Birniside History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Birniside

What does the name Birniside mean?

The story of the Birniside family begins in ancient Scotland among the Pictish clans. The Birniside family lived in one of the many places by the same name. The name means dweller at the brookside from the Old English work burne which means brook and the word side. 1

Early Origins of the Birniside family

The surname Birniside was first found in Fife, but "there are villages named Burnside in the shires of Fife, Nairn, and Kincardine. " 2

Early History of the Birniside family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birniside research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1511, 1650, 1669, 1673 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Birniside History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Birniside Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Birniside has appeared Burnside, Burniside, Burnshed, Burnsyde and others.

Early Notables of the Birniside family

More information is included under the topic Early Birniside Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Birniside family to Ireland

Some of the Birniside family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Birniside family

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Birniside name: James Burnside who settled in Georgia in 1733; Joseph Burnside settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1757; Margaret Bovey Burnside settled in Charles Town in 1757.

The Birniside Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Gradatim plena
Motto Translation: Full by degrees.

Sources +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.