Show ContentsBurgiss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the name Burgiss are in the Old French/Middle English word "burgeis," which denoted a freeman of a fortified town. Generally, the name made its way to England with the Normans, and then across to Ireland, but it in some cases it may have crossed directly from England to Ireland. In Irish Gaelic, the name has been written "Brugha."

Early Origins of the Burgiss family

The surname Burgiss was first found in County Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman), founded by Vikings as Waesfjord, and located in Southeastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster, where one named Burgess was a witness to the Charter of Rosbercon in New Ross. In 1420, another Burgess was recorded as an assessor for County Kildare. In Dublin, records include many references to the name Burgess.

Early History of the Burgiss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burgiss research. Another 25 words (2 lines of text) covering the year 1681 is included under the topic Early Burgiss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burgiss Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Burgess, Burys and others.

Early Notables of the Burgiss family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Daniel Burgess, a Dublin priest in 1681, who was notorious for his attacks on the Quakers. Henry Burgess, the sheriff of Kilkenny...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burgiss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Burgiss migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Burgiss Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Abraham Burgiss, who landed in New England in 1772 1

Australia Burgiss migration to Australia +

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

Burgiss Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Clara Burgiss, aged 33, British settler who arrived in Adelaide, South Australia aboard the "Hesperus" in 1883


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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