Burges't last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Burges't is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Burges't.

Meaning of Burges't

An archaic English surname potentially referring to a resident of a borough or fortified town.

Burges't, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Burges't surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Burges't in America

Burges't is the 143847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burges't surname appeared 106 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Burges't.

The history of the last name Burges't

The surname Burgest has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to around the 11th or 12th century. The name is believed to have originated from the Middle English and Old French word burgeis, which means "a citizen of a borough" or "town dweller." This term, in turn, derives from the Old French word bourg, meaning "town" or "village," itself coming from the Latin word burgus, meaning "fortress" or "fortified town."

The name likely arose in areas where there were significant town developments during the medieval period, primarily in England's southeastern counties. The evolution of the surname coincided with the growth of towns and the establishment of boroughs as centers of trade and governance.

Historical references to the surname include records from tax rolls and other official documents of the medieval period. One of the earliest mentions appears in the Pipe Rolls of 1198, which were financial records of the English Treasury. Here, a certain William Burgest is cited as a taxpayer in the county of Essex. This indicates that the name was in use and recorded in official administrative documents as early as the 12th century.

In 1236, a John Burgest appears in the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire. The Assize Rolls were records of legal proceedings and show that individuals with the surname were also present in judicial contexts. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a Richard Burgest is listed in Hertfordshire. These rolls were tax records, further emphasizing the connection between the surname and individuals involved in civic responsibilities and town life.

The surname evolves with various spellings over time, reflecting changes in language and regional accents. Variants such as Burges, Burgess, and Burgeis have appeared in historical documents, showcasing the fluid nature of spelling in the pre-standardized English language.

One notable individual with this surname is Thomas Burgest, born in 1543 in Norfolk, who is recorded to have been a merchant influential in local trade. Another is Mary Burgest, born in 1601, also in Norfolk, who was a prominent figure in her community.

In the 17th century, Samuel Burgest, born in 1625 in Suffolk, emigrated to the American colonies, making his way to Virginia. His descendants continued to use the surname in various forms. Another figure, Anne Burgest, born in 1680 in Surrey, was known for her work in local charity organizations.

By tracing the surname Burgest, one can uncover layers of historical socio-economic structures, illustrating the evolution of town life from medieval to early modern England. The legacy of the name carries with it the rich history of trade, governance, and civic duty.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burges't

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Burges't.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Burges't was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 6.60% 7
Non-Hispanic Black Only 88.68% 94
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Burges't was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Burges't, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Burges't last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 5, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/burgest-surname-popularity/.

"Burges't last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/burgest-surname-popularity/. Accessed 5 July, 2025

Burges't last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/burgest-surname-popularity/.

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