Berniside History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

An ancient Pictish-Scottish family was the first to use the name Berniside. It is a name for someone who lived in one of the many places by the same name. The name means dweller at the brookside from the Old English work burne which means brook and the word side. 1

Early Origins of the Berniside family

The surname Berniside was first found in Fife, but "there are villages named Burnside in the shires of Fife, Nairn, and Kincardine. " 2

Early History of the Berniside family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berniside research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1511, 1650, 1669, 1673 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Berniside History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Berniside Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, there was no basic set of rules and scribes wrote according to sound. The correct spelling of Scottish names were further compromised after many haphazard translations from Gaelic to English and back. Spelling variations of the name Berniside include Burnside, Burniside, Burnshed, Burnsyde and others.

Early Notables of the Berniside family

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

Migration of the Berniside family to Ireland

Some of the Berniside 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.

Migration of the Berniside family

Scots left their country by the thousands to travel to Australia and North America. Desperate for freedom and an opportunity to fend for themselves, many paid huge fees and suffered under terrible conditions on long voyages. Still, for those who made the trip, freedom and opportunity awaited. In North America, many fought their old English oppressors in the American War of Independence. In recent years, Scottish heritage has been an increasingly important topic, as Clan societies and other organizations have renewed people's interest in their history. An examination of passenger and immigration lists shows many early settlers bearing the name of Berniside: James Burnside who settled in Georgia in 1733; Joseph Burnside settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1757; Margaret Bovey Burnside settled in Charles Town in 1757.

The Berniside Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Gradatim plena
Motto Translation: Full by degrees.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.