Origin of the surname Burgess

This interesting surname is of Old French origin, and derives from the Middle English "burge(i)s", a development of the Old French "burgeis" meaning inhabitant and freeman of a fortified town, especially one with municipal rights and duties. Burgesses generally had tenure of land or buildings from a landlord by "burgage". In medieval England burgage involved the payment of a fixed money rent. In Scotland it involved payment in service, guarding the town. The surname dates back to the early 12th Century (see below), and early recordings include Ralph le Burgeis (1195), in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex, and Philip Burges (1220), in the Cartulary of Oseney Abbey, Oxford.

Variations in the spelling of the surname include Burgis, Burgise and Borges. London Church Registers record the marriages of Davye Burges to Agnes Taylor on January 27th 1582, at St. Thomas the Apostle, and Robert Parrin Burgess to Mary Langford on February 10th 1750, at St. Bartholomew the Great. A Coat of Arms granted to a Burgess family is blue, a fesse between a crescent in chief and a rose in base, all gold. The Crest is a gold fleur-de-lis. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Geoffrey Burgeis, which was dated 1115, in the "Winton Rolls of Hampshire", during the reign of King Henry 1, known as "The Lion of Justice", 1100 - 1135. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Burgess. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of burgess leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname burgess is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname burgess, and in addition to the original locations of burgess, we can find out where people with the surname burgess can currently be found.

The surname Burgess around the world

There is a considerable probability that burgess has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where burgess is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname burgess provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname burgess has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Burgess

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named burgess are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname burgess, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of burgess developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname burgess are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of burgess could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about burgess and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname burgess or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of burgess.

Notable Figures Named Burgess

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname burgess, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname burgess were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like burgess can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.

The surname Burgess and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname burgess, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of burgess are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname burgess, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of burgess, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Burgess