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![Show Contents]() Birken History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Birken is a habitational name from the civil parish of West Birkin in West Yorkshire. The parish still exists today but remains small with a population of 146 in 2001. Early Origins of the Birken familyThe surname Birken was first found in Yorkshire where one of the first records of the name was John de Birkin who held lands there in the time of King John. Birkin is a parish, in the Lower division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1 Barking is a large parish, and formerly a market-town, in the union of Romford, hundred of Becontree, South division of Essex. "The name of this place, formerly written Berking, is by some deduced from the Saxon words Beorce, a birch-tree, and Ing, a meadow; by others from Berg-Ing, signifying a fortification in the meadows, probably from an ancient intrenchment about a quarter of a mile on the road to Ilford, of which there are still considerable vestiges. The town derived its early importance from a very extensive and distinguished abbey, founded in 670, by Erkenwald, Bishop of London, for nuns of the Benedictine order, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was governed by a long succession of abbesses. Soon after the Conquest, William retired to the town, till the completion of the Tower of London. " 1 There is a small parish named Barking in the union and hundred of Bosmere and Claydon, E. division of Suffolk. 1 Richard be Barking (d. 1246), was an early English judge who was for some years Prior of the Abbey of Westminster. 2 Early History of the Birken familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birken research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1415, 1487, 1510, 1600, 1831, 1922 and 1953 are included under the topic Early Birken History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Birken Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Byrkin, Birkin, Byrken, Birkyn, Byrkyn, Birken and others. Early Notables of the Birken familyAnother 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Birken Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Birken migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Birken Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Thomas Birken, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Surat" in 1864
- Susannah Birken, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Surat" in 1864
- Frederick Birken, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Surat" in 1864
- Walter Birken, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Surat" in 1864
| Contemporary Notables of the name Birken (post 1700) | + |
- Steven Birken (b. 1945), American biologist, recipient of the Biology Prize, Founder's Day Award N.Y.U
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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Birken migration to New Zealand 
England
Germany
