Show ContentsBurbridge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Burbridge is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family 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 Burbridge family

The surname Burbridge 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 Burbridge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burbridge 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 Burbridge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burbridge Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Burbridge has been spelled many different ways, including Burbage, Burbidge, Burbyche, Burbridge and others.

Early Notables of the Burbridge 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 Burbridge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Burbridge family to Ireland

Some of the Burbridge 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.


United States Burbridge migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Burbridges to arrive in North America:

Burbridge Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ann Burbridge, who arrived in Maryland in 1671 [5]
  • Alice Burbridge, who landed in Maryland in 1680 [5]
Burbridge Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Elizabeth Burbridge, who settled in New England in 1775 with her husband Thomas
Burbridge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Burbridge, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1867
  • Alice Burbridge, aged 33, who settled in America from Birmingham, in 1892
  • Mary Ann Burbridge, aged 19, who landed in America from Ireland, in 1893
  • W. Burbridge, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1897
  • Lizzie Burbridge, aged 27, who settled in America from Rongford, in 1899
Burbridge Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Richard Burbridge, aged 57, who landed in America from London, in 1904
  • Elizabeth J. Burbridge, aged 32, who landed in America from London, in 1904
  • Chas. T. Burbridge, aged 40, who landed in America, in 1905
  • Samuel L. Burbridge, who immigrated to America, in 1906
  • Frederick Burbridge, aged 39, who settled in America from Nottingham, in 1907
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Burbridge migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Burbridge Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Georgia Burbridge, aged 36, who immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada, in 1913
  • Herbert E Burbridge, aged 33, who immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada, in 1913
  • Herbert Lowe Burbridge, aged 40, who settled in Vancouver, Canada, in 1920
  • John Burbridge, aged 20, who settled in Halifax, Canada, in 1922

Australia Burbridge migration to Australia +

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

Burbridge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Henry Burbridge, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Shackamaxon" [6]
  • John Burbridge, aged 31, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Escort"

Contemporary Notables of the name Burbridge (post 1700) +

  • Kofi Burbridge (1961-2019), American keyboardist and flautist, brother of bass player Oteil Burbridge
  • Lyle J. Burbridge (1922-2006), American Academy Award nominated sound engineer, known for his work on Rocky (1976)
  • Betty Burbridge (1895-1987), American screenwriter and actress, active from 1914 to 1947, granddaughter of Stephen Burbridge
  • Aaron Burbridge (b. 1993), American college football wide receiver
  • Stephen Gano Burbridge (1831-1894), nicknamed the "Butcher of Kentucky," an American Union Major General during the American Civil War
  • Oteil Burbridge (b. 1964), Grammy Award-winning American multi-instrumentalist
  • Cynthia Carmen "Cindy" Burbridge (b. 1979), Thailand-born, American model and pageant winner
  • Wing Commander Branse Burbridge DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (b. 1921), English RAF top scoring Allied night fighter pilot ace of World War II with 21 aerial victories all achieved at night
  • Canon John Paul Burbridge (1932-2021), English cleric, Dean of Norwich (1983-1995), Archdeacon of Richmond in 1976
  • Professor Percy William Burbridge CBE, New Zealand Professor Emeritus of Physics, Auckland
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  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.
  5. 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)
  6. South Australian Register Thursday 20 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SHACKAMAXON 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/shackamaxon1853.shtml


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