Contents [hide]

Osburn History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Osburn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Osburn surname itself is thought to be derived from an Old Norse personal name "Asbjorn" made up of "às," meaning "god" and "bjorn," or "bear." The name became Osbern in old English. Bearers of this name also came to Britain from Normandy, and over the centuries have become indistinguishable from those who predated the Norman invasion. "The name is found in England before the Conquest and may be of direct Scandinavian origin. It was also common in Normandy whence it was often brought over by Normans after the Conquest." 1

Osbern (fl. 1090), was an English "hagiographer, was a monk of Christchurch, Canterbury, where, as he tells us himself, he was brought up from boyhood during the rule of Godric, who was dean from about 1058 to 1080; he would seem to have been there before the burning of the cathedral in 1067." 2

Osbern or Osbert (d. 1103), was "Bishop of Exeter and Chancellor, the son of Osbern the Seneschal, who was guardian of Normandy for the future Conqueror. He was thus brother of William Fitzosbern, the Earl of Hereford, and a kinsman of Edward the Confessor. He came to England during the reign of Edward, and was one of the king's chaplains, and held land at Stratton, Cornwall, at the time of Edward's death (Domesday, iv. 216). As a royal chaplain he was present at the dedication of Westminster Abbey on 28 Dec. 1065, and after the conquest witnessed a charter to St. Martin's, London, in 1068, as 'Osbernus Capellanus' " 2

Early Origins of the Osburn family

The surname Osburn was first found in Kent where "this family descends from a Kentish branch of the family of Fitz-Osberne, seated in that county early in the reign of Henry VI., when Thomas Osberne appeared to a writ of Quo warranto for the Abbey of Dartford." 3 His grandfather was Richard Fitz-Osberne, or Fitz-Osbert who held a fief from Earl Bigot in 1165. Richard's father was Stephen Fitz-Osbert fl. 1152 was son of William Fitz-Osbert, son of Osberne Fitz-Letard who held lands from Odo of Bayeaux in 1086. 3

Many bearers of the name were descended from Sarum in Normandy. Confirming this ancient origin another source states the "name occurred in England before the Norman Conquest. It is confined south of a line joining the Humber and the Mersey, and its principal area of distribution takes the form of a belt crossing central England from East Anglia to the borders of Wales. 4

"Several persons bearing it occur in Domesday [Book], as tenants in chief in different counties;" 5 specifically the Osbern variant. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Gerard filius Oseberne in Huntingdonshire; and Robert Oseberne in Oxfordshire. 6 Osbernus filius Willelmi was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls for the year 1221 in Buckinghamshire and Henry Osbern, in the Assize Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1260. John Osebarn was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296 and Walter Hosebarn was found in the Feet of Fines of Cambridgeshire in 1327. 1

Early History of the Osburn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Osburn research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1261, 1280, 1379, 1467, 1559, 1593, 1627, 1632, 1639, 1643, 1649, 1659, 1667, 1671, 1685, 1692, 1694, 1695, 1712, 1720, 1771 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Osburn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Osburn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Osborne, Osborn, Osbourne, Osbourn, Osburn, Osburne, Osbern and many more.

Early Notables of the Osburn family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sarah Osborne (Osbourne, Osburne, or Osborn) (c. 1643-1692) (nee Warren), one of the first three women to be accused of witchcraft in the Salem witch trials of 1692, she died in jail never indicted or...

Osburn Ranking

In the United States, the name Osburn is the 3,777^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Osburn family to Ireland

Some of the Osburn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 127 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Osburn migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Osburn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Margaret Osburn, aged 27, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 8
Michael Osburn, aged 36, who arrived in New York in 1812 8
James Osburn, aged 32, who landed in New York in 1812 8
William Osburn, who arrived in Texas in 1835 8
John Osburn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1866 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Osburn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Osburn Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Osburn U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 9

Osburn Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Margaret Osburn, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Triton" in 1833
William Osburn, aged 6, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Triton" in 1833
Mary Jane Osburn, aged 4, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Triton" in 1833
Eliza Osburn, aged 2, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Triton" in 1833
Jane Osburn, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Triton" in 1833

Osburn 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:

Osburn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Alfred George Osburn, (b. 1861), aged 4 months, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th January 1862 10
Miss Emma Osburn, (b. 1861), aged 4 months, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th January 1862 10
Mrs. Harriet Osburn, (b. 1825), aged 36, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th January 1862 10
Mr. George Osburn, (b. 1827), aged 34, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th January 1862 10
Miss Mary Ann Osburn, (b. 1851), aged 10, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th January 1862 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Osburn migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 11

Osburn Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John Osburn, who settled in Barbados in 1678

Contemporary Notables of the name Osburn (post 1700) +

Raymond Carroll Osburn (1872-1955), American zoologist
Ruth Osburn (1912-1994), American silver medalist discus thrower at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Bennie I. Osburn, American Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis
Larry Patrick "Pat" Osburn (b. 1949), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1974 through 1975
Carl Townsend Osburn (1884-1966), United States Navy officer and sports shooter, winner of five gold, four silver and two bronze medals
Jim Osburn, American politician, Representative from Tennessee 7th District, 1992 12
Henry A. Osburn Jr., American politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates from Harford County, 1910 12
Frank W. Osburn, American politician, Postmaster at Eugene, Oregon, 1886-90 12
Frank C. Osburn, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Pennsylvania State Senate 42nd District, 1886 12
Charles Y. Osburn, American politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Shiawassee County 2nd District, 1871-72; U.S. Collector of Customs, 1877-81 12
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Osburn family +

Hindenburg LZ-129

Mr. Clifford L. Osburn (1898-1937), American Sales Manager, Oliver Farm Equipment Co. from Park Ridge, Illinois, USA, who was a passenger on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and survived the Airship Fire 13

The Osburn 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: Pax in bello
Motto Translation: Peace in war.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
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
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Hindenburg Disaster Passenger List | Airships.net. (Retrieved 2014, April 11) . Retrieved from http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/hindenburg-passenger-list/