Bairduf History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

It was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Bairduf was formed. The name was derived from the baptismal word for Bardolf. As one would expect the name was derived from the Old German name "Bartholf." 1

Early Origins of the Bairduf family

The surname Bairduf was first found in Lincolnshire, where one of the first records of the names was Hugo Bardulfus who was registered there in 1142. Thomas Bardolf was recorded in the same shire in 1184. 1

Over in Wormegay, Norfolk another branch of the family was found in early times. "This place is of great antiquity, and is said to have acquired considerable importance before the Conquest. In the time of Henry II., the lordship was held by the Bardolphs; who had a castle here, of which the moat may still be traced." 2

"William Bardulf, who served as sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, temp. Henry II. In the succeeding reign, Doun Bardolf, the grandson of the sheriff, acquired in marriage with Beatrix, daughter and heiress of William de Warren, the Barony of Wirmegay in Norfolk, and thenceforth Wirmegay became the designation of the family. " 3

"Another fortunate alliance, that of John, third Lord Bardolf, a banneret of the martial time of Edward III., with the daughter and coheiress of Sir Roger D'Amorie, still further augmented the possessions of the house, but all were lost at the death and attainder of the fifth and ill-fated lord, who, joining the Earl of Northumberland's insurrection, was mortally wounded at Bramham Moor. " 3

Hugh Bardolf (d. 1203), was Justiciar of the Curia Regis, and is presumed to have been son of William Bardolf, Sheriff of Norfolk 16-21 Hen. II. (during the 16th through the 21st years of Henry II's reign.) 4

William Bardolf (d. c. 1275), was a Baronial leader, Lord of Wirmgay, Norfolk, in right of his mother, daughter and heiress of William de Warrenne. 4

Early History of the Bairduf family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bairduf research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1300, 1314, 1331, 1349, 1363, 1369, 1386, 1408, 1572 and 1634 are included under the topic Early Bairduf History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bairduf Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Bairduf include Bardolph, Bardol, Bardel, Bardulfus, Bardolf, Barduf, Bardoulf, Bardulphe and many more.

Early Notables of the Bairduf family

Distinguished members of the family include Hugh Bardulphe, the Sheriff of Westmorland in the late 1300s; Sir Thomas Bardolf, 2nd Lord Bardolf who died in 1331. Records are lost of the first Lord Bardolf, but from this lord began John Bardolf, 3rd Baron Bardolf (1314-1363), William Bardolf, 4th Baron Bardolf (1349-1386) and Thomas Bardolf, 5th Baron Bardolf who died in 1408 from wounds received at the at the...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bairduf Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bairduf family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Bairduf were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Ann Bardel who arrived in Virginia in 1653 and Adam Bardolph who arrived in Philadelphia in 1832.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print