Description:
The surname Birch is of English origin, and is a locational name derived from any of the various places in England named with the Old English word birce, meaning 'birch tree'. It is also a topographical name for someone who lived near a prominent birch tree. Variations of the name include Birche, Byrch, Burche, Byrche, Byrk and Birk. The first recorded spelling of the family name is that of Henry de Birche, which was dated 1273, in the 'Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire', during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 'The Hammer of the Scots', 1272-1307. The Birch family crest is a silver shield with a red chevron, three silver cinquefoils, and a black demi-lion rampant holding a silver cinquefoil. Cultural customs associated with the Birch family include the celebration of the Birch tree, which is seen as a symbol of strength, protection, and renewal. The family also holds a special gathering every year on the first day of spring, to celebrate the renewal of the birch tree, and to honor their ancestors.
