Bertwhitsle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Bertwhitsle first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in Birtwisle, near Padiham, in the county of Lancashire. 1 The town was named for the Old English words bird or brid, meaning young bird or nestling, and twissel, which referred to a fork in a stream. 2

Early Origins of the Bertwhitsle family

The surname Bertwhitsle was first found in Lancashire, where one of the first records of the family was John de Briddeslwysill who was listed there in the Assize Rolls of 1285. 1 Unconfirmed records show Ralph de Bridtwisell, born about 1160, lived in the now-vanished hamlet of that name, near Hapton.

In 1316 William de Birtwisle obtained land in Huncoat, Lancashire from John de Huncoat in exchange for Bradley in Hapton, and in 1330 William gave his son Richard all his lands in Huncoat and Hapton. Later, Ellis de Birtwisle, was rector of the church of St. Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire from 1368 to 1370. 3 Huncoat (Huncote) Hall would remain in the family for over 450 years.

In Yorkshire, the first record found was that of Adam de Briddestwyssle who was listed in Kirkstall in 1329. 1

Scanning the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, we found the following people as all holding lands there at that time: Henrichs Birktwysell; Johannes de Brytwesle; and Ricardus de Brytwesele. 4

Early History of the Bertwhitsle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bertwhitsle research. Another 333 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1329, 1379, 1384, 1386, 1387, 1394, 1397, 1406, 1460, 1509, 1510, 1524, 1527, 1531, 1540, 1543, 1545, 1560, 1577, 1594, 1597, 1600, 1614, 1617, 1618, 1619, 1626, 1665, 1666, 1729 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Bertwhitsle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bertwhitsle Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Bertwhitsle has appeared include Birdwhistle, Bertwhistle, Berdwhistle, Birtwisill, Birtwhistle, Birtwisle, Birdwistle, Birdwisle, Birdwistle, Brittwissill, Birktwysell, Brytwesle, Brytwesele, Birtwistell, Birtwessel, Briddestwysill, Briddestwyssle, Burtwisle and many more.

Early Notables of the Bertwhitsle family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bertwhitsle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bertwhitsle family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Bertwhitsle arrived in North America very early: Thomas Birdwistle, who sailed to Maryland in 1670.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)