Osbourn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Family Crest Image (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Scotland were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Scottish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. The surname Osbourn is derived from the Old Norse personal name Asbjorn, meaning divine bear. Alternatively the name was Anglicized as Osbeorn and Osbern from the Old English word "be(o)rn" which meant "god warrior." Osbernus was presbyter in record (1097-1107), and Osbern was capellanus (chaplain) from 1107 to 1124. Osbernus was abbot of Jaddewurd, (c. 1150) and Osbern was capellanus of Glasgow, c. 1180. ^[1]

Early Origins of the Osbourn family

The surname Osbourn was first found in Kent, where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated as Lords of the manor of Hartlip. They were descended from Sarum in Normandy, Osborne was expelled from Normandy in 1054 by King William. He sought refuge at the Court of MacBeth in Scotland, however he made his peace with William after the Conquest and was elected Bishop of Sarum and became one of only three people permitted to dine at the King's Table.

Early History of the Osbourn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Osbourn research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1160, 1180, 1398, 1399, 1513, 1648, 1730, 1656, 1596, 1667, 1639, 1649, 1685, 1639, 1649, 1671 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Osbourn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Osbourn Spelling Variations

The frequent translations of surnames from and into Gaelic, accounts for the multitude of spelling variations found in Scottish surnames. Furthermore, the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent because medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. The different versions of a surname, such as the inclusion of the patronymic prefix "Mac", frequently indicated a religious or Clan affiliation, or even a division of the family. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into Scotland, accelerating accentuating the alterations to various surnames. The name Osbourn has also been spelled Osborne, Osborn, Osbourne, Osbourn, Osburn, Osburne, Osbern and many more.

Early Notables of the Osbourn family (pre 1700)

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

Migration of the Osbourn family to Ireland

Some of the Osbourn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 132 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Osbourn migration to the United States +

Some of the first North American settlers with Osbourn name or one of its variants:

Osbourn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Osbourn settled with his wife in Virginia in 1623
John Osbourn, who landed in Virginia in 1623 ^[2]
Thomas Osbourn, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 ^[2]
Catherine Osbourn, who arrived in Maryland in 1651 ^[2]

Osbourn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francis Osbourn, who landed in Virginia in 1704 ^[2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Osbourn (post 1700) +

Thomas Osbourn Jr., American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Erie County, 1885-88 ^[3]
Francis H. Osbourn, American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 3rd District; Elected 1884 ^[3]
Francis A. Osbourn (d. 1901), American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Philadelphia County, 1877-78; Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 3rd District, 1885-1901 ^[3]
Edward T. Osbourn, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Grafton, Virginia, 1861-63 ^[3]
D. R. Osbourn, American Democrat politician, Elected Missouri State House of Representatives 14th District 1980 ^[3]

The Osbourn 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: Pax in bello
Motto Translation: Peace in war.

Citations +

^ Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
^ Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html