Show ContentsBirkenshaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Birkenshaw family

The surname Birkenshaw was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Birkenshaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birkenshaw research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1529 is included under the topic Early Birkenshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Birkenshaw Spelling Variations

The origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different spelling variations in a single document. Birkenshaw has been spelled Birkenshaw, Birkinshaw, Birkshaw, Burdenshaw and others.

Early Notables of the Birkenshaw family

More information is included under the topic Early Birkenshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Birkenshaw family to Ireland

Some of the Birkenshaw family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Birkenshaw migration to Australia +

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

Birkenshaw Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Birkenshaw, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "North"

New Zealand Birkenshaw 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:

Birkenshaw Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Captain Capt Birkenshaw, American settler travelling from Honolulu aboard the ship "Tyrian" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 29th October 1851 1
  • Mrs. Mrs Birkenshaw, American settler travelling from Honolulu aboard the ship "Tyrian" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 29th October 1851 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Birkenshaw (post 1700) +

  • Jack Birkenshaw MBE (b. 1940), English former cricketer, umpire and coach


  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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