Contents [hide]

Burgh History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Sources

Burgh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England
Germany
Ireland

Etymology of Burgh

What does the name Burgh mean?

The history of the Burgh family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Hampshire. The name was given to settlements located near a hill, and is from the Old English beorg, which means hill. It is from one of many English settlements so named that this family take their name. 1

Early Origins of the Burgh family

The surname Burgh was first found in Hampshire where they were descended from Hubert de Burgh, who became Lord of the Manor of Tichfield in that county.

"Robert de Burgh, Earl of Moreton in Normandy, son of Harlowen de Burgh, by Arlotta, his wife, mother of William the Conqueror, participated with his half-brother in the triumph at Hastings, was created Earl of Cornwall, and received, as a further recompense, grants of seven hundred and ninety-three manors. This potent noble left one son, William Earl of Cornwall, who, rebelling against the first Henry, joined Robert of Normandy, and led the van at the battle of Tenchebray. In this conflict, after displaying great personal valour, he fell into the hands of his opponents and was sent prisoner to England, where he was treated with much cruelty, the king causing his eyes to be put out, and detaining him in captivity for life. " 2

The township of Middleton in Lancashire is of particular historical importance to the family. "In the reign of Henry III., Hubert de Burgh, (c. 1170-1243) Earl of Kent, Lord Chief Justice of England, had a grant of the whole of Wyresdale, with remainder to his heirs: he left two sons, from one of whom descended the Burghs or Borroughs, of Gainsborough; and it is probable that William de Burgh, of Middleton, who died about 1323, was descended also from the chief justice." 3

Again in Lancashire another early record was found: William de Burgh, rector of the church of St. Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire in 1374. 4

John Borough, Burgh or De Burgo (d. 1386), was an English divine, D.D. of Cambridge and rector of Collingham, Nottinghamshire. 5

"Borough, in Northam [Devon], made ever famous by Kingsley in its association with his Sir Amyas Leigh, was the seat of a family of the same name, which produced at least two very eminent Devonshire seamen Steven and William Borough. Steven Borough, though little known, is entitled to a very honourable place in the list of Devon worthies. Born in 1525, he was master of the largest vessel, the Edward Bonaventure, in Sir Hugh Willoughby's luckless voyage to the Arctic Seas, planned by Cabot, and which would have been an utter failure had not Borough and his comrade, Richard Chancellor, the pilot-major of the fleet, determined to prosecute their voyage after they had been separated from Willoughby by a storm. In 1556, Borough went again to the Northern Seas in a pinnace, to carry forward the intentions of the original expedition, and to find a way by the north-east to Cathay. He made the most remarkable voyage in the annals of Arctic exploration. The little vessel drew only four feet of water. She had for crew only the brothers Borough and eight others; yet she entered the Kara Sea, and reached a point beyond which no navigator went until our own days English, Dutch, and Russian failing each in turn." 6

Early History of the Burgh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burgh research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1243, 1259, 1271, 1320, 1440, 1465, 1472, 1500, 1525, 1536, 1579, 1584, 1587, 1599, 1600, 1620, 1630, 1634, 1641, 1642, 1643, 1646, 1650, 1660, 1663, 1673, 1677, 1685, 1691, 1692, 1703, 1709, 1713, 1764, 1787 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Burgh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burgh Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Burgh family name include Burrough, Burgh, Borrows, Burrowes, Burroughs, Burrows, Burroughes and many more.

Early Notables of the Burgh family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Benedict Burgh (fl. 1472), English clerk and translator, Rector of Sandon, Essex, in 1440, Archdeacon of Colchester in 1465, a prebendary of St. Paul's in 1472; Stephen Borough (1525-1584), an English...

Migration of the Burgh family to Ireland

Some of the Burgh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 230 words (16 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burgh migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Burgh family to immigrate North America:

Burgh Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Burgh, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 7

Burgh Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel Burgh, aged 22, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Princess Charlotte" in 1830 8
J. Burgh, aged 47, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Hudson" in 1832 8
Francis Burgh, aged 34, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Philadelphia" in 1840 8
George Burgh, aged 7, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Philadelphia" in 1840 8
Sarah Burgh, aged 28, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Jane" in 1840 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Burgh migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Burgh Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Eliza Burgh, aged 40, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "William Money" 9
Miss Letitia Burgh (Bird), (b. 1830), aged 20, English nursemaid, from Essex travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 25th January 1851 10

Burgh Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

L. Burgh, British settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Ophir" in 1909
Vander Burgh, settler who arrived in Western Australia aboard the ship "Malwa" in 1913
Miss Annette E. Burgh, British settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Chitral" in 1928

Contemporary Notables of the name Burgh (post 1700) +

William George de Burgh FBA (1866-1943), English philosopher
Geoffrey de Burgh (1180-1228), English Bishop of Ely
Thomas Burgh (1558-1597), 3rd Baron Burgh, English peer, 7th Baron Strabolgi, Lord Deputy of Ireland 1597
Thomas Burgh (1488-1550), 1st Baron Burgh, English peer and 5th Baron Strabolgi
Thomas Burgh (1431-1496), of Gainsborough, English peer and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire 1460
Sir John Burgh (1562-1594), English military and naval commander and privateer
Ulick Canning de Burgh (1827-1867), Lord Dunkellin, Anglo-Irish soldier and politician, was Military Secretary to the Viceroy of India and MP for Galway Borough (1857-65) and County Galway (1865-67)
Walter de Burgh (1210-1271), 1st Earl of Ulster, 2nd Lord of Connaught, also spelt Burke or Bourke, Irish peer from the House of Burgh
William de Burgh (1160-1205), British-born Irish founder of the House of Burgh (later surnamed Burke or Bourke) in Ireland
Sir William Óg de Burgh (b. 1270), Anglo-Irish noble and soldier
... (Another 40 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Burgh Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Animo et fide
Motto Translation: By courage and faith.

Sources +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "WILLIAM MONEY" 1848-49. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849WmMoney.htm
The Argus News Paper 27th January 1852 Page 2 (Retrieved 26th April 2019). Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4775844?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FA%2Ftitle%2F13%2F1851%2F01%2F27%2Fpage%2F505154%2Farticle%2F4775844