Barkle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Barkle comes from the family having resided in the parish of Berkeley in the county of Gloucestershire.

"This place, according to Sir Robert Atkyns, the historian of Gloucestershire, derives its name from the Saxon Beorc, a birch-tree, and Leas, a pasture; whence it has been inferred that the parish was formerly remarkable for the growth of birch-trees. It was always a place of considerable importance; and at a very early period it gave name to the great manor of Berkeley, which during the heptarchy was held of the crown, at £500. 17. 2. per annum, by Roger de Berkeley, a near relative of Edward the Confessor, and lord of Dursley, from whom the earliest authentic pedigree of the Berkeley family is deduced. Berkeley, notwithstanding the residence of the oldest branches of the family in their castle at Dursley. William the Conqueror, professing high regard for all the relatives of Edward the Confessor, granted the manor of Berkeley to Roger Berkeley, of Dursley, by whose descendants it was held till the reign of Henry II." 1

Early Origins of the Barkle family

The surname Barkle was first found in Gloucestershire, where "this noble race descend from Thos, de Berkely, Lord of Berkeley castle, co. Gloucester, temp. Edward I., and fifth in lineal succession from Harding, a Dane of royal blood, and one of the companions of William the Conqueror. " 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Egidius de Berkeleye, Oxfordshire; Seman de Berclawe, Cambridgeshire; and Maurice de Berkelay, Somerset. 3

Henry de Barcley and Helewys' de Berkele were listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. 4

Early History of the Barkle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barkle research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1306, 1400, 1475, 1509, 1552, 1598, 1648, 1690, 1890 and 1924 are included under the topic Early Barkle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barkle Spelling Variations

Barkle has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Barclay, Berkeley, Barcley, Berkely, Berkley and others.

Early Notables of the Barkle family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barkle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Barkle family to Ireland

Some of the Barkle family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barkle migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Barkles to arrive on North American shores:

Barkle Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Miss Annie Barkle, (b. 1873), aged 32, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Elm River, Michigan, USA 5
Mrs. Ethel Barkle, (b. 1882), aged 23, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Vulcan, Michigan, USA 5
Mr. Richard T. Barkle, (b. 1882), aged 23, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Vulcan, Michigan, USA 5

Barkle 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:

Barkle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Barkle, (b. 1845), aged 29, Cornish miner departing on 29th August 1874 aboard the ship "Pleiades" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 16th December 1874 6
Miss Lydia Barkle, (b. 1872), aged 2, Cornish settler departing on 29th August 1874 aboard the ship "Pleiades" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 16th December 1874 6
Mrs. Maria Barkle, (b. 1845), aged 29, Cornish settler departing on 29th August 1874 aboard the ship "Pleiades" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 16th December 1874 6
Miss Mary Barkle, (b. 1865), aged 9, Cornish settler departing on 29th August 1874 aboard the ship "Pleiades" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 16th December 1874 6
Miss Rosina Barkle, (b. 1871), aged 3, Cornish settler departing on 29th August 1874 aboard the ship "Pleiades" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 16th December 1874 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Barkle Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In cruce spero
Motto Translation: I trust in the cross.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf