Show ContentsBurtenshaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Burtenshaw surname is habitational, taken on from the name of the Chapelry of Birkenshaw in the Parish of Birstall, county Yorkshire. The place literally means "small wood or copse where birch trees grow" from the Old English "bircen" [1]

Early Origins of the Burtenshaw family

The surname Burtenshaw was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, most likely even before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D., given the Old English roots of their name.

The first on record was William del Birkenschawe listed in 1274 in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire. A Thomas Birchynshaw was listed in the Poll Tax Rolls of that same county in 1379. [2]

Early History of the Burtenshaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burtenshaw research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1408, 1587, 1634, 1664, 1672 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Burtenshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burtenshaw Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Burtenshaw include Birkenshaw, Birkinshaw, Bircumshaw, Burtenshaw and many more.

Early Notables of the Burtenshaw family

Distinguished members of the family include John Birchensha (fl. 1664-1672), a Welsh musician, "probably a member of the Burchinshaw, Burchinsha, Byrchinshaw, or Byrchinsha family, the senior branch of which were settled...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burtenshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Burtenshaw family to Ireland

Some of the Burtenshaw 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.


Australia Burtenshaw migration to Australia +

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

Burtenshaw Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Ann Burtenshaw, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Burtenshaw (post 1700) +

  • Norman Charles Henry Burtenshaw OBE (1926-2023), English football referee who officiated in the English Football League and FIFA matches
  • Stephen Burtenshaw (1935-2022), English footballer and manager from Portslade, England
  • Charles Edward "Charlie" Burtenshaw (b. 1922), English former professional association football player
  • William Frederick "Bill" Burtenshaw (1925-2010), English former professional football player
  • Steve Burtenshaw (b. 1935), English former football player and manager
  • Edward Burtenshaw Sugden PC (1781-1875), 1st Baron Saint Leonards, British lawyer, judge and Conservative politician, Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1835
  • Richard Burtenshaw Elms (b. 1949), former English cricketer

HMS Royal Oak
  • Clifford Henry Burtenshaw (1899-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [4]


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CLEVELAND 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Cleveland.htm
  4. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook