|
 The Burney
crest at right includes the phrase "Sapere aude incipe" which
means "Dare to know, start!"
The
Highland surname Burney has been prominent in adding a weighty
influence to an already monumental image of the Scottish
Highlanders. From the sea swept Hebridean Islands and the
mountainous western coast of Scotland, this surname has
emerged as a notable family whose history is romanticized by
the skirl of the bagpipes, the brandished sword, the tartan
kilt, and the highland games.
Professional analysts, using some of the oldest manuscripts,
including Clan genealogies, the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland,
the Ragman Rolls, the Inquisitio, the Black Book, parish
cartularies, baptismal records, and tax records and many other
documents found the name Burney in Elgin Scotland, where they
had been seated from ancient times. The Burney name is
associated with the Matheson Clan, otherwise known as the Clan
of the Bear. Tradition claims the Mathesons assisted in 843
against the Picts who were the ancient race in the Highlands
of Scotland. From feuds with neighbors, the Mathesons became
much reduced and dispersed, and from the 15th century followed
the MacKenzie banner. Burney comes from Septs of the Matheson
Clan, in particular the MacBirnie and MacBurnie Septs.
The name
Burney was found to have many variations in spelling,
particularly in transferring the name into and from Gaelic.
The surname was sometimes spelled Birnie, Birney, Birny,
Birnye, Byrnye, Byrny, Berney, Birne, Byrne, McBirny, McBirnie,
McBurny, McBurnie, McBerney, and these changes in spelling
occurred, even between father and son. It was not uncommon for
a clansman in his own lifetime to be born with one spelling,
marry another, and yet another to appear on his headstone.
Sometimes a different spelling was used to claim a religious
or clan affiliation, or even a division of the family.
 The
name Burney emerged as a Scottish Clan or family in the
territory of Elgin. They first settled in Brennath in Moray,
where the name became Birnie. James Birnie was a businessman
in the town of Elgin in 1261. Sir Andrew Birnie of Saline was
head of the clan about 1500. He was a Senator of the College
of Justice. The Burney's also branched to Broomhill where they
also had estates. Walter Birnie was the King's Chaplain. In
the Middle Ages the Birnies became an ecclesiastical family
and held many important posts in the reformed church. Notable
among the Clan from early times was Sir Andrew Birnie of
Saline.
Many heads
of families migrated from Scotland to Ireland during the 17th
and 18th centuries. The became known as the "Scotch/Irish".
They were granted the lands of the native Catholic Irish. In
Ireland they settled in North East Ulster and assumed the name
of McBirnie and McBurney.
Later,
clansmen sailed aboard the small sailing ships known as the
"White Sails: which plied the stormy Atlantic, ships such as
the Hector, the Rambler, and the Dove, indenturing themselves
for up to ten years to pay their passage. Many of these
overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 to 70 percent of the
passenger list, the rest dying at sea.
In North
America, many settled Virginia, the Carolinas, Pictou, Nova
Scotia, and the Ottawa Valley. One of the first migrants which
could be considered a kinsman of the name Burney, of that same
Clan or family, was William Birnie who settled in Philadelphia
in 1811; David Birney settled in Philadelphia in 1840; William
McBerney settled in New York State in 1804; James McBirney
settled in Philadelphia in 1844; John McBirney settled in
Charles Town, South Carolina in 1767; Andrew McBurney settled
in Philadelphia in 1842; Margaret McBurney settled in Charles
Town, South Carolina in 1767; William McBurnie settled in St.
John Island in 1775.
Prominent
kinsmen included: General William Birney, American Revolution;
Colonel Eugene Birnie, The Guides Cavalry; and Alfred Earle
Birney, Canadian poet and novelist.
Sources:
The Hall of Names Certification
Number 964211-12.17M-25001 (www.hall-of-names.com)
and Collins Guide to Scots Kith & Kin
(ISBN 0-00-435665-9)
|
