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What Is Pope Adrian IV's Real Name? The Story Behind the Name He/Him
Pope Adrian IV → Nicholas Breakspear
Pope Adrian IV's real name is Nicholas Breakspear.
- Known as
- Pope Adrian IV
- Real name
- Nicholas Breakspear
- Category
- Religious Names
Pope Adrian IV was born Nicholas Breakspear (or Brekespear) around 1100. He led the Catholic Church from 1154 to 1159 and is the only pope ever born in England.
How they got the name
Popes take a new name when they are elected, and Breakspear took the name Adrian (or Hadrian) IV, in Latin Hadrianus IV, when he became pope on December 4, 1154. (Wikipedia: Pope Adrian IV)
Amazing facts
- He is the only pope born in England, and one of only two from an English-speaking country. The other is Pope Leo XIV, elected 871 years later in 2025. (Wikipedia: Pope Adrian IV)
- Born in Hertfordshire, he studied law in Arles, in the south of France. (Wikipedia: Pope Adrian IV)
- He became a canon regular, and later abbot, at the Abbey of Saint-Ruf near Avignon. (Wikipedia: Pope Adrian IV)
- His own monks complained to Pope Eugene III that he was too strict a disciplinarian. Eugene responded by putting him to work as a papal legate. (Wikipedia: Pope Adrian IV)
FAQ
What was Pope Adrian IV's real name?
Nicholas Breakspear.
Was there ever an English pope?
Yes, just one: Adrian IV, who reigned from 1154 to 1159.
How long was he pope?
From December 4, 1154, until his death on September 1, 1159.
Sources
Pope Adrian IV real name page · All religious names · All bios