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Irish surname

Breslin: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Breasláin · 'descendant of Breaslán' (diminutive of Breasal)

Woulfe (1923) gives Breslin as a form of Ó Breasláin, 'descendant of Breaslán' (diminutive of Breasal). He describes the O'Breslins as a branch of the Cinel Enda, originally chiefs of Fanad in Co. Donegal, later brehons to the Maguires in Fermanagh. In 1890, 43 entries including spelling varieties were in the Irish birth indexes, 29 of them in Ulster.

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Coat of arms associated with the Breslin surname
Irish formÓ Breasláin
Meaning'descendant of Breaslán' (diminutive of Breasal)
CountiesDonegal, Fermanagh, Sligo
Other spellings10

Origin of the Breslin name

Woulfe: a branch of the Cinel Enda, originally chiefs of Fanad (north-east of the barony of Kilmacrenan, Co. Donegal); driven out in the second half of the 13th century and settled in Fermanagh as brehons to the Maguires. Also a Sligo family of the Ui Fiachrach, chiefs of Kilanley.[1]

  1. 13th centurySecond half: the O'Breslins are driven from Fanad and settle in Fermanagh (Woulfe).[1]
  2. 189043 entries including spelling varieties (42 spelled Breslin); 29 in Ulster, 13 in Leinster, 1 in Munster.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. DonegalOriginal home of the O'Breslins, in Fanad (Woulfe); Matheson's 1890 'principally found' county.[1][3]
Co. FermanaghSettled there as brehons to the Maguires; erenaghs of the church of Derryvullen.[1]
Co. SligoWoulfe: Ó Breasláin was also the name of a family of the Ui Fiachrach in Co. Sligo, chiefs of Kilanley, barony of Tireragh.[1]

Other spellings

O Breslane · Breslane · Breslaun · Brislin · Brislane · Brislan · Brislawn · Bresland · Breslawn · Broslin[1]

The Breslin coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Breslin surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Breslin crest gifts

Clan Breslin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapTW22 Classic Cap - Breslin Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Breslin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Breslin surname: questions

What does the surname Breslin mean?

Woulfe gives Breslin as a form of Ó Breasláin, 'descendant of Breaslán', a diminutive of Breasal.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Breslin name from?

Woulfe says the O'Breslins were originally chiefs of Fanad in Co. Donegal. In the second half of the 13th century they were driven out and settled in Fermanagh. He also names a separate Sligo family, chiefs of Kilanley.[1]

What did the O'Breslins do in Fermanagh?

Woulfe says they became distinguished as brehons to the Maguires and were erenaghs of the church of Derryvullen, succeeding Ó Branáin in that office.[1]

Is Breslin the same as Brislin?

Woulfe gives Ó Briosláin / Ó Brisleáin, with forms including Brislin and Breslin, as 'a variant in the spoken language' of Ó Breasláin.[2]

Sources

  1. Ó Breasláin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ob/o-breaslain.php
  2. Ó Briosláin, Ó Brisleáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ob/o-brioslain.php
  3. Breslin — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/breslin.php
  4. Breslin — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/157.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).