Show ContentsBurhans History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the name Burhans date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Burhans family lived in any of the various places called Burnham in Buckinghamshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, or Suffolk. These place names derive from the Old English words burna or stream, and ham, or homestead.

Early Origins of the Burhans family

The surname Burhans was first found in Herefordshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Burhans family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burhans research. Another 49 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1619 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Burhans History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burhans Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Burhans are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Burhans include: Burnham, Burnam and others.

Early Notables of the Burhans family

More information is included under the topic Early Burhans Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Burhans migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Burhans or a variant listed above:

Burhans Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jacob Burhans, who landed in New York in 1660 1
  • Jakob Burhans, who arrived in America in 1660 1
Burhans Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Burhans, aged 59, who arrived in New York in 1745-1746 1
  • Mrs. Burhans, aged 56, who arrived in New York in 1745-1746 1


  1. 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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook