Burgit History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Etymology of Burgit

The present generation of the Burgit family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Northern England where the term 'of the birk-head,' as in "the head of the birches" was derived. Thus the name literally means "dweller by the birch-covered headland." 1 The name is related to the names Birkenhead and Beckett 2 and was frequented in Cumberland and Lancashire. 1

The Birket is a tributary of the River Mersey, on the Wirral, Merseyside.

Early Origins of the Burgit family

Early History of the Burgit family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burgit research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1425, 1503, 1507, 1573, 1607, 1623, 1634, 1636, 1638, 1646, 1650, 1653, 1666, 1700, 1703, 1746, 1838, 1908, 1929, 1958 and 1982 are included under the topic Early Burgit History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burgit Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Burgit include Birket, Birkett, Bircket, Burkett, Birckett, Burket, Burkert and many more.

Early Notables of the Burgit family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Anthony Birket of Beldorney Castle; Josiah Burchett (1666-1746), Secretary of the Admiralty in England; and William Burkitt (1650-1703), biblical expositor and vicar in Dedham, Essex, best known for his "Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament" published in 1700. 3Baron Birkett, of Ulverston in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is a hereditary...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burgit Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Burgit family to Ireland

Some of the Burgit family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Burgit family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Burgit were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: David Birket who arrived in New York State in 1803; John Birkett settled in Virginia in 1650; Samuel Birkett settled in New England in 1750; Joe Burkett settled in Barbados in 1635.