Show ContentsBuick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Buick family

The surname Buick was first found in Berwickshire in Scotland and Northumberland in England, where "this surname is derived from the famous Border town of the same name. Rather curiously the surname is not uncommon at the present day in Fife. John de Berwic was rector of Renfrew in 1295, and in the year following Geoffry of Berewick, Burgess of Roxburgh, rendered homage [to King Edward I of England]. " [1]

Further to the south in England, John de Berewyk (d. 1312), was an English judge, who "was entrusted with the charge of the vacant abbey of St. Edmund, 1278-1279, and of the see of Lincoln during the interval which elapsed between the death of Benedict, otherwise Richard, de Gravesend, 1279, and the appointment of his successor in the episcopate, Oliver Sutton, 1280-1281." [2]

In Wiltshire, there were two early listings in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Sampson de Berwyk; and Philip de Berwyke. [3]

Moving further north again, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Berwyk as holding lands there at that time. [3]

Early History of the Buick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Buick research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1263, 1278, 1279, 1280, 1281, 1284, 1290, 1292, 1294, 1295, 1305, 1309, 1312, 1476, 1615, 1628, 1629 and 1728 are included under the topic Early Buick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buick Spelling Variations

The name Buick, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Berwick, Bewick, Berwicke, Bewicke and others.

Early Notables of the Buick family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John de Berewyk (d. 1312), English judge who "was entrusted with the charge of the vacant abbey of St. Edmund, 1278-1279, and of the see of Lincoln during the interval which elapsed between the death of Benedict, otherwise Richard, de Gravesend, 1279, and the appointment of his successor in the episcopate, Oliver Sutton, 1280-1281. He acted as one of the asessors of the thirtieth for the counties south of the Trent in 1263, and in Michaelmas 1284 is mentioned as treasurer to Queen Eleanor. In 1294 he was one of her...
Another 124 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Buick Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Buick migration to Australia +

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

Buick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Frances Buick, aged 20, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 [4]

New Zealand Buick 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:

Buick Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Buick, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship "Arab"
  • William B Buick, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship "Arab"
  • David Buick, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Arab
  • Susan Buick, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Buick (post 1700) +

  • David Dunbar Buick (1854-1929), Scottish-born American Detroit-based inventor, best known for founding the Buick Motor Company, now the oldest active American make
  • Glen Garvie James David Buick (1938-1939), Canadian former diplomat, Ambassador Extraoridinary and Plenipotentiary to Chile (1978-1982)
  • Albert Thoroughgood Buick (1875-1948), Scottish footballer
  • Adam Lewis Buick (b. 1944), Welsh-born, prominent London-based socialist
  • Thomas Lindsay Buick (1866-1938), Liberal Member of Parliament for Wairau, New Zealand, a journalist and historian


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LLOYDS from London 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Lloyds.htm


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