Show ContentsBeardsee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Beardsee is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the village named Bardsley in Lancashire. The village itself traces its name back to the Old English words Beornred's leah, which mean Beornred's wood or Beornred's clearing. The personal name Beornred means warrior counsel.

Early Origins of the Beardsee family

The surname Beardsee was first found in Greater Manchester at Bardsley where the earliest record of the place name was Berdesley in 1422. 1 Bardsey is a small village in the City of Leeds, in West Yorkshire and dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Berdesei. 2 "Bardsley House, overlooking the glen of the Medlock, is the seat of John Jonah Harrop, Esq. Many generations of the Bardsley family held the estate, under the lords of Ashton, by the feudal payment of a rose and one penny, annually: the property subsequently came, by marriage, to the Tetlows." 3

Early History of the Beardsee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beardsee research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1640 is included under the topic Early Beardsee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beardsee Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Beardsee were recorded, including Bardsley, Bardsey, Bardsea, Bardsly, Bardesey and many more.

Early Notables of the Beardsee family

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

Migration of the Beardsee family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Beardsee family emigrate to North America: William Beardsley, who came to New England in 1635 with Mary his wife and three children; Alexander Beardsley, who arrived in Delaware Bay in 1683 with his wife and daughter.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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