographical name for someone who lived on or near a broad valley or wide pasture.
also spelled
Breydon
Breeden
Bredden
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Northamptonshire Archives, Northampton St Giles Parish Registers, 1620
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