| ![Show Contents]() Berstie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of BerstieWhat does the name Berstie mean? The name Berstie literally means "the islet or eyot in the stream frequented by birds." 1 Another source has a similar etymology meaning "dweller at the Bird’s Island or Low Riparian Land." 2 Early Origins of the Berstie familyThe surname Berstie was first found in Sussex where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that county. Early History of the Berstie familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berstie research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1076, 1084, 1135, 1196, 1406, 1510, 1562, 1600, 1652, 1665, 1675, 1687, 1753, 1886 and 1956 are included under the topic Early Berstie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Berstie Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Berstie 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 Berstie include: Birsty, Bursty, Berstie, Bersty, Berstie, Birchensty, Burchensty, Berchensty, Birchenstey, Birchsty, Burchsty, Berchsty, Berdsey, Berdesly, Birdseye and many more. Early Notables of the Berstie familyAnother 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Berstie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Berstie familyMany 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 Berstie or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
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