The title Baron Burgh was created in the Peerage of England in 1529. There were, however, previous creations, about which very little is known. The first creation was for William de Burgh in 1327, but nothing further is known about the descent of that title. Next, it might have been created in 1487, as Sir Thomas Burgh was summoned to Parliament. Normally, if an individual who is not a peer were summoned to Parliament, then that person would ipso facto become a peer upon sitting in the House of Lords. Thus, if Sir Thomas did sit in the House of Lords, then he would automatically have become a peer. However, his successor Edward, did not receive a writ of summons, to which every peer would be entitled. Thus, it may have been the case that Sir Thomas did not eventually sit in Parliament, and therefore was not a peer.
Nonetheless, another Sir Thomas Burgh was clearly created Baron Burgh in 1529; that title is the one in existence now. Sir Thomas had already succeeded as 5th Baron Strabolgi, and the baronies of Burgh and Strabolgi continued to remain united until the death of the eighth baron Strabolgi in 1602, when both titles went into abeyance. In 1916, after 314 years of abeyance, both titles were called out of abeyance by the Sovereign, but in favour of different heirs.
In the early years of John's reign de Burgh was greatly enriched by royal favour, receiving the honor of Corfe in 1199 and three important castles in Gwent in 1201 (Grosmont, Skenfrith, and Llantilo).
In any case de Burgh retained the king's trust, and in 1203 was given charge of the great castle at Chinon, in Touraine, a key to the defence of the Loire valley.
The relationship between Hubert de Burgh and the later de Burgh's Earl of Ulster and Lord of Connaught is not clear.
In 1361 the duke of Clarence was sent over as lord-lieutenant to Ireland to enforce his claims as husband of the heir general, but failed, and the chiefs of the de Burghs maintained their independence of English sovereignty for several generations.
Ulick de Burgh succeeded to the headship of his clan, exercised a quasi-royal authority and held vast estates in county Galway, in Connaught, including Loughry, Dunkellin, Kiltartan (Hilltaraght) and Athenry, as well as Clare and Leitrim.
In March 1541, however, he wrote to Henry VIII., lamenting the degeneracy of his family, "which have been brought to Irish and disobedient rule by reason of marriage and nurseing with those Irish, sometime rebels, near adjoining to me," and placing himself and his estates in the king's hands.
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