Burwhistle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Burwhistle is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in Birtwisle, near Padiham, in the county of Lancashire. 1 The town was named for the Old English words bird or brid, meaning young bird or nestling, and twissel, which referred to a fork in a stream. 2

Early Origins of the Burwhistle family

The surname Burwhistle was first found in Lancashire, where one of the first records of the family was John de Briddeslwysill who was listed there in the Assize Rolls of 1285. 1 Unconfirmed records show Ralph de Bridtwisell, born about 1160, lived in the now-vanished hamlet of that name, near Hapton.

In 1316 William de Birtwisle obtained land in Huncoat, Lancashire from John de Huncoat in exchange for Bradley in Hapton, and in 1330 William gave his son Richard all his lands in Huncoat and Hapton. Later, Ellis de Birtwisle, was rector of the church of St. Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire from 1368 to 1370. 3 Huncoat (Huncote) Hall would remain in the family for over 450 years.

In Yorkshire, the first record found was that of Adam de Briddestwyssle who was listed in Kirkstall in 1329. 1

Scanning the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, we found the following people as all holding lands there at that time: Henrichs Birktwysell; Johannes de Brytwesle; and Ricardus de Brytwesele. 4

Early History of the Burwhistle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burwhistle research. Another 333 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1329, 1379, 1384, 1386, 1387, 1394, 1397, 1406, 1460, 1509, 1510, 1524, 1527, 1531, 1540, 1543, 1545, 1560, 1577, 1594, 1597, 1600, 1614, 1617, 1618, 1619, 1626, 1665, 1666, 1729 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Burwhistle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burwhistle Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Burwhistle has been spelled many different ways, including Birdwhistle, Bertwhistle, Berdwhistle, Birtwisill, Birtwhistle, Birtwisle, Birdwistle, Birdwisle, Birdwistle, Brittwissill, Birktwysell, Brytwesle, Brytwesele, Birtwistell, Birtwessel, Briddestwysill, Briddestwyssle, Burtwisle and many more.

Early Notables of the Burwhistle family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burwhistle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Burwhistle family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Burwhistles to arrive in North America: Thomas Birdwistle, who sailed to Maryland in 1670.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)