Bush History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Netherlands 
  England 
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  Ireland 


The ancestors of the Bush surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived by a bush. The surname Bush is derived from the Old English words busk and busche, which both are ultimately derived from the Old English word busc, which means bush. "This word, now applied to a low thick tree, formerly meant a whole wood or grove." 1

Early Origins of the Bush family

The surname Bush was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Bush family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bush research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1490, 1517, 1558 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Bush History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bush 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 Bush include Bush, Bushe, Boush, Busche, Busch, Boushe and others.

Early Notables of the Bush family

Distinguished members of the family include

Bush World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bush is the 304th most popular surname with an estimated 89,532 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Bush is ranked the 692nd most popular surname with an estimated 5,663 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Bush is the 732nd popular surname with an estimated 983 people with that name. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Bush as 718th with 9,335 people. 5

Migration of the Bush family to Ireland

Some of the Bush family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Bush migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Bush Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Bush Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Bush Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Bush Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Bush migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bush Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Bush Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Bush migration to Australia +

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

Bush Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Bush 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:

Bush Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Bush 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. 13
Bush Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Bush (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Bush +
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