Show ContentsBirdsey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Birdsey 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 Birdsey family

The surname Birdsey 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 Birdsey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birdsey 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 Birdsey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Birdsey Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Birdsey include Birsty, Bursty, Berstie, Bersty, Berstie, Birchensty, Burchensty, Berchensty, Birchenstey, Birchsty, Burchsty, Berchsty, Berdsey, Berdesly, Birdseye and many more.

Early Notables of the Birdsey family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Clarence Birdseye (1886-1956), an American inventor, entrepreneur, and naturalist, considered the founder of the modern frozen food industry...

Migration of the Birdsey family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Birdsey 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..


Contemporary Notables of the name Birdsey (post 1700) +

  • Birdsey G. Palmer, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Voluntown; Defeated, 1918; Elected 1930
  • Birdsey Knight (b. 1851), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives, 1891-94 (Bay County 1st District 1891-92, Bay County 3rd District 1893-94); Candidate for Michigan State Senate 24th District, 1904 3
  • Birdsey Beardslee, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Kent, 1830 4


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2017, April 12) Birdsey Knight. Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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