Breunig Family History & Genealogy

History

We don't have any information on the history of the Breunig name. Have information to share?

Name Origin

We don't have any information on the origins of the Breunig name. Have information to share?

Spellings & Pronunciations

We don't have any alternate spellings or pronunciation information on the Breunig name. Have information to share?

Nationality & Ethnicity

We don't have any information on the nationality / ethnicity of the Breunig name. Have information to share?

Famous People named Breunig

Johann Adam Breunig (1660 in Mainz – 1727) was a German Baroque architect.


Old Town Hall in Speyer


After the War of the Palatine Succession, the Elector Johann Wilhelm initiated the reconstruction of Heidelberg giving Breunig and other architects a broad field of activity.
In 18th century Heidelberg, he built the Old Aula of the University, the Jesuit church, the Jesuit high school and some mansions for affluent citizens.
Eleonore von Breunig (1771 - 1841)
Eleonore was the sister of Stephan von Breunig, and a member of the family in Bonn that did so much to help the young musician. It is almost certain the young Beethoven fell in love with Eleonore as a teenager in Bonn, and quite likely that he pressed his suit (unsuccessfully).
On leaving Bonn for Vienna in November 1792 she was one of those who signed Beethoven's autograph book, quoting from a poem about friendship.
But they had had a serious quarrel, judging by the letter Beethoven wrote to her from Vienna a year later. "Often in thought I have conversed with you and your dear family, though not with that peace of mind which I could have desired. It was then that the wretched quarrel hovered before me and my conduct presented itself as most despicable, but it was too late; oh what would I not give to obliterate from my life those actions so degrading to myself and so contrary to my character..."
She was clearly not overly offended at what was probably a physical attempt to persuade her of his love for her, since in the same letter he thanks her for the waistcoat she gave him -- though pointing out that since it has gone out of fashion he can only keep it in his wardrobe! -- and in a second letter written six or seven months later he thanks her for the beautiful cravat she has made herself and sent to him.
In return he dedicated to her the Variations for piano and violin on 'Se vuol ballare' from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro WoO 40, and the Rondo for piano and violin WoO 41. He also dedicated to her the Piano Sonata in C WoO 51.
Eleonore married Franz Wegeler in 1802, and after establishing a family they moved to Koblenz. Eleonore added a postscript to a letter from her husband to Beethoven in 1825, imploring him to return to see the Rhine. But Beethoven never returned.
As far as I can establish, he never saw his childhood sweetheart again after leaving Bonn in November 1792.
Stephan von Breunig (1774-1827)
Beethoven's friendship with Stephan von Breunig lasted - with several interruptions - for a lifetime. Beethoven first came into contact with the Breunig family as a boy growing up in Bonn - introduced to them by his friend Franz Wegeler. They were an enormously cultured family, and Stephan's mother Helene von Breunig instructed her servants to allow young Ludwig unlimited access to the house on Münsterplatz and its music room with piano.
Frau von Breunig - widowed by the fire at the elector's palace - employed Beethoven probably in 1784 to give her daughter Eleonore and son Lenz piano lessons. Ludwig instantly formed a close friendship with Stephan. Together they took lessons on the violin with Franz Ries.
Stephan moved to Vienna in 1801, renewing his childhood friendship with Beethoven. He had a job with the Teutonic Order.
For a short time in 1804 Beethoven lodged with Stephan in the Rothes Haus outside the city wall. But it was a stormy relationship - more on Beethoven's part than his friend's - and Beethoven moved out.
In 1806 Stephan revised Sonnleithner's original text for the second version of Beethoven's opera Leonore. Two years later Beethoven dedicated his Violin Concerto to Stephan, and the piano arrangement of it to Stephan's wife Julie.
Julie Vering was the daughter of Beethoven's doctor and Beethoven was very fond of her. Stephan adored Julie and was heartbroken when she died of "a haemorrhage of the lungs brought on by the imprudent use of cold foot baths" at the age of only 19 - after less than a year of marriage. Later Stephan married Constanze Ruschowitz; one of their children was Gerhard von Breunig, who knew Beethoven well in his final years and wrote an indispensable memoir of him.
Throughout his life Stephan was a loyal friend to Beethoven, putting up with his eccentricities and frequent mistreatment. It is fair to say he was the best friend Beethoven ever had.
He died barely two months after Beethoven's funeral. He had been ill with a liver condition and suffered a relapse, according to Gerhard, after the trauma of attending the auction of Beethoven's effects. Gerhard believed the strain of his father's friendship with Beethoven broke his health. He was just 52 when he died.
 
Gerhard von Breunig (1813 - 92)
Son of Beethoven's lifelong friend, Stephan von Breunig, Gerhard first met Beethoven as a child with his father. He was Stephan's son by his father's second marriage.
During Beethoven's final illness, young Gerhard - just entering his teenage years - was a frequent visitor to the Schwarzspanierhaus. His early instincts towards medicine led him to take a particular interest in Beethoven's illness. Beethoven enjoyed his company and nicknamed him "Hosenknopf" [Trouser Button].
Gerhard qualified as a doctor, becoming a highly respected member of the profession. In 1874 he published his personal recollections of Beethoven in "Aus dem Schwarzspanierhaus" - a readable and trustworthy account of Beethoven's last years
Georg Ritter von Breunig

Bavarian Minister of Finance, * 01/08/1855 Dettelbach (Lower Franconia), † 06.01.1933 Munich. (Catholic)
 Walter Breunig (September 21, 1896 – April 14, 2011)
was an American supercentenarian. He was the last known surviving man who was born in 1896. Breunig is the oldest verified American man ever. He was the last remaining verified American man born in the 19th century. At the time of his death, Breunig was the third oldest man ever, and one of the 50 undisputed oldest people ever. He remains one of only six verified men to have reached age 114.

Early Breunigs

These are the earliest records we have of the Breunig family.