Burman Name Study

Profile managers: Carol Burman [send private message] and One Name Studies WikiTree [send private message]

How to Join

Please contact the Study's coordinator Carol Burman or post a comment to the right. If you have any questions, just ask. Thanks!

Goals

This is a One Name Study to collect together in one place everything about one surname and the variants of that name. The hope is that other researchers like you will join our study to help make it a valuable reference point for people studying lines that cross or intersect.

Task List

1. To adopt any UK Burman orphans. Completed!
2. To check all Burmans to ensure sources are included. Commenced 5th July 2019 and working alphabetically through Burman index
3. To connect any unconnected Open BURMANs on WikiTree. Commenced 10th July 2019
4. To reach out to Worldwide Burman contributors to develop the one name study.
5. To adopt all remaining worldwide Burman orphans, however all Swedish profiles that I have adopted in the past will be unadopted. Please see note on Sweden below.

Statistics

Please use this link to reach ONS app for Burman statistics [1]

Updates

1. 5th July 2019 All UK orphans have now been adopted. The remaining worldwide outstanding Burman profiles are now being considered for adoption except any from Sweden.
2. 10th July 2019 All unsourced Burman profiles have been looked at (UK and worldwide). There are 3 outstanding profiles and messages have been sent to profile managers. Remaining unsourced Burman profiles are 'hidden'.
3. 7th April 2021Another clean up of orphaned and unsourced Burman profiles. Most of Burman profiles with error codes have been corrected.
4. 10th July 2021 Commenced collating war dead.
5. January 2020 Adding Burman ancestors originating from Warwickshire, England

Interesting Burman ancestors

Are you linked to any of these Burman ancestors? Please let us know.

William Insull Burman. Born in England and emigrated to Australia. Became a photographer. [2]

Stuart John Burman (1889-1975). Born in Australia, earliest ancestor was transported from England to Tasmania. In 1919, he was at that time, the longest serving AIF soldier. [3]

Alasdair Graham Burman. Born in Scotland. Emigrated to Brazil. A naturalist and plant collector. Has two species of Savannah grass named after him.

John Burman. Local historian. Author of The Burman Chronicles (published by Cornish Brothers in 1940). A significant publication if your ancestry has it routes in Warwickshire, England.[4]

Elizabeth Joan Burman. Born Edgbaston, Warwickshire, England. BBC continuity announcer and actress. In 1945 she was a 'castaway' on Desert Island Discs.^[1] Married BBC producer Anthony Barrie Edgar.^[2]

William Burman. Born Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire, England. Founder of Burman and Sons in 1871 (horse clipper manufacturer).^[3]

Hester Nancy Burman. Born Edgbaston, Birmingham. Before WW2 she was an actress. In 1946 she became the deputy production manager of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre and in 1961 she ran the theatre until she retired in 1964. She was awarded an honorary MA from Birmingham University, and an OBE for services to the theatre.^[4]

Sir John Bedford Burman. Born in Handsworth, Staffordshire, England. Conservative Member of Parliament for Birmingham Duddeston and Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Was knighted in 1936 for political and public services in Birmingham. Author of the book The Burman Family of Warwickshire (published privately and printed by Burman, Cooper & Co. Ltd. in 1916) which is an important publication for Warwickshire ancestry for the Burman family.^[5]

Sir Stephen France Burman. Knighted in 1973 for services to Birmingham University.

Richard Hugh Burman. Author of The Warwickshire family of Burman : a monograph published in 1895.

Sir John Charles Burman. Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Received knighthood for political and public services in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Son of Sir John Bedford Burman.

William Burman. Lord Mayor of Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, England (1819-1820).^[6]

Ellis Luis Burman. An American sculptor famous primarily for his work 'The Smoke Signal' in Lincoln Park, Lancashire, Nebraska, United States.^[7][8][9] His sons, Ellis Luis Burman Jr and Thomas Robert Burman are prominent film special make- up artists both of which were awarded for their work.^[10][11]

Serjeant William Francis Burman VC. Awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry.^[12]

Thomas Burman MBE. Emigrated from England to South Africa. Awarded MBE for for his work as Chairman of the relief sub-committee of the Governor General's Fund in Durban, South Africa.

John Burman an English Artist. His most famous work was a painting of Sutton Common, Surrey, England.^[13]

Where in the world are these Burmans?

Australia

Benjamin Stodart Burman. An illegimate Burman from South Cave, Yorkshire was transported to Tasmania, Australia and subsequently pardoned.

Burman ancestors in Australia seem to have emigrated from England, The Netherlands or Sweden. Please let us know if your ancestor emigrated to Australia from another country.

England and Wales:

Brixham and Swansea Burmans: Ralph Burnman is the earliest proven ancestor of the 'Brixham' Burmans. However earlier ancestors were Dutch. It is not clear if Ralph was Dutch, but to date no parish records detail his birth. Ralph, or possibly his father, where part of the Dutch army who arrived in England with William of Orange in 1688. William of Orange landed with his army on 5th November 1688 in Brixham, Devon. Many members of the army, including Burman, remained in the area and became fishermen. William Bird Burman born in Brixham, Devon moved to Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales. If you have Swansea ancestors then you are probably connected to this line. Unfortunately, many ancestors within this line are not true Burmans as they descend from William Burman who was the illegitimate child of Anne Burnman.

Warwickshire and Worcestershire Burmans: Burman ancestors from Warwickshire are being added. This commenced January 2020. There are many Burmans within this line to be added. There is a good website available regarding the Burman's of Tanworth (www.firstinsullburman.co.uk) complied by Ken Burman. Ken Burman is the expert in this Burman line and his email can be located on this website.

The following books are also of historical interest.

1. The Burman Chronicle - The Story of a Warwickshire Family by John Burman.
2. The Warwickshire family of Burman : a monograph by Richard Hugh Burman
3. The Burman Family of Warwickshire by Sir John Bedford Burman

Oxfordshire Burmans - to be investigated in due course.

Lincolnshire Burmans - to be investigated in due course.

Russia (Russian Empire to 1922)

There are many Burman/Berman ancestors who emigrated from this region to Europe and a vast number to the United States. So far, the majority of these immigrants where Jewish.

Sweden

Dealing with ancestors from Sweden is a complex process. Please ensure that the last name at birth is actually Burman due to the Swedish patronymic system. Patronymics (from the Greek pater, meaning "father," and onoma, for "name") is the process of designating a surname based upon the given name of the father, thus consistently changing the family surname from one generation to the next. In Sweden, -son or -dotter was usually added to the father's given name for gender distinction. There are many Swedish profiles on wiki tree which have been assigned with with surname Burman, but in reality are not actually the correct surname. Due to the complexity of this system it is not my intention try and unravel past mistakes and therefore any earlier profiles I have adopted from Sweden will be unadopted. If anyone wished to take this task on please let me know.

The Netherlands

United States

Ancestors in the United States seem to have emigrated from England, Wales, Sweden, The Netherlands or Russia and variations of the surname exist. The surname does not appear to have its 'roots' from here. Please let us know about your ancestors. Are they native Americans? Which country did they emigrate from?

Burman Name Meaning

English: status name, from Middle English burghman, borughman (Old English burhmann) ‘inhabitant of a (fortified) town’ (see Burke), especially one holding land or buildings by burgage (see Burgess). Americanized spelling of German Buhrmann (see Buhrman).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press

Lest we forget

Battle of Waterloo

Private Abraham Burman died of his wounds. He served in the The 7th Queen's Own Light Dragoons (Hussars).

World War I

Private Frederick James Burman killed in action in Le Tilleloy, France. He served in 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Great grandson of Private Abraham Burman.

Private Herbert Peet Burman killed in action in Gommécourt, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. He served in 1st/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.

Private William Sherrieff Burman died of his wounds in France. He served in 43rd Battalion Australian Infantry (AIF).

2nd Air Mechanic John William Burman died of pneumonia at the age of 17 years in Canada. Served in the Royal Air Force.

Private William Henry Burman died of his wounds in France and Flanders. Served 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment.

Private Walter Insull Burman killed in action in France. Served 27th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Private Douglas Ashley Burman killed in action at Delville Wood, Somme, Picarde, France. Served 3rd Regiment of the South African Infantry.

Ralph Watson Burman. Boy II Class. Died of bronco pneumonia onboard HMS Powerful aged 17 years.

Sergeant Charles Albert Burman died from his wounds in France. Was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery. Served 24th Battalion, Manchester Regiment.

Private Frederick Oliver Burman died from his wounds in Belgium. Served 10th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Brother of Private William Ernest Burman.

Private William Ernest Burman killed in action in France. Served 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Brother of Private Frederick Oliver Burman.

Private Albert Edward Burman killed in action at the Battle of Messines. Served 49th Infantry Battalion, Australian Infantry Force. Brother of Sergeant Malcolm William Burman.

Sergeant Malcolm William Burman. Killed in action. Served 9th Infantry Battalion, Australian Infantry Force. Brother of Private Albert Edward Burman.

Private Charles Creasey Burman killed in action in France. 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment.

Private Frederick William Burman died from nephritis which he was diagnosed with whilst serving on the Italian front. Illness attributed to war service. 2nd Battalion Border Regiment.

Driver Thomas William Burman. 55th Division Ammunition Col., Royal Field Artillery.

Private James Mills Burman. Registered at birth as James Burman Mills as born out of wedlock. Became James Mills Burman c1905. 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment.

Engineer William Burman. Service No. 1914ES - Royal Naval Reserve, H.M. Drifter 'Beneficent.' One of eight crewmen who lost there lives when H.M. Drifter "Beneficent." was sunk by gunfire from a Austrian warship, near Saruichey LV, Adriatic Sea.

World War II

Acting Corporal Arthur John Burman perished at sea following the sinking of HMS Glorious on 8th June 1940.

2nd Lieutenant Harry Burman killed in action in Libya during the Western Desert campaign. Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. Great great grandson of Private Abraham Burman.

Flight Lieutenant William Richard Burman missing in action. Boston V BZ623 of 114 Sqn was low flying over the sea and struck the mast of an Arab drow. Not seen to crash land and assumed ditched. No sign of crew or aircraft

Private Frederick Stanley Burman. Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

Trooper Insull John Burman. Died at the battle of El Alamein, Egypt. The Royal Warwickshire Yeomanry RAC B squadron.

Private Clifford John Burman. Died in Myanmar. 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

Driver Harvey Burman. Died in Egypt. 1009th Docks Operating Company, Royal Engineers.

Warrant Officer Dennis Cecil Burman. Royal New Zealand Air Force. He flew a Spitfire from Tangmere, Chichester, England on a mission to attack a rail convoy of tanks when he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. He bailed out and landed, injured, in the village of Roeux, France where he was shot on the spot by an SS Officer.

Corporal Leonard Burman. AIF, Australian Royal Engineers. Died from an intestinal obstruction and was buried in 'the field' in Papua New Guinea.

Sergeant Richard Thomas Burman. Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve) 10th Squadron. Air gunner killed in action over Germany.

Sergeant Robert Alfred Burman. 225 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Struck HT lines while carrying out a practice attack on the airfield in Gladsmuir, East Lothian, Scotland and crashed nearby. Type: North American Mustang Mk I, generic P51 model.

Vietnam War

PFC Alvin Carl Bilfred Burman. Missing in action in 1951 and body located in 1955 in North Korea. 7th Infantry Regiment and 3rd Infantry Division Korea. Awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.^[14]