Contents [hide]

Burgess History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Burgess History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the name Burgess are in the Old French/Middle English word "burgeis," which denoted a freeman of a fortified town. Generally, the name made its way to England with the Normans, and then across to Ireland, but it in some cases it may have crossed directly from England to Ireland. In Irish Gaelic, the name has been written "Brugha."

Early Origins of the Burgess family

The surname Burgess was first found in County Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman), founded by Vikings as Waesfjord, and located in Southeastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster, where one named Burgess was a witness to the Charter of Rosbercon in New Ross. In 1420, another Burgess was recorded as an assessor for County Kildare. In Dublin, records include many references to the name Burgess.

Early History of the Burgess family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burgess research. Another 25 words (2 lines of text) covering the year 1681 is included under the topic Early Burgess History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burgess Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Burgess, Burys and others.

Early Notables of the Burgess family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Daniel Burgess, a Dublin priest in 1681, who was notorious for his attacks on the Quakers...
Henry Burgess, the sheriff of Kilkenny, was killed while trying to capture the infamous highwayman James Freeney...
Burgess, and is now a training center for disabled children...

Burgess World Ranking

In the United States, the name Burgess is the 346^th most popular surname with an estimated 77,097 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Burgess is ranked the 541^st most popular surname with an estimated 9,037 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Burgess is the 776^th popular surname with an estimated 54 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Burgess as 193^rd with 16,681 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Burgess as 117^th with 3,724 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Burgess as 191^st with 29,315 people. 6

Burgess migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Burgess Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Miss. Burgess, (b. 1611), aged 26, British servant to Mr John Gedney departing May 1637 from England aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, United States on 20 June 1637, heading to Salem 7
Joane Burgess, who landed in Maryland in 1638 8
Alexander Burgess, who arrived in New England in 1651-1652 8
Joseph Burgess, who landed in Virginia in 1652 8
Robert Burgess, who landed in Virginia in 1652 8

Burgess Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Richard Burgess, who landed in Virginia in 1700 8
Tho Burgess, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 8
Eliz Burgess, who landed in Virginia in 1704 8
Edward Burgess, who arrived in Virginia in 1712 8
Thomas Burgess, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Burgess Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Burgess, who arrived in America in 1805 8
Samuel Burgess, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1840 8
George Burgess, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1847 8
Ann and George Burgess, who arrived in Boston in 1847
Alexander Burgess jumped ship, the "Royal George," and settled at Witless Bay in 1847
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Burgess Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mrs. Frances Burgess, (b. 1879), aged 26, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Syracuse, New York, USA 9
Mr. Henry Burgess, (b. 1870), aged 35, Cornish farm hand travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to New York, Syracuse 9
W Burgess, who landed in Arkansas in 1905 8

Burgess migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Burgess Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Benjamin Burgess U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 was part of the Port Matoon Association 10
Mr. John Burgess U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 10
Patrick Burgess, who settled in St. Mary's, Newfoundland, in 1792 11

Burgess Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Daniel Burgess and his wife and their eight children, who settled in Prescott, Ontario in 1825
Daniel Burgess and his wife Avice settled in Prescott, Ontario, in 1825 with their seven children
Arthur Burgess, who immigrated to Quebec in 1850
Henry Burgess, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Burgess migration to Australia +

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

Burgess Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Burgess, British Convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. John Burgess, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Mr. Robert Burgess, English convict who was convicted in Berkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Richard Richardson Burgess, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Thomas S. Burgess, a joiner, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Burgess 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:

Burgess Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Burgess, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
Isaac James Burgess, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
W B Burgess, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Oriental
W. B. Burgess, aged 30, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
Mr. W. B. Burgess, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Burgess (post 1700) +

Bill Burgess (1941-2023), American college head football coach at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, for 12 seasons, from 1985 until 1996, compiling a record of 84–49–4
Ronnie Burgess (1963-2021), American defensive back in the National Football League
Albert Austin "Sonny" Burgess (1929-2017), American rockabilly guitarist and singer
Sharna Burgess, American actress, known for her wok on Dancing with the Stars
Lieutenant General Ronald L Burgess Jr. (b. 1952), American Army officer, Deputy Director of National Intelligence from 2005 to 2007
Michael C. Burgess (b. 1950), American physician and politician
Thornton Burgess (1874-1965), American conservationist and children's author
Neil Burgess (1846-1910), American vaudeville comedian
B. A. Burgess, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1916, 1924 17
Asa Burgess, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Canterbury, 1820 17
... (Another 110 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Burgess family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mrs. Rose Ellen Burgess (1921-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 18
Mr. Lindsay Robert Burgess (1919-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 18

Empress of Ireland

Mrs. Susan Burgess (1854-1914), née Robertson Canadian Second Class Passenger from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 19

Grover Shoe factory

Mr. Linus Burgess, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 20
Mr. George D. Burgess, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 20

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Theodore Harding Burgess (1869-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
Master Frederick Burgess (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
Mr. Adam Burgess (1880-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. William Robert Burgess (1922-1941), Australian Signalman from Tuggerah Lakes, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 22

HMS Hood

Mr. Henry Burgess (b. 1921), Scottish Warrant Ordnance Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Carlisle, Cumberland, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23

HMS Repulse

Mr. Geoffrey Haydn Burgess, English Marine from Ryecroft, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 24

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Henry George Burgess, English 1st Class Passenger from Bradford, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 25

RMS Titanic

Mr. Charles Reginald Burgess, aged 18, English Extra Third Baker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 15 26

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Passengers of the Mary Anne of Yarmouth (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/MaryAnne.html
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html