The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Beeird. It is a name for someone who works as a poet, which was originally derived from the Gaelic word bard. [1]
The surname Beeird was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
According to legend, William the Lion, King of Scotland was alarmed by the approach of a wild boar, while hunting in one of the southwestern counties. Baird, who was a follower in the King's train, came forward to assist the King. Baird needed only a single arrow to slay the boar, and was rewarded for this service by the king. He was granted large areas of lands, and was assigned a Coat of Arms on which there is a wild boar. King William also commanded that Baird would have as his motto Dominus Fecit (The Lord made). In the Churchyard of Banff, Scotland, Baird's Arms may still be seen in an ancient monument to the Bairds of Auchmeddan.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beeird research. Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1616, 1656, 1647, 1667, 1620, 1698, 1654, 1737, 1686, 1745, 1697, 1658, 1715, 1690, 1740, 1300, 1632 and are included under the topic Early Beeird History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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. Beeird has been spelled Baird, Bard, Barde, Baard, Bayard, Beard and many more.
Notable amongst the family at this time was Henry Bard, 1st Viscount Bellomont (1616-1656), an English Royalist; Charles Rupert Bard, 2nd Viscount Bellomont (1647-1667); and Sir John Baird of Newbyth, Lord Newbyth (1620-1698), a Scottish advocate, judge, politician and diplomat, Commissioner for Aberdeenshire in the Parliament of Scotland; Sir William Baird, 1st and 2nd Baronet of Newbyth (1654-1737); Sir John Baird, 2nd and 3rd Baronet of Newbyth (1686-1745); Sir Robert Baird, 1st Baronet of Saughtonhall (died 1697); and his son...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beeird Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Beeird family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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 Baird who arrived in America in 1685; John Baird settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1773; Thomas Baird settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774.