| ![Show Contents]() Bridger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of BridgerWhat does the name Bridger mean? The Bridger surname is derived from the Old English word "brycg," which means bridge. It may have been a topographic name for someone who lived near a bridge, an occupational name for a bridge keeper, or a habitational name from one of several places named Bridge throughout England. Early Origins of the Bridger familyThe surname Bridger was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from early times. Early History of the Bridger familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bridger research. Another 152 words (11 lines of text) covering the year 1646 is included under the topic Early Bridger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bridger Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Bridge, Bridges, Briddge, Bridger, Bridgers and others. Early Notables of the Bridger familyMore information is included under the topic Early Bridger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bridger RankingIn the United States, the name Bridger is the 17,426th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Bridger is ranked the 612nd most popular surname with an estimated 74 people with that name. 2 Migration of the Bridger family to IrelandSome of the Bridger family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Bridger migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Bridger Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- General Joseph Bridger who settled in Virginia in 1654 from Gloucester, Gloucestershire
- Joseph Bridger, who landed in Maryland or Virginia in 1660 3
- James Bridger, who landed in Virginia in 1666 3
- Josep Bridger, who landed in Virginia in 1666 3
Bridger Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Law Bridger, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 3
- Sarah Bridger, who landed in Virginia in 1711 3
- William Bridger, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 3
- William Bridger, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 3
Bridger Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Edward Bridger, who arrived in New York in 1834 3
- John Bridger, who arrived in Virginia in 1887 3
| Bridger migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Bridger Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- William Bridger, planter of Twillingate, Newfoundland in 1817 4
- John Bridger, fisherman of Herring Neck in 1850 and Salt Harbour, Newfoundland in 1851 4
- James Bridger, fisherman of Change Islands in 1852 and of Hall's Bay, Newfoundland in 1854 4
| Bridger migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Bridger Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. Samuel Bridger, English convict who was convicted in Kingston upon Thames, London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 1st January 1850, arriving in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 5
- William Bridger (aged 22), a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Aurora"
| Bridger migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Bridger Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Elizabeth Bridger, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1863 6
- Eliza Ann Bridger, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1863 6
- James F. Bridger, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1863 6
- Fanny R. Bridger, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1863 6
- Laura Bridger, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1863 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Bridger (post 1700) | + |
- Aaron Bridger (1918-2003), American jazz pianist
- Bobby Bridger (b. 1945), born Robert Durham, American singer and songwriter
- John D. Bridger (1922-2006), American football coach and college athletics administrator
- James Felix "Jim" Bridger (1804-1881), American mountain man, trapper, scout and guide who explored and trapped the Western United States during the decades of 1820-1850
- Irene Bridger, Canadian gospel musician from Twillingate, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Samuel Bridger (b. 1777), English professional cricketer in the late 18th century who made 21 known appearances in first-class matches from 1804 to 1825 for Surrey
- Lewis Bridger (b. 1989), English motorcycle racer
- Harry Bridger, English professional cricketer in the late 18th century
- Deonne Bridger (b. 1972), Australian archer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and 2004 Athens Olympic Games
- Jay Bridger (b. 1987), British racing driver
- ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
- 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)
- Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/australasia
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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