The Burroughs surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 17,336 people carried this name — #2,087 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 17,000 people counted. That is up 4% from 16,702 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Burroughs surname

An English topographical surname from Middle English, from Old English beorg (“hill”) or burg (“fort”), for someone who lived near a hill or fort.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Burroughs» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘at the borough’.

An early record he cites: John atte Boroghe, Somerset, 1327–28 (1 Edward III) — Kirby's Quest (Somerset).

His entry covers Burrough, Burroughs, Burrow and Burrowes.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 150 · public domain.

In print

Burroughs in American newspapers,
1904–1917.

Newspaper page from The Mirror And Farmer carrying the name Burroughs
The Mirror And Farmer 1910-03-24
Newspaper page from The Mirror And Farmer carrying the name Burroughs
The Mirror And Farmer 1917-05-17
Newspaper page from New Hampshire Farmer And Weekly Union carrying the name Burroughs
New Hampshire Farmer And Weekly Union 1904-02-24

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 6,229 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Burroughs in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

5,288 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Burroughs. The most, 1,325, date from the 1910s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 2,108
Victoria 1,623
Queensland 571
South Australia 505
Western Australia 268
Tasmania 149
ACT (Canberra) 35
Northern Territory 10

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Burroughs.

Who carried it

People named Burroughs,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Joseph Burroughs
    Joseph Burroughs 1685–1761
  • Mary Fullerton Burroughs
    Mary Fullerton Burroughs 1761–1833
  • Mary Fullerton Burroughs
    Mary Fullerton Burroughs 1761–1833
  • George Burroughs d. 1870 · engineer
  • Lewis Burroughs 1714–1786 · cleric
  • Jeremiah Burroughes 1728–1767

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Burroughs,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,407 records

1,407 records of the Burroughs name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 599
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 320
  • Other U.S. records 488
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record James Michael Burroughs

    Born 1947; from Comer, Georgia. U.S. Army, infantryman; died of wounds 1967 in Dinh Tuong, South Vietnam. Buried at Marietta National Cemetery, Georgia.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Jasper D. Burroughs

    Born 1913 in Alabama. Enlisted 1941 at Fort McClellan; farm hand from Marshall County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Free Home Cemetery, Grant, Alabama.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Robert Burroughs

    Arrived at New York in 1859 aboard the Henry Clay from Liverpool, aged 34; glazier. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,407 records for Burroughs in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia138 records

138 records of the Burroughs name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 90
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 21
  • Other Australian records 27
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Thomas Burroughs

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Mermaid, arriving 1830.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Burroughs

    Arrived in Victoria in 1855 aboard the Marco Polo, aged 20; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Thomas D. Burroughs

    Gentleman of Kew, Victoria; died 1902.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 138 records for Burroughs in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada54 records

54 records of the Burroughs name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 27
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 11
  • Other Canadian records 16
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Lily Henrietta Burroughs

    Buried in 1976 at Union Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 91.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Mae Burroughs

    Died 1963 in Economy, Colchester, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Cecil Andrew Burroughs

    Died in service in 1918.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 54 records for Burroughs in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

New Zealand13 records

13 records of the Burroughs name in New Zealand
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 10
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 2
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Bateman Burroughs

    Died 1994, aged 83; buried at Tuamarina Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Marchant Burroughs

    Died 1980, aged 87; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alice Burroughs

    Born 1915, died 2001; buried at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 13 records for Burroughs in New Zealand.

Counts: Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom5 records

5 records of the Burroughs name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 3
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Burroughs

    Buried in 1805 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 40.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record H. J. Burroughs

    Lance Corporal, Jrham Light Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record F. Burroughs

    Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 5 records for Burroughs in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands5 records

5 records of the Burroughs name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 3
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jeremiah Burroughs

    Married in 1822 in Amsterdam; merchant.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Anna Prisila Burroughs

    Baptised in 1688 in Heusden.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Marij Burroughs

    In the population register of Amsterdam; born 1785 in Londen.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5 records for Burroughs in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France1 record

1 record of the Burroughs name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Paul Victor Scott Burroughs

    Born 1919 in Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique); died 1987 in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Burroughs.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Burroughs is.
A volume says what happened to it.

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