Burnsides History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Burnsides

What does the name Burnsides mean?

Burnsides is a name whose ancestors lived among the Picts, a tribe in ancient Scotland. The Burnsides family lived in one of the many places by the same name. The name means dweller at the brookside from the Old English work burne which means brook and the word side. 1

Early Origins of the Burnsides family

The surname Burnsides was first found in Fife, but "there are villages named Burnside in the shires of Fife, Nairn, and Kincardine. " 2

Early History of the Burnsides family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burnsides research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1511, 1650, 1669, 1673 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Burnsides History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burnsides Spelling Variations

The appearance of the printing press and the first dictionaries in the last few hundred years did much to standardize spelling. Prior to that time scribes spelled according to sound, a practice that resulted in many spelling variations. Burnsides has been spelled Burnside, Burniside, Burnshed, Burnsyde and others.

Early Notables of the Burnsides family

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

Migration of the Burnsides family to Ireland

Some of the Burnsides family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Burnsides family

The expense of the crossing to the North American colonies seemed small beside the difficulties of remaining in Scotland. It was a long and hard trip, but at its end lay the reward of freedom. Some Scots remained faithful to England and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others fought in the American War of Independence. Much of this lost Scottish heritage has been recovered in the last century through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Burnsides: James Burnside who settled in Georgia in 1733; Joseph Burnside settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1757; Margaret Bovey Burnside settled in Charles Town in 1757.

The Burnsides 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: Gradatim plena
Motto Translation: Full by degrees.

Sources +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.