William Fitzadelm de Burgo
d. 1206
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William Fitzadelm de Burgo was Henry the Second's governor in Ireland after Strongbow's death and the founder of the Burke family, one of the great Norman houses of Connacht. His descendants became so thoroughly Irish that they took Gaelic titles and fought the English crown for centuries.
Research notes
✓ DOCUMENTED (nationally; O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees, 'Burke of Clanricarde' (Vol.2), gen. nos. cited; corroborated by the documented Clanricarde/Mac William Uachtar chief succession; read 23 Jul 2026. makes him the head of the Burke line): WILLIAM FITZADELM DE BURGO (William de Burgh, d.1205/6) - the Norman founder of ALL the Irish Burkes/de Burghs; came to Ireland with Henry II, appointed LORD JUSTICE (governor) OF IRELAND 1177, granted vast lands in Connacht and Munster ('Conqueror of Connacht'). *** TOP OF THE WIRED BURKE SPINE. Note-only above: the de Burgh Norman house (his father Adelm/Aldelm; kin to the FitzHberts). ⚠ TWO IMPORTANT CAVEATS: (1) his elder son's line (NOT ours) became the de Burgh EARLS OF ULSTER, whose heiress Elizabeth de Burgh m. Lionel of Antwerp son of EDWARD III - so our Clanricarde branch does NOT share that Plantagenet descent; (2) TRADITION (debated) makes William Fitzadelm's wife a daughter of DOMNALL MOR UA BRIAIN, King of Thomond (I99642, already Aynsley's ancestor) - if true the Burkes loop back into the O'Briens; kept note-only, unverified. Direct ancestor. Reached via three Burke marriages in the O'Brien line. Added 23 Jul 2026.