Stay informed about Burgess Family online & offline events!

See one of our recent Ireland101 Tribe Gatherings

MEET
LEARN
SHOP

Burgess Family History

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...

Who have we missed?

Tell us about any famous Burgess (or surname variant) you think we should add here. We will get our genealogists to check them out and add them to the list. Thanks!