Brioc

Brioc is a Breton name that appears in hagiography, toponymy, and personal naming. In medieval sources, Brioc refers primarily to Saint Brioc (also Briocius), a 5th–6th century Breton monk regarded as one of the early Christian missionaries in Brittany. According to tradition, he established Christian communities in Armorica and contributed to the spread of Christianity in the region. The most enduring legacy of his name is the city of Saint-Brieuc in Brittany, France, which is named in his honor and serves as the capital of the Côtes-d'Armor department. The saint is venerated in local Breton and French Christian traditions, with various feast-day observances recorded in historical calendars.

The given name and its variants appear in Latin and vernacular forms, including Brioc, Briocius, and Brieuc. The practice of Latinizing Breton names, as seen in Briocius, is common in medieval hagiography, which sometimes complicates the identification of saints with similar names.

In modern times, Brioc is a relatively rare given name and is chiefly encountered in learned or regional contexts. It persists mainly as a historical or toponymic reference through Saint-Brieuc and related places, rather than as a common contemporary personal name.