Biram History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Biram reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Biram family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Biram family lived at Bryram, a township in the parish of Brotherton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1

Early Origins of the Biram family

The surname Biram was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Byrome, or Byram, with Pool, a township, in the parish of Brotherton, Lower division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash. "Byram Hall is a handsome mansion, in a fine and well-wooded park of about 200 acres." 2 3

However, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 point to scattered entries for the family: Roger de Birun, Yorkshire; Ralph de Birun, Lincolnshire; and Hugh de Byron, Nottinghamshire. 4

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Elena de Byrom (Byrom); Roger de Birne (Monk Fryston); and Thomas de Byrne (Selby). (Barsley)

The variant Burien, Berian or Buryan has a most interesting origin. "There seems to be but one opinion among our historians and antiquaries, except that which has been introduced to notice by Hals. According to this historian, the name Berian or Buryan, is derived from a cemetery or burying-place for human creatures; and he asserts that an enclosure devoted to this purpose existed in this place long before the church was extant. St. Berian, or Burianna, according to Mr. Whitaker, Dr. Borlase, and others, was a holy woman, a native of Ireland, who came into this country about the year 460, in company with many others of exalted birth and dignity, she being a king's daughter, and landed near St. Ives." 5

Early History of the Biram family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Biram research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1642, 1692 and 1763 are included under the topic Early Biram History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Biram Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Biram include Byrom, Byram, Byrum, Birom, Biram and others.

Early Notables of the Biram family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Byrom or John Byrom of Kersal or John Byrom of Manchester (1692-1763), an English poet and inventor of a revolutionary system of shorthand. "He was the second son and seventh of the nine children of Edward Byrom, by...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Biram Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Biram family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Birams to arrive on North American shores: John Byrom who settled in Virginia in 1656; William Byrom settled in Virginia in 1736; Benjamin, Brambley, Edward, James, Ralph, and Samuel Byram, all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1827 and 1844..

Contemporary Notables of the name Biram (post 1700) +

Scott H. Biram (b. 1974), American blues, punk, country, heavy metal musician
Arthur Yitzhak Biram (1878-1967), Israeli philosopher, philologist, and educator

Historic Events for the Biram family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Bernard Frank Biram (1906-1941), Australian Petty Officer Cook (O) from Coogee, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 6

Citations +

Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp