Bairstow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Bairstow first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in Yorkshire, where they took their name from Bairstow in West Yorkshire. The place-name is derived from the Old English terms beger, for berries, and stow, for grow. It referred to "the place where berries are grown". 1

Early Origins of the Bairstow family

The surname Bairstow was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 A.D.

Alternatively, the Barton variant could have originated at Barston, a parish, in the union of Solihull, Solihull division of the hundred of Hemlingford in Warwickshire. "In Domesday Book it is written Bercestone, the name, it is supposed, of a possessor in the time of the Saxons. It was anciently given to the Knights Templars and the Hospitallers." 2

Early History of the Bairstow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bairstow research. Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bairstow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bairstow Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Bairstow has appeared include Barstow, Bairstow, Bairstoe, Barstoe and others.

Early Notables of the Bairstow family

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

Bairstow migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Bairstow arrived in North America very early:

Bairstow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Bairstow, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1872

Bairstow migration to Australia +

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

Bairstow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Jacob Bairstow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1839 3
Sarah Bairstow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1839 3
Abraham Bairstow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1839 3
Hannah Bairstow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1839 3
Isaac Bairstow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1839 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bairstow (post 1700) +

Jack Bairstow (1902-1963), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 10th District, 1942; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1960
Sir Leonard Bairstow CBE, FRS, FRAeS (1880-1963), English academic who developed Bairstow's method for finding the roots of polynomials, best remembered for his work in aviation
Ernest C. Bairstow (1876-1962), English sculptor, best known for his work on buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Lincoln Memorial
Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow (1874-1946), English organist and composer
Jonathan Marc "Jonny" Bairstow (b. 1989), English cricketer, who plays first-class cricket for Yorkshire and England, son of David Bairstow
Andrew Bairstow (b. 1975), English former cricketer, son of David Bairstow
David Leslie Bairstow (1951-1998), English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire and England
Arthur Bairstow (1868-1945), English first-class cricketer who played 26 first-class cricket matches between 1896 and 1902
Mark Bairstow (b. 1963), former Australian rules footballer who played from 1985 to 1994
Scott Bairstow (b. 1970), Canadian Western Heritage Award winning actor from Manitoba, known for his work in The Postman (1997), Tuck Everlasting (2002) and Wild America (1997)

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THOMAS HARRISON 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839ThomasHarrison.htm