From a Middle English surname meaning "a Breton", referring to an inhabitant of Brittany. A famous bearer is the American football quarterback Brett Favre (1969-). The name Brett is an anglicised version of the old French word Bret which was used to refer to a person from Britain, England or Brittany in France. It was originally a surname and over the years transferred to be used as a first name too. It is thought that the name originated from William the Conquerer in 1066 and that many of the original Brets were his followers.
