Show ContentsByrum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Byrum is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Byrum family lived at Bryram, a township in the parish of Brotherton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1

Early Origins of the Byrum family

The surname Byrum 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 Byrum family

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

Byrum Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Byrum include Byrom, Byram, Byrum, Birom, Biram and others.

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

Byrum Ranking

In the United States, the name Byrum is the 6,191st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6


Byrum migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Byrums to arrive on North American shores:

Byrum Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Willy Byrum, aged 10, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909

Contemporary Notables of the name Byrum (post 1700) +

  • Marie Ruoff Byrum (1893-1967), from Hannibal, Missouri she became the first woman to vote in the United States after the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
  • Dion Byrum (b. 1983), American NFL football cornerback
  • Dianne Yvonne Byrum (b. 1954), American Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Michigan
  • Thomas Elliott "Tom" Byrum (b. 1960), American professional PGA golfer, brother of Curt Byrum, analyst on the Golf Channel
  • John Byrum (b. 1947), American film director and writer, best known for his work in The Razor's Edge, Heart Beat, Duets and Inserts
  • Curt Allen Byrum (b. 1958), American professional PGA golfer, older brother of Thomas Byrum
  • Byrum P. Goad, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1928 7


  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
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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