Birkenell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Birkenell family

The surname Birkenell was first found in Northamptonshire at Deene, parish, in the union of Oundle, hundred of Corby. "The church [of Deene] contains portions of the early and decorated English styles, and has windows exhibiting some superior tracery, and several ancient monuments to the Brudenell family." 1

The family was likely descended from Alençon, Normandy and one of the first records was that of Hugo de Bretinolles, temp. Henry I., who held a knight's fee in Berkshire in 1165. "The change of the name from Bretignolles to Bredenell, Bredenhill, and Brudenel, appears from various records." 2

"Amongst the old Leicestershire names now rare in the county is that of Brudenell. The Brudenells were a very distinguished family in the 16th and 17th centuries, and from them sprang the noble house of Cardigan." 3

Early History of the Birkenell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birkenell research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1102, 1136, 1139, 1151, 1193, 1234, 1391, 1429, 1455, 1461, 1487, 1510, 1520, 1530, 1531, 1532, 1533, 1547, 1593, 1600, 1607, 1663, 1692, 1703 and 1732 are included under the topic Early Birkenell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Birkenell Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Birkenell were recorded, including Brudenell, Brudnell, Brudenall, Brudnall, Brudenhall, Brewdenell, Brewdenall, Brewdnell, Broodnel, Brudnel, Brudnal, Broodnell, Broodnall, Bruddenell, Bruddenall, Birkenell, Brykenell, Brykenell and many more.

Early Notables of the Birkenell family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Brudenell, High Sheriff of Rutland; Sir Robert Brudenell KS (1461-1531), Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (1520-1530.) He was descended from William Brudenell, who was settled at Dodington and Adderbury in Oxfordshire, and Aynhoe, Northamptonshire, in the reign of Henry III, and from an Edmund lirudenell who was Attorney-General to Richard II...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Birkenell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Birkenell family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Birkenell arrived in North America very early: 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..

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.