Explore the Family Name Breckenridge
The meaning of Breckenridge
Scottish (Ayrshire and Lanarkshire): from Middle English braken ‘bracken, fern’ + rigge ‘ridge’ (Old Norse brakni + hryggr). The name may be topographic, for someone who lived ‘(by the) bracken-covered ridge’, or a habitational name from Brackenridge in Lanarkshire, or possibly from any of various minor places so named in Cumberland and North Yorkshire. History: Alexander Breckenridge emigrated from northern Ireland to VA c.1738. He had many prominent descendants, most of whom spelled the name Breckinridge.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Breckenridge in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Breckenridge saw a minor shift between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 6651st most common surname in the United States, with 4686 individuals identified by this name. By 2010, the rank had slightly slipped to 6814th place, despite the count of individuals bearing this surname increasing to 4949 - marking a 5.61% increase. However, the proportion per 100,000 people decreased by 3.45% during this period, suggesting that while the number of people named Breckenridge increased, its prevalence relative to other surnames has slightly decreased.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,651 | #6,814 | -2.45% |
| Count | 4,686 | 4,949 | 5.61% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.74 | 1.68 | -3.45% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Breckenridge
The Decennial U.S. Census also provides interesting insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Breckenridge. In 2000, the majority of individuals identified as White (77.14%), followed by Black (18.46%). By 2010, there were minor shifts in the distribution of ethnicity. The percentage of individuals identifying as White decreased slightly to 75.39%, and those identifying as Black also dipped marginally to 18.04%. Over the decade, the proportion of individuals who reported having two or more ethnic identities increased by an impressive 66.84%, indicating growing diversity among individuals with this surname. There were also notable increases in the proportions of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic, which rose by 27.91% and 74.19% respectively. The only decrease was observed in the American Indian and Alaskan Native category, where representation fell by 16.87%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 77.14% | 75.39% | -2.27% |
| Black | 18.46% | 18.04% | -2.28% |
| Two or More Races | 1.9% | 3.17% | 66.84% |
| Hispanic | 1.24% | 2.16% | 74.19% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.83% | 0.69% | -16.87% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.43% | 0.55% | 27.91% |
Breckenridge ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Breckenridge is British & Irish, which comprises 50.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (27.7%) and Eastern European (4.1%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Nigerian, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Spanish & Portuguese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 50.9% |
| French & German | 27.7% |
| Eastern European | 4.1% |
| Other | 17.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Breckenridge
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Breckenridge have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 81.10% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 81.10% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 81.10% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 81.10% |
| Belfast, United Kingdom | 80.30% |
What Breckenridge haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Breckenridge is R-BY451, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-BY451 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-YP276 and E-M180, which are predominantly found among people with European and Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Elliot, Mcfall, Elliott, Vance, Proffitt, Cumming, Meeks, Mccloud, Richmond, Elwood.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Breckenridge surname are: H1, U2_3_4_7_8_9, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Breckenridge have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Breckenridge" Surname 38.1%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Breckenridge" Surname 23.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Breckenridge" Surname 22.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Breckenridge" Surname 22.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Breckenridge?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Breckenridge are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition