Show ContentsDrysdel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Drysdel was first used by the ancient Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The first Drysdel 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 Drysdel family

The surname Drysdel 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 Drysdel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Drysdel 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 Drysdel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Drysdel Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Drysdel has appeared as Drysdale, Drisedale and others.

Early Notables of the Drysdel 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. In 1740 he took orders in the established church of Scotland. For some years he officiated as assistant to the Rev. James Bannatyne, minister of the college church, Edinburgh, and in 1748 he obtained, through the interest of the Earl of Hopetoun, the living of Kirkliston in Linlithgowshire, of which the presentation was in the crown. In 1762 he...
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Drysdel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Drysdel family to Ireland

Some of the Drysdel 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 Drysdel family

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. 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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