This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Dryfesdale,' a parish in Dumfriesshire.

1801. Married — William Drysdale and Harriot Mills: St. George, Hanover Square.

Of local origin from Dryfesdale, a parish in Annandale, popularly pronounced Drysdale. The dale takes its name from the river Dryfe which flows through it. Gawine Dryfesdale and John Dryfesdale had remission in 1499 (Trials, I, p. 100), "for thare being aganis the Kingis hienes in the battell and feyld committit besyde Striuelin one Sanct Barnabeis day." Thomas Dryisdaill, Ila Herald, was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1619 (CRA., p. 364). The surname is common in the Commissariot Record of Dunblane from 1599 onward. Draysdale 1761, Dryisdaill 1574, Drysdaill 1567, Drysdell 1631.

The surname is also common in Fifeshire, especially in the western part of the county, and the following account which has been preserved by representatives of the family explains the adoption of the surname there: "On the twentieth May 1503, We, Thomas, William, and James Douglas, sons of the late departed Thomas Douglas of Brushwood Haugh, in the parish of Drysdale (Dryfesdale) and shire of Dumfries, left our native place for the reason here assigned, viz.: Defending our just and lawful rights against our unjust neighbour, Johnston of Greenstonehill, who, being determined to bring water to his mill through our property, and having obtained leave of his friend the King (James IV), began operations on Monday, the 16th May. We prevented him by force. The next day he brought twenty of his vassals to carry on the work. We, with two friends and three servants (eight in all), attacked Johnston with his twenty and in the contest fourteen of his men were killed, along with their base leader. A report of the proceedings was carried to the King, and we were obliged to fly. We took shelter under the shadow of the Ochil Hills in a lonely valley on the river Devon. After having lived there for full two years we returned home in disguise, but found all our property in possession of Johnston's friends, and a great reward offered for our lives. We, having purchased a small spot called the Haugh of Dollar, and changed our names to the name of our native parish, were clearly in mind to spend the residue of our days under the ope of the Ochils, and with the name of Drysdale to flourish in the lonely valley. The King passed this way with his court on the twelfth Tune 1506, going from Stirling to Falkland, dined on Haliday's green (an eastern neighbour), but we were not recognised" (Sc. Ant., VIII, p. 158—159).

(Scot.) belonging to Drysdale, prop. Dryfesdale = the Dale of the R. Dryfe [Old English dæl = Old Norse dal-r, a dale]

(Scottish) One who came from Dryfesdale (valley of the Dryfe River), in Scotland.

Dryfesdale, a parish in Dumfrieshire.

A location name in Dumfriesshire.