Show ContentsBurion History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Burion

What does the name Burion mean?

Burion is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Burion family lived at Bryram, a township in the parish of Brotherton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1

Early Origins of the Burion family

The surname Burion 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 Burion family

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

Burion Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Burion are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Burion include Byrom, Byram, Byrum, Birom, Biram and others.

Early Notables of the Burion 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 Burion Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Burion family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Burion, or a variant listed above: 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..



The Burion 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: Arme a tous points


  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


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