The Burtenshaw surname is habitational, taken on from the name of the Chapelry of Birkenshaw in the Parish of Birstall, county Yorkshire. The place literally means "small wood or copse where birch trees grow" from the Old English "bircen" [1]
The surname Burtenshaw was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, most likely even before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D., given the Old English roots of their name.
The first on record was William del Birkenschawe listed in 1274 in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire. A Thomas Birchynshaw was listed in the Poll Tax Rolls of that same county in 1379. [2]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burtenshaw research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1408, 1587, 1634, 1739, 1664 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Burtenshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Burtenshaw include Birkenshaw, Birkinshaw, Bircumshaw, Burtenshaw and many more.
Distinguished members of the family include John Birchensha ( fl. 1664-1672), a Welsh musician, "probably a member of the Burchinshaw, Burchinsha, Byrchinshaw, or Byrchinsha family, the senior branch of which were settled...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burtenshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Burtenshaw family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.