Girdler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Girdler is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Girdler family lived in "the Seigneurie of Gurdon near Cahors, on the border of Perigord: a Gothic race, very early seated in Hampshire. Adam de Gurdon 'the Kings Servant,' received from Coeur de Lion half a knight's fee in Selborne and Ostede, and a grant of the lordship of Tisted from his successor. Henry III gave by charter 'free chase of hares and foxes in and without the forest,' to another Adam de Gurdon. " ^[1]

Early Origins of the Girdler family

The surname Girdler was first found in Gourdon, an arrondissement of France before the Norman Conquest. ^[2]

One of the first records there was William de Gourdon who founded Gourdon Abbey in 1240. After the Conquest, "Aimeric de Gourdon, 13th century was a benefactor to the church, and had grants from King John in England. In 1231 Henry III. granted to Ralph Mareschal part of the estate of Sir Adam de Gourdon (d. 1305.) " ^[2]

While we could find no villages named Gourdon in Britain, one may presume that Girton in Cambridgeshire and Nottinghamshire would be the likely related villages. Girton Cambridgeshire dates back to c. 1060 when it was listed as Grittone and a few years later is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Gretone. ^[3]

Girton, Nottinghamshire similarly dates back to the Domesday Book with the same spelling. Both literally mean "farmstead or village on gravelly ground," from the Old English words "greot" + "tun." ^[4]

Girton College of the University of Cambridge derives its name from the nearby village. One branch of the family held a family seat at Assington in Suffolk since early times. "Assington Hall was purchased by Robert Gurdon, in the reign of Henry VIII., from Sir Piers Corbet, and has ever since been the residence of that family." ^[5]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Bartholomew Gurdon in Norfolk; Thomas Gurdon in Oxfordshire; and Roger Gurdon in Cambridgeshire. ^[6]

Early History of the Girdler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Girdler research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1544, 1623, 1571, 1649, 1621, 1622, 1595, 1679, 1640, 1660, 1606 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Girdler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Girdler Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Girdler were recorded, including Gurdon, Girdon, Gurton, Girton, Gerdon, Girtin, Gretton, Gritten and many more.

Early Notables of the Girdler family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Gurdon (c. 1544-1623), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1571; Brampton Gurdon (died 1649), an English country gentleman and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1621 to...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Girdler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Girdler migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Girdler arrived in North America very early:

Girdler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mary Girdler, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 ^[7]

Girdler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mary Girdler, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894

Girdler Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Jesse Girdler, aged 31, who settled in America from Godstone, England, in 1907
Ethel Girdler, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Southampton, England, in 1910
Lucy Ann Girdler, aged 49, who landed in America from Aldershot, England, in 1919

Girdler migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Girdler Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Herbert Girdler, aged 24, who immigrated to Asquith, Canada, in 1910
Charles William Girdler, aged 38, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1920

Girdler migration to Australia +

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

Girdler Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Girdler, aged 47, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Marshall Bennett" ^[8]
William Girdler (aged 26), a shoemaker, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
Mr. William Girdler, (b. 1830), aged 26, English shoemaker from Hampton, London, England, UKtravelling from Plymouth, Devon, UK aboard the ship "Aliquis" arriving in Adelaide, Australia on 26th August 1856 ^[9]
Mrs. Sarah Girdler (née Barwell), (b. 1832), aged 24, English settler from Hampton, London, England, UKtravelling from Plymouth, Devon, UK aboard the ship "Aliquis" arriving in Adelaide, Australia on 26th August 1856 ^[9]
Miss Harriet Esther Girdler, (b. 1854), aged 2, English settler from Hampton, London, England, UKtravelling from Plymouth, Devon, UK aboard the ship "Aliquis" arriving in Adelaide, Australia on 26th August 1856 ^[9]

Contemporary Notables of the name Girdler (post 1700) +

William Girdler (1947-1978), American filmmaker
Ryan Girdler (b. 1972), Australian retired rugby league player

Citations +

^ Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
^ The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
^ Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
^ Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
^ 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)
^ South Australian Register Friday 29 April 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Marshall Bennett 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/marshallbennett1853.shtml.
^ The Ships List Passenger Lists Ship Aliquis (Retrieved 26th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/aliquis1856.shtml

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