Show ContentsBoreham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Boreham is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having lived in Boreham, a parish four miles from Chelmsford, in the county of Essex.

Early Origins of the Boreham family

The surname Boreham 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 Boreham family

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

Boreham Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Boreham has been recorded under many different variations, including Borham, Boreham, Borhunt, Borhont and others.

Early Notables of the Boreham family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Thomas Boreham of Calne


United States Boreham migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Boreham or a variant listed above:

Boreham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Boreham who settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766

Canada Boreham migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Boreham Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Robert Boreham, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Australia Boreham migration to Australia +

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

Boreham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Boreham, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
  • Mr. Charles Boreham, British convict who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • Stephen Boreham, English convict from Suffolk, who was transported aboard the "Agincourt" on July 6, 1844, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 4
  • Mr. James Boreham, (Bareham), (b. 1807), aged 37, English farm labourer who was convicted in Essex, England for 10 years for poaching, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 9th May 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
  • Henry Boreham, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Telegraph"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Boreham (post 1700) +

  • Roland Stanford "Bud" Boreham (1924-2006), American engineer and businessman, CEO of Baldor Electric
  • Sir Leslie Boreham (1919-2004), English High Court Judge
  • Frank William Boreham (1871-1959), English born, Baptist preacher, who worked in New Zealand, Australia, and England
  • Sir John Boreham KCB (1925-1994), British statistician and the director of the Central Statistical Office of the United Kingdom from 1978 to 1985
  • Jamie Boreham (b. 1978), professional Canadian football placekicker


  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 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Agincourt voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1844 with 226 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agincourt/1844
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa


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