Thisdale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the Thisdale name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the area known as Teesdale found in the counties of Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire. Thisdale is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. During the Middle Ages, as society became more complex, individuals needed a way to be distinguishable from others. Toponymic surnames were developed as a result of this need. Various features in the landscape were used to distinguish people from one another. In this case the original bearers of the surname Thisdale were named due to their close proximity to the river Tees, which flowed between Yorkshire and Durham.

Early Origins of the Thisdale family

The surname Thisdale was first found in Durham where Walter de Tesedale was listed 1235-1236. A few years later, Mariota de Tesdale was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland (Cumbria) in 1332 and later again, Thomas Tesdall was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1525. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included William tie Tesedal, Yorkshire. Henry de Tesdale was Prior of Finchale in 1295. The source History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham included Hugh de Tesedale, 1350 and later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Johannes de Tesedale. 2

Early History of the Thisdale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thisdale research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1547, 1556, 1563, 1570, 1579, 1581, 1610, 1613, 1646, 1669, 1706, 1711 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Thisdale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thisdale Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Thisdale were recorded, including Teasdale, Tisdale, Tisdell, Teesdale, Tisdall and others.

Early Notables of the Thisdale family

Notables of the family at this time include William Tisdale or Tisdall (born circa 1570), an English musician and composer. Thomas Tesdale, Teasdale or Tisdale (1547-1610), was an English 'co-founder of Pembroke College, Oxford,' born at Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, son of Thomas Tesdale (d. 1556), by his second wife, Joan (Knapp.) "He was brought up by his uncle, Richard Tesdale, a sadler of Abingdon, and was in 1563 the first...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Thisdale Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Thisdale family to Ireland

Some of the Thisdale family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Thisdale family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Thisdale family emigrate to North America: Elizabeth Tisdell settled in Barbados in 1686; Charles Tisdall settled in Virginia in 1730; Margaret, James, and Jane Tisdale settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1763.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)