Show ContentsBurbredge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Burbredge family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having 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 Burbredge family

The surname Burbredge 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 Burbredge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burbredge 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 Burbredge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burbredge Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Burbredge include Burbage, Burbidge, Burbyche, Burbridge and others.

Early Notables of the Burbredge 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 Burbredge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Burbredge family to Ireland

Some of the Burbredge 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 Burbredge family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Burbredge were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: 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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