Show ContentsBiddick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Biddick family

The surname Biddick was first found in Durham at either North Bidick, a hamlet, partly in the parish of Washington, and partly in that of Whitburn, or South Bidick, a township, in the parish of Houghton-le-Spring, union of Chester-le-Street.

Both place names literally mean "dweller by the ditch," from the Old English words "bi + "dic." 1

Biddick Hall is a small privately owned 18th-century country mansion at Bournmoor, County Durham, near the City of Sunderland and Chester-le-Street.

Another Biddick Hall is found in the town of South Shields, in Tyne and Wear, England.

The first on record was Adinet de Bidyk who was listed here in 1276. Years later, William de Bydik was listed in the the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1305 and John Bidyk was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Dorset in 1332. 1

Early History of the Biddick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Biddick research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1510, 1540 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Biddick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Biddick Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Biddick, Bidick, Bidock, Biddock, Byddick, Bydick and others.

Early Notables of the Biddick family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • the Biddick family of Durham


United States Biddick migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Biddick or a variant listed above were:

Biddick Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Edward Biddick, (b. 1883), aged 17, Cornish apprentice, from St. Merryn, Cornwall, UK, travelling aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 1st July 1900 en route to New York, USA 2
  • Mr. George Biddick, (b. 1875), aged 25, Cornish miller, travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th May 1900 en route to Chicago, Illinois, USA 2
  • Fred Charles Biddick, aged 40, who settled in America from Wadebridge, England, in 1908
  • Alfred Cyril Biddick, aged 23, who landed in America from Somerset, England, in 1909
  • Florence G. Biddick, aged 20, who landed in America from Somerset, England, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Biddick migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Biddick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Biddick, (b. 1832), aged 26, Cornish shoemaker departing from Plymouth on 25th February 1858 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer" arriving in Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 14th May 1858 3
  • Mrs. Emma Biddick, (b. 1836), aged 22, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth on 25th February 1858 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer" arriving in Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 14th May 1858 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Biddick (post 1700) +

  • Kathleen Biddick, Professor of History at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf


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