Burstall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Burstall is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in Suffolk, where the family could be found since the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Burstall family

The surname Burstall was first found in Suffolk at Burstall, a village and civil parish that dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Burgestala 1 and literally meant "site of a fort or stronghold," from the Old English word "burh-stall." 2

The parish of Birdsall in the union of Malton, wapentake of Buckrose in the East Riding of Yorkshire 3 could have been another possible origin point for the family. This parish also dates back to the Domesday Book when it was recorded as Brideshala 1 and meant "nook of land of a man called Bridd." 2

West Yorkshire is where we found the first entry for the family. Here at Kirkstall, now a suburb of Leeds, William de Briddesale was recorded as holding lands in 1167. Years later, we found Robert de Brideshal in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1251 and later again, Thomas Birdsall was listed as a Freeman of York in 1446. 4

Robert de Bridsall was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 5

Early History of the Burstall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burstall research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1206, 1230, 1273, 1316, 1655, 1769 and 1877 are included under the topic Early Burstall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burstall Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Burstall were recorded, including Burstall, Burstal, Burstalle, Birstall, Birkestalle, Berstall, Byrstall, Burstow, Burstoe and many more.

Early Notables of the Burstall family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Frederick Hampton Burstall, aged 26, fifth son of William Burstall of Liverpool who attended Oxford University in 1877...

Burstall migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Burstall family emigrate to North America:

Burstall Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Timothy Burstall, who settled in Nebraska in 1885

Burstall migration to Australia +

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

Burstall Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

N. Burstall, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Competitor" in 1849 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Burstall (post 1700) +

Sir Henry Edward Burstall KCB, KCMG (1870-1945), Canadian general, eponym of Burstall, Saskatchewan
Aubrey Frederic Burstall, Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Tim Burstall (1927-2004), Australian film director, writer and producer
Roderick Burstall, co-founder of the "Edinburgh Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science"

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) COMPETITOR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Competitor.gif