Surname Berreen - Meaning and Origin

Berreen: What does the surname Berreen mean?

The last name Berreen is of Irish origin. The name has evolved from the Gaelic surname "Ó Bearáin" which means "descendent of Bearán". Bearán was a personal name given to someone with a sense of bravery or boldness, from the Irish word "bear" meaning "man". Berreen is a sept of Clan MacCarthy, a branch of the larger Clann O'Neill tribe, and is typically associated with a small area of County Cork in Southwest Ireland.

The earliest recordings of the Berreen family name dates back to the 12th century. It is often anglicised as "Berreen" or "Birne" or "Birney". The Berreen family had a long association with the Irish landlords O'Driscoll, whose stronghold in Clonakilty Bay was seen as the main route to Rosscarbery. In the 16th century, the Berreen's became hereditary keepers and custodians to O'Driscoll, often assigned to free up the Chieftain for other tasks.

Being of such an old and noble birthright, many members of the Berreen family were highly educated and respected in society. They were found as scholars at Dublin University, Priests to local parishes in Cork, and also as MPs in the late 19th century. Some Berreens were also involved in the formation of the Fianna Fáil party in the 1920s.

The Berreen family name can be found in records all over Ireland, and even abroad; representing a proud and illustrious family history that goes back hundreds of years.

Berreen: Where does the name Berreen come from?

The last name Berreen is primarily found in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. According to the 2020 US Census Bureau, Berreen is the 5,039th most common surname in the country with an estimated population of around 1,000.

In Canada, the surname Berreen is extremely rare with a population of only 79 in 2016. In the United Kingdom, it was the 8,662nd most common surname in 2011 with an estimated population of 815.

In Australia, Berreen was the 8,520th most common surname in 2017 with an estimated population of 701. It is especially prevalent in South Australia, where it is the 5,862nd most common surname, giving it an estimated population of 262.

Berreen can also be found in Spanish-speaking countries as both a first and last name. While the exact prominence of the name in such countries is unknown, it is thought to be relatively uncommon in comparison to its prevalence in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Berreen

The surname Berreen is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic term “O’Bearáin” or “Ó Bearáin” which translates to "descendant of Bearán".

Variants of the surname include O'Bearan, O'Beran, O'Borran, and Boran. The O' prefix is often dropped from the surname, so you may also find the spellings Beran, Berran, and Borran.

The surname may not be common, but it can be found in localised areas across County Clare and County Kerry, Ireland. Variants have also been found in Scotland and England, most likely brought to these countries by Irish immigrants.

Often people with this surname have multiple spelling variations of the same name. For example, the name O'Bearan could be written as O'Beran, O'Borran, Berran, Borran, and so on.

Other surnames pronounced similarly to Berreen are Beirne, Beirne, Byrne and Byrnes. Surnames from a similar origin include O’Beirne, O’Beirne, O’Byrne and O’Byrnes.

Famous people with the name Berreen

• Christy Turlington Burns: American model, former Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein model.
• John Berreen: British Army officer and politician, who served in the Second World War.
• Bernie Berreen: Director of the New Jersey chapter of the NAACP and municipal administrator in the town of Teaneck, New Jersey.
• Patricia Berreen: Actress best known for her appearances in the soap operas, As The World Turns and Guiding Light.
• Ron Berreen: Professional American football player, best known for his six seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
• Howie Berreen: Canadian professional hockey player, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders.
• Jan Berreen: Award-winning Dutch actress, known for her roles in Reaching for the Skies and Need for Speed: Nitro.
• Peter Berreen: English singer-songwriter, best known for his hits such as "Dance with the Spirits" and "The Water Is Wide".
• Lillian Berreen: American film producer, known for her work on the Disney series, Invader Zim and the movie, National Treasure.
• David Berreen: English actor, best known for his roles in television series such as The Bill, EastEnders and Casualty.

Other surnames

BerreBerrellBerremanBerrettBerrevoetsBerrey