Hi--A few weeks ago I checked the name of Birdwell in England for addresses, etc. and came up with a Bruce Birdwell. I wrote, giving him my URL and asking for info. Turned out it is Bruce W Birdwell a M/Sgt in the US Army stationed over there & he answered saying that he had just had a company called A World Apart LTD give him info on his ancestory and he would mail it. I received it today FAMILY SURNAME ---BIRDWELL BIRDWELL - is a surname of English origin adopted from the locational name given to "Dweller at or near a spring or well frequented by birds". When surnames were becoming established in the 11th and 12th centuries, locational names were to be one of the main sources used for surname. A man would be known by the name of the place he lived in, or near and would adopt this as a surname. Not only town and village names appear in modern surname records but many local places names are also found. He goes on in the report telling about the place Birdwell in England and a description of Coat of Arms. It is 4 pages long. If anyone wants it I will be glad to slow mail it to them. He sent along a copy of page 7 from a book called "The First Settlers of New England showing three generations of those who came before May, 1692. On the page is: Birdwell, II, 53 and another page numbered 5 telling about an Anthony Dix, Plymouth, as one of the first comers, 1623. Further down the page he has marked" John, Hartford, perhaps br. of Leonard, was requir. by ct. to m. Mary Birdwell, but was complain. of for beating her, 1676, was still there tax. 1683; sold his ho. and ld. 1686, and one of his ch. John d. 1692. Then there are 2 pages: one of a list of Soldiers of the American Civil War 1861-1865 ( 8 listed) and one page a Census of World War I, Civilian Draft with 10 names listed but several are repeats. I also checked through an old box that I had and in Oct.1982 I went to Morman Genealogy Library and copied down 2 names: Henry Birdwell born 1605 Cranfield Beds.Eng. married 6-17-1630 to Alice Odel (Woddel)born 1609 at Cranfield, Eng. listed in family records. Beds-2 Vol 27, p. 5-8,39 and 62-3 and listed 7 children born in the 1600's. The family repr. at the time was a Rozena Nelson Oaks, Mrs. LeRoy Oaks 2699 N 100 East, Ogden, Utah. I wrote her in 1982 but she never answered There was also a Benjamin Birdwell born 1763 in Gedling Notts, England, married 4-22-1728 to Sarah Key born 1707 at Gedling Notts, Engl. info waws on vol 10, p. 65, Gedling Notts 4. and was submitted by Evelyn Kershaw Jorgenson 176 N. Main #4, Salt Lake City, Utah, by Stella Richards. I also wrote to Ms Jorgenson in 1982 but she never answered either. So I guess we are still trying to find out who was the first Birdwell who came to US and when. Good hunting Velma PS--now you know I am a packrat when I save all these little tidbits.