History of your Surname
Get access to Brethen family records.Start a free trial

Brethen Family History

Brethen Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Blethen, Bratten, Broten, Brother, Brecher, Breeden, Breden, Breihan

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Brethen family from?

You can see how Brethen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Brethen family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1891 and 1920. The most Brethen families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1920 there were 4 Brethen families living in New York. This was about 40% of all the recorded Brethen's in USA. New York had the highest population of Brethen families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Brethen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Brethen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Brethen. 60% of Brethen men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Brethen women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Brethen were Salesman and Maid. .

View Census Data for Brethen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    60%
  • Salesman
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    50%
  • Maid
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Brethen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 474 census records available for the last name Brethen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Brethen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Brethen

Passenger Lists

There are 101 immigration records available for the last name Brethen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Brethen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 151 military records available for the last name Brethen. For the veterans among your Brethen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Brethen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Brethen family history

Discover More

What is the average Brethen lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2002, in the United States, Brethen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Brethen in 1965 was 67, and 66 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Brethen

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Brethen family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Brethen last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial