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Bermingham History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Bermingham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Bermingham is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in or around the city of Birmingham in Warwickshire. This place-name predates the Domesday Book and is thought by historians to have evolved from the Old English Beornmundingaham, meaning, homestead of the people of Beornmund. 1

Another source claims that the place name's "etymology is involved in great uncertainty. Dugdale, from its Saxon termination, deduces it from the first Saxon lord; while others assign to it an origin of much higher antiquity, inferring that, with more probability, the first Saxon proprietor took his name from that of the town, which they suppose to have been originally 'Bromwych,' from the quantity of broom formerly growing in the neighbourhood". 2

Early Origins of the Bermingham family

The surname Bermingham was first found in Warwickshire. While the family is generally understood to have hailed from this area, we must look to Staffordshire to find the first record of the name, specifically Peter de Bremingeham who was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1170. Gilbert de Birmingeham was listed in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1271 and John de Burmyngham was listed in Warwickshire in 1333. 3

The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Bermingeham. 4 The family is just as populous in Ireland as "the noble and warlike family of the Bremichams, earls of Louth, in Ireland were instrumental in assisting Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, in the conquest of that country. " 2

Sir John Bermingham Earl of Louth (d. 1328), was the second son of Piers or Peter, third Lord of Athenry. "In 1312 he was knighted by Mortimer, the viceroy, for assisting to expel the De Lacys from Meath. In 1318 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the English forces in Ireland, and marched north with about 1,600 men against Edward Bruce."

Little Barningham in Norfolk was an ancient family seat. "A charter for a market and a fair was granted by Edward I. to Walter de Berningham, who at that time possessed the manor." 2

William de Bermingham, who attended Edward I. into Gascony, was made prisoner at the siege of Bellegarde in 1297 and his descendant William, who was summoned to parliament by the title of William, Lord Birmingham, in the 1st of Edward III.

Richard de Berningham (fl. 1313), was a Justice Itinerant. "There were two families of this name in the reign of Edward II, one in Yorkshire and the other in Norfolk. Both contained a Richard de Berningham, the former a son of John de Berningham, the latter of Walter de Berningham, lord of the manor of Hanteyns Barnham, Norfolk. " 5

Early History of the Bermingham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bermingham research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1050, 1170, 1289, 1311, 1328, 1420, 1483, 1490, 1513, 1515, 1532, 1584, 1685, 1750 and 1992 are included under the topic Early Bermingham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bermingham Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Bermingham were recorded, including Bermingham, Berminean, Bermingcham, Berminham, Bremingham, Birmingham and many more.

Early Notables of the Bermingham family

Distinguished members of the family include

Philip Bermingham (c.1420-1490) an Irish judge who held the office of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland...
Michel Bermingham (1685-fl...

Migration of the Bermingham family to Ireland

Some of the Bermingham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 226 words (16 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bermingham migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Bermingham family emigrate to North America:

Bermingham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Eliza Bermingham, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 6
Thomas Bermingham, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 6
John Bermingham, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1826 6
James Bermingham, who landed in Maryland in 1841 6
James Bermingham, Martin, Michael, Richard and William, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1853 and 1878

Bermingham migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bermingham Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Bermingham, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1827

Bermingham migration to Australia +

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

Bermingham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Catherine Bermingham, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Charlotte Jane" 7
Honora Bermingham, aged 18, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" 8
John Bermingham, aged 46, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Telegraph"
Walter Bermingham, aged 14, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Telegraph"
Ann Bermingham, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Telegraph"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bermingham (post 1700) +

Gerald Edward "Gerry" Bermingham (1940-2023), British politician and barrister, a Labour Member of Parliament for St Helens South from 1983 until 2001
Brian Bermingham, Irish Fine Gael politician, Lord Mayor of Cork (2008-2009)
Willie Bermingham (1942-1990), Irish firefighter and campaigner, founder of A.L.O.N.E. ( A Little Offering Never Ends)
Michael 'Mick' Bermingham, Irish sportsperson
Karl Bermingham (b. 1985), Irish footballer
Joseph Bermingham (1919-1995), Irish Labour Party politician, Minister of State at the Department of Finance (1981-1982) and (1982-1986)
James Bermingham (1849-1907), Member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
Ian Bermingham (b. 1989), Irish professional footballer
Erin Margaret Bermingham (b. 1988), New Zealand cricketer

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHARLOTTE JANE 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/charlottejane1852.shtml
South Australian Register Monday 27th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Sir Edward Parry 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/siredwardparry1854.shtml