Show ContentsBurbay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Burbay is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Leicestershire, and held a family seat at the village of Burbage. There is also a Burbage Brook in Padley Gorge, Derbyshire. The surname is derived from the Old English form of Burbage on the Wye, which means someone who lived at the brook or valley of the burg. 1

Early Origins of the Burbay family

The surname Burbay was first found in Leicestershire at Burbage, a chapelry, in the parish of AstonFlamville, union of Hinckley, hundred of Sparkenhoe. 2 Alternatively the name could have been from Burbage, a parish, in the union of Pewsey, hundred of Kinwardstone, Marlborough and Ramsbury in Wiltshire. 3 4

Early History of the Burbay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burbay research. Another 146 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1531, 1566, 1567, 1576, 1597, 1607, 1619, 1631, 1636 and 1653 are included under the topic Early Burbay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burbay Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Burbay are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Burbay include: Burbage, Burbidge, Burbyche, Burbridge and others.

Early Notables of the Burbay family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Thomas Burbidge; James Burbage (or Burbadge) (1531-1597), an English actor, theatre impresario; and his son Cuthbert Burbage (1566-1636), English theatrical figure; and his brother, Richard Burbage (c.1567-1619) British actor, member of the Earl of...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burbay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Burbay family to Ireland

Some of the Burbay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Burbay family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Burbay or a variant listed above: Thomas Burbage who settled in Virginia in 1642; Thomas Burbadge settled in Virginia in 1653; Elizabeth Burbridge settled in New England in 1775; Thomas Burbridge her husband also settled in New England in the same year.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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