Balbirney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The current generations of the Balbirney family have inherited a surname that was first used hundreds of years ago by descendants of the ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The Balbirney family lived in the lands of Balbirnie in Fife. The name is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Balbirney family

The surname Balbirney was first found in Fife, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Balbirney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Balbirney research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1260, 1483, 1508, 1622 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Balbirney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Balbirney Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Balbirney has been spelled Balbirnie, Balbirney, Ballbirnie, Ballbirney, Ballbyrnie, Bawbyrny, Baldbernie and many more.

Early Notables of the Balbirney family

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

Migration of the Balbirney family to Ireland

Some of the Balbirney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Balbirney family

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Balbirney: Charles Balbirnie who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1827; and then moved westward.