Show ContentsBoorman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Boorman name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Boreham, a parish four miles from Chelmsford, in the county of Essex.

Early Origins of the Boorman family

The surname Boorman was first found in Sussex "from the XV. century under the forms of Bourer, Boorer, Borer and Borrer, the extra ' R' being a somewhat recent addition These, together with the Atte-Bore, Atte-Bowre, de la Bore, Boreman, and other modifications, are probably derivable from the Anglo-Saxon bur, a bower, inner room, or bed-chamber. " [1]

Early History of the Boorman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boorman research. Another 49 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1675 is included under the topic Early Boorman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boorman Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Boorman were recorded, including Borham, Boreham, Borhunt, Borhont and others.

Early Notables of the Boorman family

Notables of the family at this time include Thomas Boreham of Calne; and Robert Boreman or Bourman (died 1675) D.D, a Church of England clergyman who supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boorman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Boorman migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Boorman family emigrate to North America:

Boorman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Joseph Boorman, aged 37, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1902
  • Mary Sophia Boorman, aged 32, who settled in America from London, in 1904
  • Frederick Boorman, aged 40, who immigrated to the United States from Sittingbourne, England, in 1907
  • George Boorman, aged 28, who settled in America from Greenstreet, England, in 1908
  • Henry Boorman, aged 24, who landed in America from Worthing, England, in 1908
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Boorman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Boorman Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Daisy L. Boorman, aged 24, who immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, in 1912
  • Harry E. Boorman, aged 30, who settled in Vancouver, Canada, in 1912

Australia Boorman migration to Australia +

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

Boorman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Elizabeth Boorman, English convict who was convicted in Maidstone, Kent, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [2]
  • John Boorman, aged 36, a wheelwright, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Fatima" [3]
  • Mr. James Boorman, British Convict who was convicted in Rochester, Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Corona" on 13th October 1866, arriving in Western Australia, Australia [4]

New Zealand Boorman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Boorman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Annie Boorman, aged 18, a housemaid, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rangitikei" in 1884

Contemporary Notables of the name Boorman (post 1700) +

  • Scott Boorman (b. 1949), American mathematical sociologist at Yale University
  • Mathilda Boorman, American politician, Candidate for Secretary of State of Wisconsin, 1922 [5]
  • L. B. Boorman, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for South Dakota, 1940 [5]
  • Mr. Peter Nigel Boorman O.B.E., from Portslade, Brighton and Hove, England, English Regional Lead for Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response, for the NHS England (London), was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Emergency Response [6]
  • Melanie Jane Boorman (b. 1981), English model
  • John Boorman (1754-1807), English cricketer who made 61 known first-class appearances from 1772 until 1793
  • John Boorman (b. 1933), English filmmaker best known for his films such as Point Blank, Deliverance, Excalibur and others
  • Imogen Boorman (b. 1971), English actress
  • Charley Boorman (b. 1966), English actor, adventurer and travel writer
  • Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Boorman B.E.M., British Founding Member for Truro Homeless Action Group, was appointed the British Empire Medal on 8th June 2018, for services to Homeless People in Truro, Cornwall [7]
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque FATIMA 1850, 521 tons. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Fatima.htm
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/corona
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  7. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1


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