Show ContentsDrysdal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Drysdal. The Drysdal family lived in Dryfesdale, a parish in Annandale, Dumfriesshire. [1] "This parish, which derives its name from the Dryfe, a small rivulet running through the north-west part of it, contains several memorials of its ancient inhabitants, and of their domestic feuds or military operations. On the holm of Dryfe, half a mile below the former churchyard, there is still remaining an old thorntree pointing out the place of the celebrated fight on Dryfe-sands, between the Maxwells of Nithsdale and the Johnstons of Annandale, on the 7th December, 1593, when the former were defeated with great slaughter. " [2]

Early Origins of the Drysdal family

The surname Drysdal was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area. Specifically, the family claims descent from Dryfesdale, a civil parish in Annandale. [1]

The "dale" takes its name from the river Dryfe, commonly known as Dryfe Water. Lockerbie falls within the civil parish of Dryfesdale and is generally believed to have been an ancient Viking village c. 900. "There is also a Roman work situated upon an eminence in the centre of the extensive holm of Dryfe and Annan, and which is called GallaBerry, or the station of the Gauls. The most perfect relic of this kind, however, is the British fort at Dryfesdale-gate, occupying two acres of ground, and the counterpart of which is a large Roman work, about half a mile due east, separated only by a moor, on which a bloody battle was fought between the army of Julius Agricola and the forces of Corbredus Galdus, the Scottish king" [2]

The Church of Dryfesdale was dedicated to St Cuthbert in 1116. One of the first records of the name was Gawine Dryfesdale and John Dryesdale in 1499 "for thare being aganis the Kingis hienes in the battell and feyld committit besyde Striuelin one Sanct Barnabeis day." [1]

Early History of the Drysdal family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Drysdal research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1503, 1506, 1567, 1574, 1599, 1619, 1631, 1718, 1740, 1748, 1761, 1762, 1764, 1773, 1778, 1784, 1788 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Drysdal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Drysdal Spelling Variations

Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Drysdal has been spelled Drysdale, Drisedale and others.

Early Notables of the Drysdal family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • John Drysdale (1718-1788), Scottish divine, third son of the Rev...
  • John Drysdale, by Anne, daughter of William Ferguson, born at Kirkaldy on 29 April 1718, and educated at the parish school in that town...
  • The call was sustained in the general assembly, even by the opponents of the claim, and Drysdale was admitted 14 Aug...

Ireland Migration of the Drysdal family to Ireland

Some of the Drysdal family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Drysdal family

Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. Among them: James Drysdale who landed in Massachusetts in 1764. Later family members made their homes in other northern states such as Pennsylvania.



  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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