BURROUGH

Origin and etymology In historic texts In the 1881 census Distribution map

Burrough

The surname Burrough, also commonly spelled as Burrow or Burrows, is of Old English origin and is derived from the word "burh" or "buruh," meaning a fortified settlement or hill. The name was typically used to describe someone who lived near a hill or fortification.

The Burrough name can be traced back to medieval England, with instances of its use found in various regions such as Devon, Norfolk, and Yorkshire. Over time, the surname has undergone different phonetic variations, but its origins remain rooted in the concept of a settlement or fortification.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Burrough include Anthony Burrough, a 16th-century English politician, and William S. Burroughs, an influential American writer of the Beat Generation.

Today, the surname Burrough is relatively uncommon in the United Kingdom, but it continues to be part of the rich tapestry of British surnames with its historical significance tied to the landscape and settlements of medieval England.

There are approximately 727 people named Burrough in the UK. That makes it roughly the 9,425th most common surname in Britain. Around 11 in a million people in Britain are named Burrough.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

Colin
David
Graham
James
John
Mark
Paul
Peter
Richard
Robert
Simon
Timothy

Female

Ann
Barbara
Christine
Elizabeth
Emily
Jennifer
June
Lisa
Louise
Margaret
Rebecca
Ruth
Susan
Yvonne

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.