Drisdile History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
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An ancient Strathclyde-Briton family from the Scottish/English Borderlands were the first to use the name Drisdile. They lived in Dryfesdale, a parish in Annandale, Dumfriesshire. 1 "This parish, which derives its name from the Dryfe, a small rivulet running through the north-west part of it, contains several memorials of its ancient inhabitants, and of their domestic feuds or military operations. On the holm of Dryfe, half a mile below the former churchyard, there is still remaining an old thorntree pointing out the place of the celebrated fight on Dryfe-sands, between the Maxwells of Nithsdale and the Johnstons of Annandale, on the 7th December, 1593, when the former were defeated with great slaughter. " 2

Early Origins of the Drisdile family

The surname Drisdile was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area. Specifically, the family claims descent from Dryfesdale, a civil parish in Annandale. 1

The "dale" takes its name from the river Dryfe, commonly known as Dryfe Water. Lockerbie falls within the civil parish of Dryfesdale and is generally believed to have been an ancient Viking village c. 900. "There is also a Roman work situated upon an eminence in the centre of the extensive holm of Dryfe and Annan, and which is called GallaBerry, or the station of the Gauls. The most perfect relic of this kind, however, is the British fort at Dryfesdale-gate, occupying two acres of ground, and the counterpart of which is a large Roman work, about half a mile due east, separated only by a moor, on which a bloody battle was fought between the army of Julius Agricola and the forces of Corbredus Galdus, the Scottish king" 2

The Church of Dryfesdale was dedicated to St Cuthbert in 1116. One of the first records of the name was Gawine Dryfesdale and John Dryesdale in 1499 "for thare being aganis the Kingis hienes in the battell and feyld committit besyde Striuelin one Sanct Barnabeis day." 1

Early History of the Drisdile family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Drisdile research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1503, 1506, 1567, 1574, 1599, 1619, 1631, 1718, 1740, 1748, 1761, 1762, 1764, 1773, 1778, 1784, 1788 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Drisdile History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Drisdile Spelling Variations

Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Drisdile has been spelled Drysdale, Drisedale and others.

Early Notables of the Drisdile family

Notable amongst the family at this time was John Drysdale (1718-1788), Scottish divine, third son of the Rev. John Drysdale, by Anne, daughter of William Ferguson, born at Kirkaldy on 29 April 1718, and educated at the parish school in that town. In 1740 he took orders in the established church of Scotland. For some years he officiated as assistant to the Rev. James Bannatyne, minister of the college church, Edinburgh, and in 1748 he obtained, through the interest of the Earl of Hopetoun, the living of Kirkliston in Linlithgowshire, of which the presentation was in the crown. In 1762 he...
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Drisdile Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Drisdile family to Ireland

Some of the Drisdile family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Drisdile family

For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them: James Drysdale who landed in Massachusetts in 1764. Later family members made their homes in other northern states such as Pennsylvania.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.