Birdsley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestry of the name Birdsley dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in Suffolk, where the family could be found since the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Birdsley family

The surname Birdsley was first found in Suffolk at Burstall, a village and civil parish that dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Burgestala 1 and literally meant "site of a fort or stronghold," from the Old English word "burh-stall." 2

The parish of Birdsall in the union of Malton, wapentake of Buckrose in the East Riding of Yorkshire 3 could have been another possible origin point for the family. This parish also dates back to the Domesday Book when it was recorded as Brideshala 1 and meant "nook of land of a man called Bridd." 2

West Yorkshire is where we found the first entry for the family. Here at Kirkstall, now a suburb of Leeds, William de Briddesale was recorded as holding lands in 1167. Years later, we found Robert de Brideshal in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1251 and later again, Thomas Birdsall was listed as a Freeman of York in 1446. 4

Robert de Bridsall was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 5

Early History of the Birdsley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birdsley research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1206, 1230, 1273, 1316, 1655, 1769 and 1877 are included under the topic Early Birdsley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Birdsley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Birdsley have been found, including Burstall, Burstal, Burstalle, Birstall, Birkestalle, Berstall, Byrstall, Burstow, Burstoe and many more.

Early Notables of the Birdsley family

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

Migration of the Birdsley family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Birdsley, or a variant listed above: Mary Harvey Bearsly, who came to Massachusetts in 1635; Joseph Bearsly, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635; Agnes Kempe Birdsall, who settled in Boston in 1635.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)