Show ContentsBurbey Surname History

The name Burbey first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in Leicestershire, and held a family seat at the village of Burbage. There is also a Burbage Brook in Padley Gorge, Derbyshire. The surname is derived from the Old English form of Burbage on the Wye, which means someone who lived at the brook or valley of the burg. 1

Early Origins of the Burbey family

The surname Burbey was first found in Leicestershire at Burbage, a chapelry, in the parish of AstonFlamville, union of Hinckley, hundred of Sparkenhoe. 2 Alternatively the name could have been from Burbage, a parish, in the union of Pewsey, hundred of Kinwardstone, Marlborough and Ramsbury in Wiltshire. 3 4

Early History of the Burbey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burbey research. Another 146 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1531, 1566, 1567, 1576, 1597, 1607, 1619, 1631, 1636 and 1653 are included under the topic Early Burbey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burbey Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Burbey has appeared include Burbage, Burbidge, Burbyche, Burbridge and others.

Early Notables of the Burbey family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Thomas Burbidge; James Burbage (or Burbadge) (1531-1597), an English actor, theatre impresario; and his son Cuthbert Burbage (1566-1636), English theatrical figure; and his brother, Richard Burbage (c.1567-1619) British actor, member of the Earl of...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burbey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Burbey family to Ireland

Some of the Burbey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 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 Burbey family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Burbey arrived in North America very early: Thomas Burbage who settled in Virginia in 1642; Thomas Burbadge settled in Virginia in 1653; Elizabeth Burbridge settled in New England in 1775; Thomas Burbridge her husband also settled in New England in the same year.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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