| ![Show Contents]() Birchard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of BirchardWhat does the name Birchard mean? Birchard is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having lived in Northern England where the term 'of the birk-head,' as in "the head of the birches" was derived. Thus the name literally means "dweller by the birch-covered headland." 1 The name is related to the names Birkenhead and Beckett 2 and was frequented in Cumberland and Lancashire. 1 The Birket is a tributary of the River Mersey, on the Wirral, Merseyside. Early Origins of the Birchard familyThe surname Birchard was first found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire where John de Birkhaved was listed in 1301. Later, John Birkehede was listed as a Freeman or York in 1442 and Henry Brikket, Byrkett was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524. 1 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included an entry for Adam Birkeued. 2 Early History of the Birchard familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birchard research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1425, 1503, 1507, 1573, 1607, 1623, 1634, 1636, 1638, 1646, 1650, 1653, 1666, 1700, 1703, 1746, 1838, 1908, 1929, 1958 and 1982 are included under the topic Early Birchard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Birchard Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Birchard has been recorded under many different variations, including Birket, Birkett, Bircket, Burkett, Birckett, Burket, Burkert and many more. Early Notables of the Birchard familySir Anthony Birket of Beldorney Castle; Josiah Burchett (1666-1746), Secretary of the Admiralty in England; and William Burkitt (1650-1703), biblical expositor and vicar in Dedham, Essex, best known for his "Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament" published in 1700. 3
Baron Birkett, of Ulverston in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is a hereditary title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Birchard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Birchard family to IrelandSome of the Birchard family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Birchard migration to the United States | + |
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Birchard or a variant listed above:
Birchard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Charles E. Birchard, aged 50, who arrived in America, in 1896
- George G. Birchard, aged 29, who arrived in America from London, in 1897
Birchard Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Isaac James Birchard, aged 53, who arrived in America from London, in 1904
- Mrs. I. J. Birchard, aged 39, who arrived in Toronto Ontario, Canada, in 1906
- I. J. Birchard, aged 39, who arrived in Toronto Ontario, Canada, in 1906
- Ralph Birchard, aged 47, who arrived in America, in 1908
- Florence Birchard, aged 27, who arrived in America, in 1910
| Contemporary Notables of the name Birchard (post 1700) | + |
- Matthew Birchard (1804-1876), American jurist, 3rd Solicitor of the United States Treasury (1840-1841), Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (1842-1849), eponym of the Birchard Letter
- Paul Birchard, American actor living in Scotland
- May Birchard (b. 1968), Canadian municipal politician and poverty activist in Toronto, Canada
- Courtney Birchard (1989-2007), Canadian four-time gold medalist national women’s ice hockey team player (2007-)
- John Birchard Rice (1832-1893), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Ohio 10th District, 1881-83 4
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
 |
