The lineage of the name Birchells begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in either the settlement of Birtle in the county of Lancashire or the settlement of Birtles in the county of Cheshire. The names of these places are derived from the Old English word bridd, meaning young bird or nestling, and indicates that the places were originally known as nesting grounds for birds.
The surname Birchells was first found in Cheshire at Birtles, a township, in the parish of Prestbury, union and hundred of Macclesfield. "Birtles Hall and demesne belonged for many generations to the Birtles family." [1]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birchells research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 160 and 1602 are included under the topic Early Birchells History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Birchells has undergone many spelling variations, including Birtles, Byrtles, Birchell, Birchells and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Birchells Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Birchells family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Birchells were among those contributors: William Birchell who arrived in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1880.