Contents [hide]

Bridgman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Bridgman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestry of the name Bridgman can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a name for a dweller by or "keeper of the bridge" in various parts of England.

Early Origins of the Bridgman family

The surname Bridgman was first found in Sussex where one of the first records of the name was John Brygeman who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of that county in 1296. The next reference of the name was John Bregman who was listed in 1310 in Essex. 1

A few years later, John Bruggemon was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire of 1332. The same reference listed two versions of the following entry: William Breggeman and William atte Bregge. In the Yorkshire Poll Tax records of 1379, we found Johannes Brigeman. 2

Early History of the Bridgman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bridgman research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1568, 1577, 1606, 1638, 1640, 1642, 1646, 1647, 1649, 1652, 1671, 1674, 1682, 1685, 1687, 1692, 1695, 1699, 1701, 1764, 1847, 1878, 1928 and 1990 are included under the topic Early Bridgman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bridgman Spelling Variations

Bridgman has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Bridgman have been found, including Bridgeman, Bridgman and others.

Early Notables of the Bridgman family

Distinguished members of the family include Dr. John Bridgeman (1577-1652), Bishop of Chester who purchased the manor of Great Lever from the Assheton family, re-built the Hall, and resided here during some part of the Rebellion. The Bishop's eldest son, Sir Orlando Bridgeman, chief Baron of the exchequer, and afterwards lord keeper of the great seal, was the first English-man advanced to the dignity of Baronet by Charles II. after the Restoration, by the name of Sir Orlando Bridgeman, of Great Lever.Sir John Bridgeman (1568-1638) was Chief Justice of Chester; Henry Bridgeman, DD (died 1682), an Anglican clergyman, the Bishop of...
Another 102 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bridgman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bridgman family to Ireland

Some of the Bridgman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bridgman migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Bridgmans to arrive on North American shores:

Bridgman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Bridgman, who settled in Virginia in 1636
James Bridgman, who landed in Hartford, Connecticut in 1640 3
Daniell Bridgman, who landed in Virginia in 1643 3
Jacob Bridgman, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 3
Thomas Bridgman, who settled in Virginia in 1654
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bridgman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thornton Bridgman arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850
Thornton Bridgman, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 3

Bridgman migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bridgman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Bridgman who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "David Malcolm" on 13th May 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island 4
Edward Bridgman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke of Bedford" in 1848 5
George Bridgman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Woodstock" in 1851 6
Mr. Edward Bridgman, (b. 1836), aged 20, Cornish miner travelling from Plymouth, Devon, UK aboard the ship "Aliquis" arriving in Adelaide, Australia on 26th August 1856 7
Edward Bridgman (aged 20), a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bridgman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bridgman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Emily J. Bridgman, (b. 1876), aged 1, Cornish settler departing on 31st October 1877 aboard the ship "Hereford" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 19th January 1878 8
Mr. J. John Bridgman, (b. 1871), aged 6, Cornish settler departing on 31st October 1877 aboard the ship "Hereford" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 19th January 1878 8
Mr. James W. Bridgman, (b. 1874), aged 3, Cornish settler departing on 31st October 1877 aboard the ship "Hereford" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 19th January 1878 8
Miss Jane Bridgman, (b. 1840), aged 37, Cornish settler departing on 31st October 1877 aboard the ship "Hereford" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 19th January 1878 8
Mr. John Bridgman, (b. 1841), aged 36, Cornish farm labourer departing on 31st October 1877 aboard the ship "Hereford" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 19th January 1878 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bridgman (post 1700) +

Frederick Arthur Bridgman (1847-1928), American artist
Elijah Coleman Bridgman (1801-1861), American missionary in China
Percy Williams Bridgman (1882-1961), American physicist who won the 1946 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the physics of high pressures
Laura Dewey Bridgman (1829-1889), American blind/deaf/mute teacher
Sir Orlando Bridgman (1608-1674), English conveyancer and judge
Mr. Richard William Bridgman O.B.E., British Founder and Owner for Warren Services Ltd, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to apprenticehsips for young people 9
David Bridgman (b. 1960), Australian architect from Darwin
Melvin John Bridgman (b. 1955), Canadian former professional NHL ice hockey centre
George Bridgman (1865-1943), Canadian anatomist and artist

The Bridgman 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: Nec Temere Nec Timide
Motto Translation: Neither rashly nor timidly.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-malcolm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DUKE OF BEDFORD 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848DukeofBedford.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WOODSTOCK 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Woodstock.htm
The Ships List Passenger Lists Ship Aliquis (Retrieved 26th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/aliquis1856.shtml
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists