Show ContentsBourner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestry of the name Bourner dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived at or near a local stream or a spring. Bourn is a small village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire. The population of the parish was 1,764 people at the time of the 2001 census.

Bourn Castle was located there and originally consisted of wooden buildings on an earthwork enclosure which was erected during the reign of William the Conqueror. This was burnt down during the reign of Henry III. In the early 16th century Bourn Hall was built on part of the site.

Early Origins of the Bourner family

The surname Bourner was first found in Lincolnshire at Bourne, a market town and civil parish in the South Kesteven district which dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Brune. The place name was derived from the Old English word burna or perhaps the Old Scandinavian word brunnr.

The aforementioned Bourn in South Cambridgeshire also dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed at that time as Brune. It has a similar origin. [1]

Bourne Abbey is in Bourne, Lincolnshire dates back to before Domesday Book in 1086. At that time, it was listed as "half a church" and had a priest. In other words, it was a small church but standards of those days. Bourne Abbey and the surrounding area was held by Ogier the Breton and was a major fishery holding at the time 2,500 eels. [2]

Early History of the Bourner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bourner research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1524, 1531, 1560, 1569, 1583, 1590, 1611, 1648, 1679, 1689, 1690, 1696, 1714, 1719, 1733, 1754 and 1796 are included under the topic Early Bourner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bourner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Bourner have been found, including Bourne, Borne, Bourn and others.

Early Notables of the Bourner family

Notables of the family at this time include William Bourne or Bourn; (d. 1583), English mathematician, son of William Bourne of Gravesend, who died 1560; Immanuel Bourne (1590-1679), English divine from East Haddon, Northamptonshire; and Nehemiah Bourne (c. 1611-1690), an English Royal Navy Admiral who emigrated to America after the Restoration, retiring his appointment.Samuel Bourn, the Elder (1648-1719), was an English dissenting minister, born in 1648 at Derby, where his father and grandfather, who were clothiers, had shown some public spirit in providing the town with...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bourner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Bourner family to Ireland

Some of the Bourner family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Bourner migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Bourner, or a variant listed above:

Bourner Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Gladys Bourner, aged 11, originally from North Shields, England, who arrived in New York in 1903 aboard the ship "Cedric" from Liverpool, England [3]
  • Charles Kingsley Bourner, aged 9, originally from North Shields, England, who arrived in New York in 1903 aboard the ship "Cedric" from Liverpool, England [3]
  • Archibald E. Bourner, originally from Kenterdon, Kent, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Denis" from Liverpool, England [3]
  • James Bourner, aged 34, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Northwestern Miller" from London, England [3]


The Bourner 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: Haec omnia transeunt
Motto Translation: All these things pass away.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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