I have successfully traced my heritage,(confirmed by my newfound cousin in London, checked against the family bible in his keeping) back to Newburn, Ponteland, Stamfordham, in NBL, as well as parts of Durham. Thomas Birkley (d. 1662) was the earliest Birkley. At one point Birkley was changed to Berkley (end of the 1700s) and my grandfather added the third "e" to our name, he assuming that we were from the Gloucester Berkeleys. I am very interested in meeting any living Birkley / Berkley descendants from the aforementioned lines and corresponding. Warmest Regards, Douglas Berkeley
