The surname Burgam was first used in the Scottish/English Borderlands by an ancient Scottish people called the Strathclyde- Britons. It was a name for someone who lived in Galloway in the southwest of Scotland. The Rhiged lived in what later became the northern English counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire.
The surname Burgam was first found in Westmorland, at Brougham Castle a medieval building about 2 miles (3.2 km) south-east of Penrith in what is now known as Cumbria. “The De Burghams held it temp. Edward the Confessor.” [1] This castle was built on an ancient Roman fort named Brocavum and was originally at the intersection of three Roman roads.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burgam research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1050, 1778, 1868, 1665, 1698, 1778, 1868, 1780 and 1833 are included under the topic Early Burgam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Burgam has been spelled Brougham, Bruham, Browham and others.
Notable amongst the family at this time was Henry Brougham (1665-1698), an English divine from Scales Hall, Cumberland. He was one of the twelve children of Henry Brougham of Scales Hall, Cumberland, sheriff for the county in the 6th of William III. [2]
Henry Peter Brougham...
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burgam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Burgam 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.
To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were: George Brougham who settled in Maryland in 1774; Mrs. Brougham arrived in San Francisco California in 1852.