Hello Nicole,
Briais is a french name from the city of Nantes. Through the years the Briais have migrated along the Loire river up to Paris (where I live and work). It is not a very common name (only 500 people more or less are still wearing the name in France) though I've found some Briais in the United States and Canada and, of course, in Australia including a DJ (Darren Briais)...

Good luck