Surname Bourton - Meaning and Origin
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Bourton: What does the surname Bourton mean?
Bourton is a surname of English origin and is derived from place names located in England. The name is believed to come from Old English elements "burh" which means "fort" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement". Therefore, a possible interpretation of Bourton is "settlement near the fort" or "fortified settlement". Names derived from locations were often given to individuals residing in or near those places historically. Variations of this surname could include Bourdon, Borton, Bourten, or Bourdin among others. However, specific meanings might vary since surnames developed for various personal, regional, and historical reasons and their meanings evolved over time. It’s vital to note that the history and meaning of surnames are complex and multi-faceted, which can often make extracting a singular “meaning” difficult.
Order DNA origin analysisBourton: Where does the name Bourton come from?
The surname Bourton is of English origin, deriving from a geographical location. It is a locational surname from any of the various places named Bourton or Borton in England. These locations are in places like Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Wiltshire. The name's meaning is derived from Old English elements – "burh," meaning a fortified town, and "tun," meaning enclosure or farmstead – indicating that a family may have lived by such a place.
As a British surname, it is most prevalent in England, though it can also be found in other English-speaking countries due to immigration and the spread of the British Empire in previous centuries. It's not a very common surname, ranking at 25,454th most common surname in the world. As per the Forebears surname database, the name is most numerous in England, followed by Australia and Wales. Even in these countries, the frequency of the surname is quite low. Please note that exact data and rankings may vary and change over time as new data and population counts become available.
Variations of the surname Bourton
The surname Bourton has a few variants and similar spellings that are mainly attributable to regional differences, phonetic translations, and historic record discrepancies. These include Borton, Burton, Bourtown, Buraton, Buratone, and Bourten. How it is spelled can often depend on the phonetic translation during record-keeping, altering the “u” to “ou” or swapping “t” for “d”.
In terms of origin, these surnames are likely of British roots, specifically England. The name ‘Bourton’ is derived from Old English words, 'burgh' meaning fort and 'tun' meaning settlement or town. This surname is relatively common in areas where there are towns with similar names, like Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire, Bourton in Dorset, or Bourton in Oxfordshire & Shropshire.
In some cases, the surnames Broughton, Bruton, Berton, or Barton could be connected and interchangeably used, as these last names are also associated with places in Britain with similar names. Furthermore, people with these surnames may have shared heritage from these areas. Hence, spelling variations and surname similarities show the interconnectedness of historical and geographical influences on name derivations.
Famous people with the name Bourton
- Anne Bourton: an English actress, known for her roles in the acclaimed television series Ballykissangel from 1996 to 1999.
- George Bourton: a former British Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Brecon and Radnor from 1885 to 1906.
- Edward Bourton: a British politician and Tory Member of Parliament for Kidderminster from 1741 to 1749.
- Leonard Bourton: a British politician who represented Aylesbury in the House of Commons from 1831 to 1835.
- Sir Thomas de Bourtone: a Norman knight who held a substantial amount of land in Leicestershire and Warwickshire during the thirteenth century.
- Carrington Bourton: an American film director, writer, and producer, best known for the cult classic vampire comedy movie The Lost Boys (1987).
- Pollyanna Bourton: a British classical pianist, best known for her highly acclaimed interpretations of the works of Fr�d�ric Chopin.
- Joe Bourton: an Englishprofessional footballer who made more than 600 Football League appearances from 1959 to 1975.
- Guy de Bourton: an English military officer who fought in the Hundred Years’ War and is recorded as having been present at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.
- Fred Stanley Bourton: an English medal winning track and field athlete who competed in steeplechase at the 1908 Olympics in London.