Burr

Burr
This most interesting surname is of early medieval origin, and has a number of possible interpretations. Firstly, it may derive from a nickname, from the Middle English "burre", a bur, which was used by Shakespeare to describe "one who was difficult to shake off" or one who sticks like a "bur" (a seed-head that sticks to clothing). According to another source it may be of an earlier Anglo-Saxon origin, a topographical name for a dweller by a small building or dwelling, from the Olde English pre 7th Century "bur", a small dwelling. Finally, there is some likelihood that the name may be a variant of "Burke", a topographical name for a dweller by a fortified place or a prehistoric hill fort, from the Middle English "burc", "burk", a fort, fortified place. Samson Burre was recorded in 1206 in the Curia Rolls of Cambridgeshire. The name is well recorded in America, and indeed is one of the earliest English names to be represented there. Jehu Burr emigrated from England to the New World in 1630, and was an early relative of Aaron Burr (1756 - 1836), whose votes as a presidential candidate tied with Jefferson's in 1800. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hugo Burre, which was dated 1185, in the "Records of the Templars in England", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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.

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  • Burr — may refer to:;Things * Burr (fruit), a type of seed or fruit with short, stiff bristles or hooks * The Burr distribution, a continuous probability distribution * A burr (metal), a deformation of metal wherein a raised edge forms on a metal part… …   Wikipedia

  • Burr — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Aaron Burr (1756–1836), amerikanischer Politiker und US Vizepräsident unter Thomas Jefferson Aaron Burr, Sr. (1716–1757), amerikanischer presbyterianischer Geistlicher Aaron Columbus Burr ( 1808–1882), US… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Burr — (b[^u]r), n. [See {Bur}.] (Bot.) 1. A prickly seed vessel. See {Bur}, 1. [1913 Webster] 2. The thin edge or ridge left by a tool in cutting or shaping metal, as in turning, engraving, pressing, etc.; also, the rough neck left on a bullet in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • burr — burr; burr·er; de·burr; cock·le·burr; …   English syllables

  • Burr — Burr, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Burred}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Burring}.] To speak with burr; to make a hoarse or guttural murmur. Mrs. Browning. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • burr — noun count 1. ) bur or burr the part of some plants that is covered all over with PRICKLES (=small sharp parts) and contains the seed 2. ) a way of pronouncing English where the r sounds can be heard more strongly than in the standard way of… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Burr — Burr, NE U.S. village in Nebraska Population (2000): 66 Housing Units (2000): 40 Land area (2000): 0.084109 sq. miles (0.217841 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.084109 sq. miles (0.217841 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Burr, NE — U.S. village in Nebraska Population (2000): 66 Housing Units (2000): 40 Land area (2000): 0.084109 sq. miles (0.217841 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.084109 sq. miles (0.217841 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • burr — burr1 [bʉr] n. [var. of BUR1] 1. a rough edge or ridge left on metal or other material by cutting or drilling 2. a washer on the small end of a rivet 3. BUR1 (senses 1, 2, & 3) vt. 1 …   English World dictionary

  • Burr —   [bəː], Aaron, amerikanischer Politiker, * Newark (N. J.) 6. 2. 1756, ✝ Port Richmond (heute zu New York) 14. 9. 1836; Rechtsanwalt, war 1791 97 Bundessenator. Bei den Präsidentschaftswahlen 1800 unterlag er T. Jefferson in einer Stichwahl durch …   Universal-Lexikon

  • burr — [bə: US bə:r] n [Sense: 1,4; Date: 1600 1700; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language] [Sense: 2 3; Date: 1700 1800; Origin: Probably from the sound.] 1.) also bur the seed container of some plants, covered with sharp points that make it… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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