Show ContentsBurnet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Burnet family

The surname Burnet was first found in Berwickshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Faringdon where they held a manor and estates in that shire. The earliest record was of Robert Burnett in 1128. Later, an Alexander Burnard or Burnett went north with King Robert I and acquired lands in the forest of Drum. He was also granted the barony of Tulliboyll in Kincardine. Roger Burnard, his successor, had four sons, Goufrid, Ralph, Walter, and Richard. Crathes Castle is the family seat; it dates from 1553, and contains some extraordinary 16th century painted ceilings.

Early History of the Burnet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burnet research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1208, 1615, 1643, 1663, 1664, 1669, 1674, 1679, 1684, 1688, 1715, 1720, 1728, 1729 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Burnet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burnet Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Burnett, Burnet, Burnatt, Burnat and others.

Early Notables of the Burnet family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • Alexander Burnet (1615-1684), a Scottish clergyman, Bishop of Aberdeen (1663-1664), Archbishop of Glasgow (1664-1669) and (1674-1669), Archbishop of St Andrews (1679-1684.) William Burnet (1688-1729)...

Ireland Migration of the Burnet family to Ireland

Some of the Burnet family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Burnet migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Burnet Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Samuel Burnet, aged 17, who settled in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Paul"
  • Thomas Burnet, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1640 1
  • Eliz Burnet, who landed in Virginia in 1658 1
  • Larence Burnet, who arrived in Virginia in 1697 1
Burnet Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Burnet, who landed in New York in 1720 1
  • William Burnet, who landed in New Jersey in 1730 1
  • Andrew Burnet, who arrived in South Carolina in 1752 1
  • Captain Burnet and his wife who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1768
  • Jannet Burnet, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1774 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Burnet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Burnet, who landed in New York in 1819 1
  • Joseph Burnet who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1820

Canada Burnet migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Burnet Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Burnet U.E. who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1783 2
  • Mr. Mathew Burnet U.E. who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1783 2
  • Mr. Thomas Burnet, "Burnett" U.E. who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1783 2
  • Mr. Thompson Burnet U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 2

Australia Burnet migration to Australia +

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

Burnet Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Burnet, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 27th August 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
  • Thomas Burnet, aged 15, a bricklayers labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Steadfast" 4

New Zealand Burnet 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:

Burnet Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Catherine Burnet, (b. 1826), aged 36, Scottish settler, from Roxburgh travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 5
  • Mr. Thomas Burnet, (b. 1826), aged 36, Scottish labourer, from Roxburgh travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 5
  • Mr. Alexander Burnet, (b. 1852), aged 10, Scottish settler, from Roxburgh travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 5
  • Miss Jane M. Burnet, (b. 1854), aged 8, Scottish settler, from Roxburgh travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 5
  • Mr. William B. Burnet, (b. 1856), aged 6, Scottish settler, from Roxburgh travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Burnet (post 1700) +

  • William Burnet (1730-1791), American political leader and physician from New Jersey
  • David Gouverneur Burnet (1788-1870), American politician, President of Texas in 1836
  • Isaac Gouverneur Burnet (1784-1856), American politician, Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio
  • David Gouverneur Burnet (1788-1870), American politician, President of the Texas Republic (1836)
  • Thomas Burnet (1635-1715), English clergyman
  • Jean Robertson Burnet (1920-2009), Canadian academic
  • John Burnet (1814-1901), Scottish architect who lived and practised in Glasgow
  • Sir John James Burnet FRSE FRIBA RSA RA (1857-1938), Scottish Edwardian architect, noted for a number of prominent buildings in Glasgow, Scotland and London, England son of the architect John Burnet
  • Sir James William Alexander Burnet (1928-2012), British journalist and broadcaster
  • Frank Macfarlane Burnet (1899-1985), Australian physician/virologist


The Burnet Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virescit vulnere virtus
Motto Translation: Courage grows stronger at the wound.


  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)
  2. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  4. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEADFAST 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/steadfast1852.shtml
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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