Show ContentsBudgell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Budgell is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Budgell family lived in Berkshire from a place of that name. The name is thought to have been originally Norman where "this family, probably foreign, descends from Sir Humphry Burghill or Burchell, a companion of Bernard de Neumarché in the conquest of Brecknock, 1088. About 1150 William de Burchall was witness to a gift to Hereford Abbey; and later, David de Burchall. " 1

Early Origins of the Budgell family

The surname Budgell was first found in Herefordshire where literally the name means "dweller at, or on, the hill of birch trees." 2

Early History of the Budgell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Budgell research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1686, 1705, 1715, 1727 and 1737 are included under the topic Early Budgell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Budgell Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Burchall, Burchell, Burchill, Burchhell, Burtchell, Burtchill, Burtchaell and many more.

Early Notables of the Budgell family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Eustace Budgell (1686-1737), an English writer and politician who represented Mullingar in the Irish House of Commons (1715-1727.) "He was the son of Gilbert Budgell, D.D., of St. Thomas, Exeter, by h...
  • His suicide note, written before drowning himself in the Thames was "What Cato did, and Addison approved, cannot be wrong." Joseph Addison was Budgell's cousin

Budgell Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Budgell is the 152nd most popular surname with an estimated 255 people with that name. 3

Ireland Migration of the Budgell family to Ireland

Some of the Budgell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 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 Budgell migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Budgell name or one of its variants:

Budgell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Walter Budgell, aged 65, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, in 1898
Budgell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • William Budgell, aged 40, who landed in America from London, England, in 1907
  • June Budgell, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1907
  • S. Alberta Budgell, aged 50, who immigrated to America, in 1914
  • Susan Alberta Budgell, aged 37, who landed in America, in 1922
  • Henry Benson Budgell, aged 39, who immigrated to the United States, in 1922

Australia Budgell migration to Australia +

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

Budgell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mary Budgell, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on December 14, 1835, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Budgell (post 1700) +

  • Herbert Budgell, English founder of Ewell Castle School, in Ewell, Epsom, Surrey in 1926
  • Brett Budgell (2020-2021), Canadian captain of the Charlottetown Islanders and (2021-2022)
  • Fred Budgell, Canadian politician, Mayor of Norris Arm, Newfoundland
  • Maurice Budgell, Canadian provincial political candidate for Mount Pearl North, Newfoundland in 2011


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1835 with 132 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1835


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