Burden

Burden
This interesting surname has a number of possible sources. Firstly, the surname may be of Norman origin, introduced into England after the Conquest of 1066. It may derive from the Old French personal name "Burdo" (oblique case "Burdon"), probably of Germanic origin, but uncertain meaning. The surname may also be a nickname for a pilgrim or one who carried a pilgrim's staff, from the Old French "bourdon", pilgrim's staff. It has also been suggested that the surname derives from the Old German or Latin "burdo", a mule, and would have been an occupational name for a pack carrier, or indeed a nickname given to a strong person. The creation of surnames from nicknames was a common practice in the Middle Ages, and many modern-day surnames derive from medieval nicknames referring to personal characteristics, as in these instances, the "pilgrim" or "strong one". Finally, the surname may be of Anglo-Saxon origin, and a locational name from Great Burdon (Durham) or Burdon Head (West Riding of Yorkshire), which derive from the Olde English pre 7th Century "burh", fortress, with "dun", hill. Another Burdon in Durham means "valley with a byre", from "byre", byre, with "denu", valley. Ilger Burdun is noted in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire (1166), and Jeffery Burden, Wiltshire is listed in the Register of Oxford University (1597). A Coat of Arms granted to the family is a silver shield, with three red pilgrims' staves in fesse, pomelled gold. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Arnulf Burdin, which was dated 1115, in the "Book of Winton", during the reign of King Henry 1, known as "The Administrator", 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.

Surnames reference. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • burden — bur·den n 1: something that is a duty, obligation, or responsibility the prosecution has the burden of proving every element of the offense the statute imposes undue burden s burden of pleading the necessary elements 2 …   Law dictionary

  • burden — bur‧den [ˈbɜːdn ǁ ˈbɜːrdn] noun [countable] 1. something that causes people a lot of difficulty or worry: • In less prosperous areas the taxes were, for many, such a burden that they lived in poverty. 2. particular costs such as taxes or interest …   Financial and business terms

  • Burden — Bur den (b[^u] d n), n. [Written also burthen.] [OE. burden, burthen, birthen, birden, AS. byr[eth]en; akin to Icel. byr[eth]i, Dan. byrde, Sw. b[ o]rda, G. b[ u]rde, OHG. burdi, Goth. ba[ u]r[thorn]ei, fr. the root of E. bear, AS. beran, Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Burden — ist der Name mehrerer Personen: Chris Burden (* 1946), US amerikanischer Künstler Hugh Burden (1913–1985), britischer Schauspieler und Dramatiker Jane Burden (1839–1914), Modell und Muse der Präraffaeliten Burden ist außerdem der Name mehrerer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • burden — n *load, cargo, freight, lading burden vb Burden, encumber, cumber, weigh, weight, load, lade, tax, charge, saddle are comparable when they mean to lay a heavy load upon or to lie like a heavy load upon a person or thing. Burden implies the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Burden — Bur den, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Burdened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Burdening}.] 1. To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load. [1913 Webster] I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened. 2 Cor. viii. 13.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • burden — burden1 [bʉrd′ n] n. [ME birthen < OE byrthen, akin to ON byrthr, a load: for IE base see BEAR1] 1. anything that is carried; load 2. anything one has to bear or put up with; heavy load, as of work, duty, responsibility, or sorrow 3. the… …   English World dictionary

  • Burden — Bur den (b[^u]r d n), n. [OE. burdoun the bass in music, F. bourdon; cf. LL. burdo drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative origin. Cf. {Bourdon}.] 1. The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Burden — Burden, KS U.S. city in Kansas Population (2000): 564 Housing Units (2000): 236 Land area (2000): 0.526134 sq. miles (1.362682 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.009121 sq. miles (0.023623 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.535255 sq. miles (1.386305 sq. km) …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Burden, KS — U.S. city in Kansas Population (2000): 564 Housing Units (2000): 236 Land area (2000): 0.526134 sq. miles (1.362682 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.009121 sq. miles (0.023623 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.535255 sq. miles (1.386305 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • burden — ► NOUN 1) a heavy load. 2) a cause of hardship, worry, or grief. 3) the main responsibility for a task. 4) the main theme of a speech, book, or argument. 5) a ship s carrying capacity. ► VERB 1) load heavily …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”