Barnice History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Barnice

What does the name Barnice mean?

In ancient Scotland, the first people to use the name Barnice were part of a tribe known as the Strathclyde Britons. The name is derived from the personal name Burnhouse, derived from the words burn, meaning "stream," and house, meaning a house.

Early Origins of the Barnice family

The surname Barnice was first found in Cumberland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Barnice family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barnice research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1495 and 1560 are included under the topic Early Barnice History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barnice Spelling Variations

Prior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of spelling variations in Scottish names. Barnice has been spelled Burness, Burnes, Burnace, Burnice, Burnhouse, Burnshead, Burnish, Burnist, Bernis and many more.

Early Notables of the Barnice family

More information is included under the topic Early Barnice Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Barnice family to Ireland

Some of the Barnice family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Barnice family

In such difficult times, the difficulties of raising the money to cross the Atlantic to North America did not seem so large compared to the problems of keeping a family together in Scotland. It was a journey well worth the cost, since it was rewarded with land and freedom the Scots could not find at home. The American War of Independence solidified that freedom, and many of those settlers went on to play important parts in the forging of a great nation. Among them: William Burnhouse settled in Virginia in 1623; Margaret Burness, who settled in East New Jersey in 1685; James Burness, who settled in America in 1815.

The Barnice 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: Perseverantia vincit
Motto Translation: Perseverance conquers