We first hear of the Burmans in 1273, in the neighbouring County of Oxfordshire.
Half a century later, at the date of the Warwickshire Subsidy Roll of 1327, they were established in the vicinity of Stratford-on-Avon, some dozen miles from the nearest point of Oxfordshire. Here they remained until the present century, a period of about six hundred years and since the time of John Burman, who was living at Shottery in 1467, the family history is clear and unbroken. During the interval between that date and the present, Burmans were Mayors of Stratford on five occasions, the first being in 1699, when John Burman held the position. The office of churchwarden of Stratford Church was for generations almost a hereditary honour of the family.The Burmans of Shottery were overseers of the wills of Shakespeare's father-in-law and brother-in-law, Richard and Bartholomew Hathaway, their principal home adjoining Hewlands, the home of the Hathaways, now known as "Anne Hathaway's Cottage." Their estate in Queen Elizabeth's reign was known as Burmans, and up to two years ago was called Burmans Farm when it was converted into a Guest House, and the name altered to Hathaway Farm.

In 1497, John Burman, a priest, who later became Vicar of Ashby St. Ledgers, owned land at Lapworth and in 1594 the name first appears in the Tanworth Registers, though it was not until 1629 that John Burman, of Shottery, took the first step towards definitely establishing the family at Tanworth, by his marriage at that place to Anne Court of Kemp's Green. Their son, Richard, lived at Packwood, and their grandson, John Burman, settled at Kemp's Green, having inherited the property under the will of his kinsman, John Court. He married Margaret Hurlstone, and died in 1743, having served as churchwarden from 1719-1712 and also as Overseer of the Poor for the parish.

Of his children, Mary married John Hunt, of Beaumonts, and John, Rebecca Green, daughter of Isaac Green, of Lapworth. This John lived at Botley, where he died in 1770 His second son; Thomas (1744-1822) founded the private asylum formerly conducted at Burman House, Henley-in-Arden, and carried on later by his son and grandson.

The eldest son of John Burman, of Botley, was John Burman, of Lady Lane, in the Parish of Tanworth. He married Mary daughter of Richard Insull, of Light Hall, leaving at his death in 1781 three sons, Richard Burman, of Monkspath Hall, John Burman, of Light Hall, and Thomas Burman, of Lady Lane.

John Burman, of Light Hall, inherited that estate from his uncle, Richard Insull (the second), in 1783. In addition to his considerable landed estate, he was also a banker. He married Esther Field, of Jerring's Hall, and on the marriage of his eldest son, John, to Mary Heath in 1808, settled Light Hall on him, retiring to a house which he built near to Tanworth Church. This house, now known as HillCrest, was called Aspley House in the days of its builder. Having taken a prominent part in local affairs, among other duties, holding the office of churchwarden, and being one of the founders and first committeemen of the "Felons Society," John Burman died in 1820. His eldest son, the second John Burman, of Light Hall, died in 1834 at the house now known as the "Old Doctor's House" in Tanworth village, Light Hall having been disposed of two years before.

A few years after his father's death, the eldest son, Insull (1810-1884), settled in the outskirts of Birmingham. In 1840 he married Caroline Nichols, of Worcester, and in 1857 moved with his family to Farndon, Cheshire, where he lived until his death. His only surviving son, Edwin Guest Burman in  1881, went to live at Eccles, near Manchester, where he died in 1920, leaving a wife and four children, the eldest living in Shirley.

The second son of the last John Burman, of Light Hall, was Woollaston John, who became a Solicitor in Birmingham, and lived at Hockley Heath.  His son MR W. J. Burman of Hockley Heath succeeded him in his estate and in his practice. The remaining son of John Burman, Samuel left no surviving issue. Reverting to John Burman of Lady Lane, we find that his youngest son, Thomas, carried on that branch of the family. He married Margaret Smith, among his children being three sorts who were all well settled at the time of their father's death in 1841, he having reached the ripe age of 85. His eldest son, John, was at Waring's Green, the second son, Richard, at Houndsfield, the youngest son, Thomas, carrying on at Lady Lane.

John Burman, of Waring's Green, was the father of Thomas Burman, of the same place, and of William Smith Burman, of Shirley, who practised as a Solicitor in Birmingham in the reigns of George IV. And William IV. Thomas was an extensive landowner, making good use of some of his surplus wealth at the building of the two district churches at Salter Street and Hockley Heath, and also at the restoration of Tanworth Church. He died without issue in 1895, at the advanced age of 90. Three successive Richards carried on the Houndsfield branch of the family, the widow of the last being still in residence there. This house is beyond the bounds of Tanworth Parish, being situated in the Parish of Wythall.

The second Thomas Burman of Lady Lane (1788-1856) was one of four Burmans who married Fields. Among other children he had three sons, the eldest, Tertius Thomas (1825-1894) succeeding him at Lady Lane; the second son, William (1833-1893) lived at Edgbaston, and was the father of Alderman John B. Burman of the same place; while the youngest son was Richard Hugh, of Sutton Coldfield.

The above information was taken from "The Story Of Tanworth In Arden", by John Burman. Published in 1930

Reeve
The Burman family website mentions that the second John Burman, of Light Hall, died in 1834, Light Hall having been disposed of two years before. My Reeve ancestors lived at Light Hall from about the 1840s, Thomas Reeve living there until his death in 1872. I am not sure whether he owned the property or leased it. Does anyone know? His second daughter, Martha, married John Woollaston of Beoley, who seems to have taken over Light Hall sometime after the death of Thomas.
Dr.A.G.O'Brien

Insull Burman
I am looking for information on a man called Insull Burman, who lived in my house in Sydenham, London between 1909 and the 1930's. I believe that he probably died whilst living here, as the resident for 1933 is listed as Mrs Burnham. I am wondering if there is any connection between the man who once lived here and the Burman family who are profiled on your pages. As I have never come across the name Insull before I suspect it is probably a family name.
Tammy Williams

Just noticed a message from Tammy Williams on the Solihull Online web site, asking for information about a man called Insull Burman. Not sure whether this helps her, but I have a fairly extensive Burman family tree on our own family web site and this does include an Insull John Burman who died in the 1930s www.burman.dsl.pipex.com/family_tree/wc01/wc01_133.htm although I have no information to confirm whether this is the same Insull Burman that lived in her house in Sydenham. As she suspects, Insull is indeed a common name in the Burman family as she will see from the tree.
Steve Burman

Tertius Thomas Burman
Does anyone have any information on Tertius Thomas BURMAN (1865-1894) who lived at Lady Lane, Tanworth and married Elizabeth MADELEY of Dog Lane in 1852. According to 'The Story of Tanworth in Arden' by John Burman (1930) Thomas Tertius was a farmer and churchwarden, but nothing was mentioned of his marriage. Any further information would be appreciated.
Rita Bailey

Burman
Frederick Charles Burman came to Australia in c1850s with his parents,  brothers & sisters. Would like to hear from anyone researching this family. Also the Insull family .
Adele Cathro

HARDING
Seeking information on the ancestors & family of Judd Harding born circa 1730, Solihull married to Elizabeth Hunt of Stratford-upon-Avon, daughter. of John Hunt and Mary Burman.
R. Isherwood kttrucking@sk.sympatico.ca