Show ContentsBridson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bridson Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Bridson

What does the name Bridson mean?

As a Scottish name, Bridson is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gille Brighde," meaning "son of the servant of (St.) Brigit." The Scottish Gaelic word for church "cill Bríghde," became a place name (Kilbride, in Lanarkshire) and some bearers of Bridson may have originally taken their surnames from this.

Early Origins of the Bridson family

The surname Bridson was first found in Arran, an island in North Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, in the Firth of Clyde, where the name has long existed, although the name's earliest recorded roots are from County Donegal in Ireland. According to legend, both the Scottish and the Irish branches are descended from the son of the servant of (St.) Brigit, the virgin Abbess of Kildare who died 525 A.D.

Early History of the Bridson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bridson research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1296, 1329, 1370, 1476 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bridson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bridson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacBride, McBride, Macbryde, Macbraid, MacBridan, McKillbride, McGillbride, Macilvride, Mackelbreed, McBryde, Bridson, Brydson, Kilbride, Gilbride,MacBridan, MacIlvride, MacBraid and many more.

Early Notables of the Bridson family

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

Migration of the Bridson family to Ireland

Some of the Bridson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 135 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bridson migration to the United States +



Bridson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Bridson, aged 42, British farmer from Isle of Man who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Rochester" on 20th May 1841
  • Mrs. Margaret Bridson, aged 38, British settler Isle of Man who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Rochester" on 20th May 1841
  • Mr. Samuel Bridson, aged 14, British settler Isle of Man who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Rochester" on 20th May 1841
  • Mr. Thomas Bridson, aged 17, British settler Isle of Man who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Rochester" on 20th May 1841

Bridson 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:

Bridson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Bridson, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 1
  • Thomas Bridson, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 1
  • Mr. William Bridson, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 2
  • Mr. Thomas Bridson, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 2
  • Thomas Bridson, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lorraine" in 1878
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bridson (post 1700) +

  • Mrs. Mary Christian Bridson B.E.M., British Personnel Officer for St John Ambulance, appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for voluntary service to St John Ambulance on the Isle of Man 3
  • Commander Gordon Bridson DSO, DSC (1909-1972), Royal New Zealand Navy commander of the minesweeping trawler Kiwi which, with her sister ship Moa, fought a classic duel with a Japanese submarine
  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  3. "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

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