Show ContentsRedburn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Redburn family

The surname Redburn was first found in Huntingdonshire, a historic county in England, now part of the county of Cambridgeshire. The family name was first referenced in the year 1273 when John Redeborne held estates in this shire. Radbourne is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Derbyshire. 1

Radbourne Hall is an 18th-century country house and now the home of the Chandos-Pole family. The hall has been held by the Chanods family since the Norman Conquest. Redbourn is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Redborne. 2

The place name literally means "reedy stream," from the Old English words "hreod" + "burna." 3

Early History of the Redburn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Redburn research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1399, 1400, 1401, 1416, 1442 and 1460 are included under the topic Early Redburn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Redburn Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Redburn include Radborn, Radborne, Redborn, Redborne, Redbourne, Radbourne, Redeborn, Radeborne, Radebourne, Radburn, Redburn, Radbron and many more.

Early Notables of the Redburn family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Rudborne or Rodeburne (died 1442), English divine, Bishop of St. Davids, probably a native of Rodbourne, Wiltshire. He was educated at Merton College, Oxford, where he was bursar 1399-1400, and was proctor of the university in 1399 and 1401. He was elected...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Redburn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Redburn family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Redburn were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Thomas Radborne, and John Radborn, bonded passengers, who came to America in 1754; Thomas Radbone, who arrived in New York, NY in 1820; and Joseph Radbourn, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1844..


Contemporary Notables of the name Redburn (post 1700) +

  • George Redburn Young (1946-2017), Scottish-born, Australian musician, songwriter and record producer


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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