Show ContentsBirt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Birt is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the personal name Bartholemew, which was popular during the Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Birt family

The surname Birt was first found in Devon, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Birt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birt research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1517, 1582, 1583, 1634, 1635, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1660, 1665, 1675, 1678, 1679, 1685, 1686, 1689, 1701, 1711, 1723, 1730, 1735, 1804, 1845 and 1881 are included under the topic Early Birt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Birt 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. Birt has been spelled many different ways, including Birt, Bertie, Birte, Burt, Bert, Birtie, Byrth, Birth and many more.

Early Notables of the Birt family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • William Radcliffe Birt (1804-1881), an English amateur astronomer

Birt Ranking

In the United States, the name Birt is the 9,602nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Birt family to Ireland

Some of the Birt family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Birt 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 Birts to arrive in North America:

Birt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward, George, John, and Patrick Birt, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1850
  • William Birt, who settled in San Francisco, California in 1852

Australia Birt migration to Australia +

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

Birt Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Birt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Birt who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
  • Mr. John Birt, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
  • Mary Jeffrey Birt, aged 15, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 5
  • Orlando Birt, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 5
  • William Birt, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Birt 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:

Birt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin T. Birt, aged 39, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 6
  • Jane Birt, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 6
  • Victor A. Birt, aged 9, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 6
  • Ernest A. Birt, aged 7, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 6
  • Mr. Benjamin T. Birt, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Birt migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 7
Birt Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • John Birt who settled in Barbados in 1683

Contemporary Notables of the name Birt (post 1700) +

  • Michael Birt, English portrait photographer
  • John Birt (b. 1944), Baron Birt, English executive, Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation (1992-2000)
  • William Radcliffe Birt (1804-1881), British amateur astronomer, eponym of the Birt crater on the Moon
  • Charlie Birt (b. 1942), Canadian politician
  • Birt Firman (1906-1999), British jazz musician
  • Birt Acres (1854-1918), American photographer and film pioneer


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABOUKIR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Aboukir.htm
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies


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