Kirkbryde History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Kirkbryde

What does the name Kirkbryde mean?

When the ancestors of the Kirkbryde family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived near a church which is derived from the Scottish word kirk, which means church. There is a town called Kirkbridge in Cumberland, about 6 miles from Wigton. 1

Early Origins of the Kirkbryde family

The surname Kirkbryde was first found in Cumberland, where Adam de Logis adopted this surname after being granted the village of Kirkbride by his father. Kirkbride is located in Cumbria, near the Kirkbride Roman fort which dates back to 122 AD and Hadrian's Wall. Richard de Kirkbride was heir portioner of Helewysa de Levintone, Cumberland in 1274. 2

Early History of the Kirkbryde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirkbryde research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1274, 1677 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Kirkbryde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kirkbryde Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Kirkbryde have been found, including Kirkbride, Kirkbryd, Kirkbright and others.

Early Notables of the Kirkbryde family

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

Migration of the Kirkbryde family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. 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 Kirkbryde were among those contributors: Joseph Kirkbride to Pennsylvania in 1684; David Kirkbride to Philadelphia in 1833 and Owen Kirkbride to Philadelphia in 1860.

Sources +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)