Birkbeck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Birkbeck family
The surname Birkbeck was first found in Cumberland, at Burbank House in Dacre where they held a family seat from ancient times. 1 The name literally means "dweller at the cottage on the mound or embankment." 2
Early History of the Birkbeck family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birkbeck research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1524, 1584, 1589, 1656, 1696, 1717, 1771, 1776 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Birkbeck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Birkbeck Spelling Variations
Translation and spelling were non-standardized practices in the Middle Ages, so scribes had only their ears to rely on. This was a practice of extremely limited efficiency, and spelling variations in names, even within a single document, were the result. Over the years, Birkbeck has appeared Birkbeck, Birbeck, Birbecke, Birbeke, Birkbeke and many more.
Early Notables of the Birkbeck family
Notable amongst the family at this time was
- Simon Birckbek or Birkbeck (1584-1656), an English clergyman and controversialist from Hornby, Westmorland
Migration of the Birkbeck family
The fertile east coast of what would become US and Canada was soon dotted with the farms of Scottish settlers. Some of them remained faithful to the crown and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others had the chance to pay back their old oppressors in the American War of Independence. That brave spirit lives on today in the highland games that dot North America in the summer. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Birkbeck family came to North America quite early: Willliam Birbeck who settled in Jamaica in 1774.
Contemporary Notables of the name Birkbeck (post 1700) +
- Matt Birkbeck, American author and investigative journalist
- Michael "Mike" Birkbeck (b. 1961), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1986 to 1995, currently associate baseball head coach at Kent State University
- Ysabel Birkbeck (1890-1973), birth name Ysabel Hunter, a British ambulance driver and war memoirist, daughter of Ysabel Birkbeck
- Ysabel Caroline Birkbeck (1859-1934), née Elwes, a British toymaker and philanthropist, best known as founder of the notable Westacre Dolls' House company
- Larry Wayne Birkbeck (b. 1943), Canadian consultant, former farmer and politican who represented Moosominin the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1975 to 1986
- Captain Robert Alexander Birkbeck DFC (1898-1938), British World War I flying ace credited with 10 aerial victories
- Morris Birkbeck (1764-1825), English agricultural innovator, author/publicist, anti-slavery campaigner in Illinois from Settle, Yorkshire, England
- John Birkbeck (1817-1890), English banker, alpinist, and pioneer potholer from Settle, Yorkshire
- Sir Edward Birkbeck KCVO, DL (1838-1908), 1st Baronet, British Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for North Norfolk (1879-1885) and for East Norfolk (1885-1892)
- George Birkbeck (1776-1841), English educator, physician, academic, philanthropist, and professor of natural philosophy at the University of Strathclyde, founder of Birkbeck, University of London
- ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Citations +
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print