Surname Borrett - Meaning and Origin

Borrett: What does the surname Borrett mean?

The last name Borrett is of English origin. It is derived from the Middle English personal name Boreword, which comes from the Old English nickname ‘Boruh’, meaning 'proud, strong'. This name was given to someone who was particularly courageous and valiant in battle.

The surname is first recorded in England in 1282 and appears in the Norfolk county tax list of 1275. It is also associated with several places—such as Borrett Street in Norwich, England and Borehead Road in Somerset, England.

In Scotland, the name appears as Borrett and Barret, and it is also recorded in Ireland.

Today, Borrett is widely spread throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.

Those with the surname Borrett may claim descent from a very old family line. They are likely to come from a strong, independent, and resilient background, traits likely to have been passed down through the generations. Many people with this surname may well have been admired for their strength, both physical and of character, as well as their bravery and courage.

Borrett: Where does the name Borrett come from?

The last name Borrett is common today in England and other parts of the British Isles. Records show that the name is believed to have originated from the Olde English ‘Beornrethe’. This could mean many things including ‘from the hill of the bears’, ‘the people who dwell around the fort’, ‘the dwelling of bear gods’, or ‘thicket of the boar’.

The surname is most commonly found in England, where it is ranked 281 out of a total of 88,798 family names. It is also found throughout Wales, Scotland and Ireland, although it is less popular in the latter two countries. It also has smaller concentrations in other parts of the British Isles such as in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and the Falkland Islands.

Borrett is also a popular surname in other English-speaking countries, such as Australia, the US, and Canada, as well as parts of mainland Europe. It is also found occasionally in non-English speaking countries including Germany, Spain, and France.

The popularity of the Borrett surname varies from country to country and region to region. In some places it is quite rare, while in others it may be a fairly common surname.

Variations of the surname Borrett

The surname Borrett is an English surname derived from a place name. It is believed to originally come from two places in England, Borett in Shropshire and Boreatt in Gloucestershire. The surname has been spelled in a variety of ways, including Barret, Barratt, Barrett, Barrat, Barraut, Barrot, Borrett, Borrot, Borrow, Borritt, Borrott, Borrotte, Borrots, Borretto, Barrott, and Borrat. The variants mainly feature a difference in the letter “r”, which is sometimes spelled as an “r”, and other times spelled as a “t”.

All of the variants of Borrett can be linked to the same origin and have the same meaning, indicating that the original person who had the surname was associated with either Borett in Shropshire or Boreatt in Gloucestershire. The variants of the surname were likely created by people attempting to spell the name phonetically, so its meaning may change slightly from one usage to the next. The spelling of the surname also likely changed from one generation to the next, either for ease of pronunciation or because of dialectical differences.

Additionally, there are several spellings that share the same meaning but have been used as surnames. These variant spellings include Borritt, Borrot, Borretto, and Borrat. While they may carry the same meaning, the two variants, Borrett and Borrot, have become widely accepted spellings of the surname, likely because they are the closest for the original place name. Finally, some members of the Borrett family have dropped the “r” from the surname, leading some to spell it as “Borett” or “Boret”, although this is somewhat rare.

Famous people with the name Borrett

• Richard Borrett: British television producer, co-creator of the sitcom '2point4 Children'.
• Geoff Borrett: Toronto singer, songwriter and musician.
• Richard Rushden Borrett: British Royal Navy Captain and Vice-Admiral.
• Lucinda Borrett: British actress best known for playing Lady Lavender in the television series 'Gelson's Law'.
• Stephen Borrett: English former professional footballer.
• Ellen Mary Borrett: British pioneer of sociology and criminology.
• David Borrett: British sculptor known for his public commissions.
• Louis Borrett: British automobile refinishing manufacturer and business leader.
• Tina Borrett: British actress known for her role in The Bill.
• Charles Borrett: New Zealand military leader and politician, who served as mayor of Nelson, New Zealand in 1919.

Other surnames

Borrero