Local 'of Brittany.' (a) Nick. 'the Breton.' Immigrants from Brittany. A very large number occur in the Hundred Rolls of 1373.

John de Brytaygn, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Giffard le Bretun, Buckinghamshire, ibid.

Hugo le Bretun, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Roger le Bretun, Suffolk, ibid.

Alicia de Britten, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Elias de Britton, 1379: ibid.

Ricardus Britton, 1379: ibid.

1790. Married — William Britten and Anne Keene: St. George, Hanover Square.

1796. — John Britton and Sarah Wilkins: ibid.

From Norman French le Brit or le Bret, and le Breton, a native of Brittany. Hugo Bret witnessed a grant by Earl David for the use of the church of Glasgow a. 1123 (REG., 2), and as Hugo Brit witnessed King David's charter of the lands and liberties of Coldinghamschyr in 1126 (Raine, 16). As Hugo Britone or Brittone he also witnessed several other charters between that date and 1153 (Lawrie, p. 293). Gaufridus Britt' witnessed a charter by Alan filius Walteri between 1177—99 (RMP., p. 12), and c. 1200 Radulf Bret or Britone witnessed charters by William the Lion and William de Veteri Ponte (LSC., 33, 41, 44). Thomas le Bret witnessed a grant by Hugh Bygris in 1228 (Kelso, 186), and Eliz Britun of Berwickshire rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 207). William Bretone of Linlescu, who also rendered homage in 1296, may be William le Bretoun on whose behalf a writ was issued by the sheriff of Edinburgh in the same year (ibid., p. 203,218). William Brittan from Turriff served in the first Great War (Turriff). As Bretagne and Normandy were adjacent provinces it was natural that many Bretons came to England with the Normans. Old Irish britt meant a Briton, and one of the brethren of Iona in the time of Columba was named Brito, probably indicating that he was a Briton, not a Gael.

(Celtic) 'Breton, i.e.. a Native of Brittany [Old French Breteigne, Bretaigne (French Bretagne), Latin Britannia (Minor), of Celtic orig.: cp. Latin Britto, -onis, a Briton, a Gaul] Roger le Bretun.—Hundred Rolls John de Brytaygn.— do.

Fraunce hafe ye frely with your fyghte wonnen . . .

Bretayne and Burgoyne es bothe to yow bowen.— The Awntyrs of Arthurs, 271,273. 2 Briton, i.e. a Native of Britain.

Britan occurs as a personal name in early Irish history.

My late friend, Mr. John Britton, F.S.A., the oldest antiquary of England, writing in his eighty-sixth year, says: "Britton, Britain, Briten, Bretten, Brittain, &c.-not common in England. I find that they abounded in parishes between Bath and Bristol. I have names from ten different registers. They rarely emigrated to Bath, Bristol, or London." A branch however did settle at Bristol about a century ago, and thence removed to Jamaica. The respectable family of Breton, of Kent and Sussex, usually pronounce their name as if spelt Britton, and there is no doubt of its original identity with it. See Breton.

A native of Britain, the ancient name of England. Several derivations have been given to Britain, such as Brydon or Prydyn, Welsh, the fair tribe, or brave men. Bridaoine, Gaelic, from Bri, dignity, and daoine, men. Pryddain, the fair and beautiful isle. Brait or Briand, extensive, and in, land. Brit—tane, the land of tin.