Surname Byrde - Meaning and Origin

Byrde: What does the surname Byrde mean?

The last name Byrde is a derived from an Old English word meaning 'bodyguard'. It originated from the Old English byrigen, meaning ‘to protect’. During the Middle Ages, the family name Byrde was often linked to noble families with great status and prestige in the society.

In the English language, this could have had several meanings. In the 8th and 9th centuries when the surname was established, it could have been a marker of power or of a guard of honour, or a measurement of status in the hierarchy of society. Others believe that the word 'byrde' derives from the Old English word bord, meaning ‘to build' or ‘to fasten’, implying a link to construction or engineering. As a result, the surname could have been used to refer to someone who worked in building, carpentry, engineering or architecture.

In modern day, the surname Byrde is associated with loyalty, trustworthiness and helpfulness. It suggests someone who is powerful and unbending, yet loyal to their people. These traits have become associated with people who carry the surname in the English-speaking world. Ultimately, many believe that the surname Birde stands for resilience, courage and strength, values held highly in many societies.

Byrde: Where does the name Byrde come from?

The last name Byrde is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, primarily in Yorkshire and Lancashire. It may also be found in the United States, particularly in the Midwest. The surname is believed to be of AngloSaxon origin, derived from the Old English word byrde, which means ‘bird’. It is likely that the name originally denoted someone who was a bird watcher or hunter.

In the US, Byrde can be found in records as far back the late 1700s, mostly in the Midwestern states of Illinois and Ohio, indicating that it may have been borne by settlers originally from England. Since then the name is well-established in this region as a surname. Indeed, there are several instances in which the name appears in various reviews and records of the 19th century in Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan.

The name can also be found in other parts of the US, including Pennsylvania, California, and New York. In fact, there are several Byrdes in the Social Security Death Index, including one Alfred Byrde who died in 1971 in California.

Today the last name Byrde is still widespread in the UK and the US, where it continues to be passed down generation to generation. It serves as an enduring legacy of Anglo-Saxon history and the various bird-related occupations which it represents.

Variations of the surname Byrde

The surname Byrde is an English occupational surname that derived from the Middle English word “byrd” which referred to a “man of importance” or a “person in charge”. It was originally borne by a family who lived in the town of Bury in East Lancashire. Over time, the name has evolved and taken on a number of variants, spellings and surnames including: Byrd, Bird, Birds, Beirde, Byarde, Bord, Borde, Burd, Burde and Burds. The Birds surname is particularly well known in the United States, with records of the name appearing in several states around the country as early as the 1600s. Other prominent related surnames include Bryd, Birde, Byrds, Byrd, Byrdson, Byrdsong and Byrdsworth.

The most prevalent spelling of the Byrde surname in England is Bird, both for direct descendants and people who have adopted a variant spelling in the modern era. In Scotland, the Bord family is the most prevalent variant of the Byrde surname. The spelling Bord is also prevalent in northern Ireland, as is the spelling Borde. The spelling Byrd is particularly prevalent in the United States, with the majority of Americans who trace their ancestry to England bearing this spelling.

The Byrde surname is most commonly found in records in the United Kingdom, with the most frequent occurrences being in counties such as Lancashire, Oxfordshire and Kent. In other countries, the most common spelling appears to be Byrd, with the most occurrences being found in the United States. Whether it’s Byrde, Bird, Beirde, Byarde, Bord, Borde, Burd Burde, Burds, Byrds, Byrdson, Byrdsong, Byrdsworth or any of the other variant spellings, the common origins of the Byrde surname are unmistakable.

Famous people with the name Byrde

• Eric Byrde: American actor and model.
• Phil Byrde: British financier, private equity investor and philanthropist.
• Robert Byrde: former football player for the University of Southern California Trojans.
• Scott Byrde: an American comedian, actor and producer.
• Sigurjon 'Siggi' Byrde: Icelandic business leader and former president of national airline, Icelandair.
• Eddie Byrde: former football commentator for British television.
• Andrew Byrde: British entrepreneur and founder of Ruski, a digital media start-up.
• George L. Byrde: American brigadier general during World War I.
• Dee Byrde: American artist and public figure.
• John Byrde: English politician, former MP for Croydon North East.
• Loan O. Byrde: private in the United States Army during World War II.
• Emily Byrde: American composer and pianist.
• William Byrde: eighteenth-century British clockmaker.
• Peter Byrde: member of the British Conservative Party lifeboat crew.
• Robert Byrde: English legal scholar and writer.
• Jonathan Byrde: British lawyer and politician who served as Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Commons.
• Susan Byrde: American magazine editor, author, and playwright.
• Geoffrey Byrde: British accountant and former head of accounting firm Stoy Hayward.
• John Byrde: Australian professional golfer.
• Timothy Byrde: British writer and actor.

Other surnames

Byrd