The Bridgmane name was originally an Anglo-Saxon name that was given to a dweller by or "keeper of the bridge" in various parts of England.
The surname Bridgmane 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]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bridgmane research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1646, 1647, 1577, 1652, 1568, 1638, 1682, 1671, 1682, 1606, 1674, 1640, 1642, 1649, 1701, 1646, 1699, 1685, 1687, 1692, 1699, 1695, 1764, 1577 and 1652 are included under the topic Early Bridgmane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Bridgmane has undergone many spelling variations, including Bridgeman, Bridgman and others.
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 Bridgmane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Bridgmane 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.
To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Bridgmane were among those contributors: Jacob Bridgemen who settled in Virginia in 1654; John Bridgeman settled in Virginia in 1663; Walter Bridgeman arrived in Philadelphia in 1684; Thomas Bridgman settled in Virginia in 1654.