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Irish Surname - Birmingham / Bermingham

Birmingham is an Irish surname that is primarily associated with County Galway in the western province of Connacht. The name may have originated from the town of Birmingham in Warwickshire, England, and brought to Ireland by the Norman invaders in the 12th century.

The Bermingham family established themselves as one of the leading Anglo-Norman families in Connacht, and over time they became more Gaelicised and integrated into Irish society. They held extensive lands in Galway and Roscommon, and played a prominent role in the politics and affairs of the region.

Today, there are still many people with the Bermingham surname in Ireland, as well as in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States and Canada. The name is sometimes spelled as "Beringham".

According to the most recent data from Forebears, the Birmingham surname is more common than the Bermingham surname. There are approximately 19,855 people with the Birmingham surname worldwide, making it the 3,598th most common surname.

On the other hand, there are approximately 3,019 people with the Bermingham surname worldwide, making it the 11,246th most common surname. The majority of people with the Bermingham surname are located in Ireland, followed by the United States, England, Canada, and Australia.

The surname Bingham has different etymological roots, but shares a similar sound and spelling, and it's possible that some individuals with the Bermingham surname may have anglicised their name to Bingham over time.

Famous People with surname Birmingham / Bermingham

John Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth, an Irish nobleman and soldier who fought for King James II during the Williamite War in Ireland.
David Bermingham, a British businessman who was involved in a high-profile extradition case with the United States over Enron fraud charges.
Thomas de Bermingham - an Anglo-Norman knight who became Lord of Athenry in County Galway in the early 14th century.
Sir Richard Birmingham - an Irish landowner and politician who served as High Sheriff of County Mayo in 1717 and 1721.
Luke Birmingham - an Irish cricketer who played for the Ireland national cricket team in the late 19th century.
Joseph Bermingham - an Irish revolutionary who fought against British rule in the Easter Rising of 1916.
Gerald Bermingham - an Irish lawyer and judge who served as a Judge of the High Court and as a Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Justin Birmingham - an Irish rugby player who played for the Ireland national rugby union team in the early 2000s.

Variations of the surname Bermingham

Bermingham, Birmingham, Beringham, Baringham, Burningham, Berningham, Bermigen, Bernigen

These variations can often be attributed to differences in spelling and pronunciation over time, as well as regional differences in dialects and accents. It's also worth noting that some of these variations may have originated from different ancestral sources, although they all share a common root in the Birmingham surname.

Birmingham / Bermingham Coat of Arms

The Bermingham coat of arms features a red shield with a gold lion passant guardant, with a gold chief featuring three red crescents. The crest features a dexter arm in armor holding a gold arrow, "Lamh laidir an Uachtar" is displayed on a scroll beneath the shield.

Birmingham / Bermingham’s Motto

Their family motto is "Lamh laidir an Uachtar", meaning "The strong hand from above".

Please Note

There is often limited information available on a specific coat of arms and motto for an Irish surname. Sometimes there are many variations, sometimes none, we have compiled a representative, but by no means exhaustive, selection. Please visit our Coat of Arms and Motto page for more information.