Kirkeyerd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Kirkeyerd is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in or near the precincts of a church. Kirkeyerd belongs to the large class of Anglo-Saxon topographic surnames, which were given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

Early Origins of the Kirkeyerd family

The surname Kirkeyerd was first found in Staffordshire, where one of the first records of the name was John atte Chircheyerde who was listed there in 1298.

Early History of the Kirkeyerd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirkeyerd research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1379, 1520, 1604, 1606 and 1631 are included under the topic Early Kirkeyerd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kirkeyerd Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Kirkeyerd are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Kirkeyerd include: Churchyard, Churchard, Chircheyerde, Kirkeyerde, Cykarth, Cyrkarth, Kirkeyerd and many more.

Early Notables of the Kirkeyerd family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Churchyard (1520-1604), a prominent English author from Shrewsbury. "In his youth was attached to the household of the famous Earl of Surrey, whose memory he fondly cherished throughout his long life. He commenced his literary career when Edward VI...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kirkeyerd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kirkeyerd family to Ireland

Some of the Kirkeyerd 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 Kirkeyerd family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Kirkeyerd or a variant listed above: Thomas Churchyard who sailed to Virginia in 1654.