Bearss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Bearss is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bearss family lived in Wiltshire. The family name comes from a place in Normandy called Burcy, in the arrondisement of Vire, Canton of Vassy, Normandy. 1 In Devon, the name was often spelt Birhsie, having derived from the Old English word Beorhtsige. 2

Early Origins of the Bearss family

The surname Bearss was first found in Wiltshire where Serlo de Burci held lands in 1084. 2 Later, after the Norman Conquest, the Domesday Book of 1086 lists Serle Borci as holding lands in Somerset. 3 Still in Somerset, almost one hundred years later, Hugo de Burci was a Knights Templar in 1185. In Herefordshire, Rannulf Bursi was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1195 and in Norfolk, Hugh Bursey was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275. 2

Early History of the Bearss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bearss research. Another 293 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1084, 1165, 1185 and 1582 are included under the topic Early Bearss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bearss Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Bursey, Burcey, Bursie, Boursey, Borsey, Bourcey, Borsie and many more.

Early Notables of the Bearss family

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

Migration of the Bearss family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Bearss or a variant listed above were: Richard Bursey, who settled in Maryland in 1742; and Catherine Bursy, who arrived in America in 1752.

Contemporary Notables of the name Bearss (post 1700) +

Edwin Cole Bearss (1923-2020), United States Marine Corps veteran of World War II
Hiram Iddings Bearss (1875-1938), American Republican politician, Received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Philippine Islands, 1901-02 4
George Russell Bearss (1834-1911), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1856; Member of Indiana State House of Representatives, 1875 4
Daniel Robert Bearss (1809-1884), American Republican politician, Member of Indiana State House of Representatives; Member of Indiana State Senate; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1856 4
Albert Cole Bearss (b. 1836), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1888; Postmaster 4

Citations +

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html