| ![Show Contents]() Bridgeport History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of BridgeportWhat does the name Bridgeport mean? Bridgeport is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in Dorset, England where they "lived at the bridge," in market town and civil parish now known as Bridport. The town dates back to Saxon times when during the reign of King Alfred, it was one of the four most important settlements in Dorset. At that time, the town was called 'Brydian' which means 'place at the (River) Bride.' By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, the town was known as Brideport. 1 Early Origins of the Bridgeport familyThe surname Bridgeport was first found in Dorset, England where one of the earliest records of the family was John de Bridport, who was the Archdeacon of Totnes during 1207. Giles of Bridport or Bridleford was "Bishop of Salisbury, a native of the town from which he took his name. As Dean of Wells, an office to which he was elected in 1253, he arbitrated in a dispute between the abbot and monks of Abingdon. In 1255 he was Archdeacon of Berkshire. " 2 The Battle of Bridport was fought on 14 June 1685, at the beginning of the Monmouth Rebellion in the town of Bridport, Dorset. The battle was a victory for the Royalist forces and the rebels were forced to march to Axminster. Early History of the Bridgeport familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bridgeport research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bridgeport History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bridgeport Spelling VariationsSound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Bridgeport family name include Brideport, Bridport, Bridgeport, Bridgport and others. Early Notables of the Bridgeport familyMore information is included under the topic Early Bridgeport Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bridgeport familyFor political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Bridgeport surname or a spelling variation of the name include: George Bridport who arrived in Philadelphia in 1818; Hugh Bridport arrived in Philadelphia in 1832.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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