Surname Burger - Meaning and Origin

iGENEA DNA Test: A Journey into my Family's Past and my Surname 'Burger's' Historical Significance

Engaging with the iGENEA DNA test was a journey that unearthed the roots of my lineage, particularly, it showcased the relevance and history wrapped around my surname 'Burger'. The newfound understanding led to a change in my perspective towards our family identity and heritage by highlighting our ancestors' resilience and freedom.

H. Burger

Burger: What does the surname Burger mean?

The surname Burger is of German origin and it broadly means 'citizen'. It is derived from the Old German word 'burg' which translates to 'castle' or 'fortified town.' Thus, a 'burger' was a resident or inhabitant of a borough, a fortified town - essentially, a citizen. This name was often given to people who lived in or near a fortified town. It’s also possible that this name was given to someone who worked in a castle or property owned by the town. It is a common surname in Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, and in South Africa. It's worth mentioning that despite the similar pronunciation to 'burger', a term for a type of sandwich, the surname has no connection to it.

Burger: Where does the name Burger come from?

The last name Burger is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German "burger" meaning "town dweller" or "townsman." It was used as an occupational surname for someone who lived within the walls of a town or city, as opposed to a rural area. The name became common in areas with significant German populations and is widely spread across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the modern era, thanks to global movement and migration, the surname is also found outside these countries, notably in the United States, where there are many individuals and families with a German ancestry. Despite its broad dispersion, the surname Burger retains a strong association with its German roots.

Variations of the surname Burger

The surname "Burger" is of German origin. It shares roots with the surname "Berger" and both translate to a citizen or inhabitant of a borough (town/city). Regionally, the surname can be traced to Bavaria, a state in the south of Germany.

Several variants in spelling across different cultures include Bourger, Burgher, Burgar, Burgher, Burker, Borger, Borgar, Bürger, Bürgers, Burgers, Buerger, and Burgerman. These variations arise due to regional dialects and linguistic influences of neighboring countries.

The surname may also exist in the form "van den Burger", mainly found in the Netherlands and Belgium, which signifies "from the citizen." Some families may also have anglicized the surname to "Townsend", which also means "from the town".

In the Jewish Ashkenazi community, the surname "Burger" is commonly used and often stands as an anglicized form of the Jewish surnames "Berg" or "Berger", which mean "mountain" in German. Despite having similar spelling and pronunciation, these surnames have a different meaning compared to "Burger" but are common variants due to phonetic similarities.

In the US, names such as "Birger", "Burgar" or "Burgard" may have been altered to "Burger" upon immigration due to the simplification of pronunciation and spelling.

Famous people with the name Burger

• Gottfried Burger: An executive in the petroleum industry who was president of Chevron Corporation from 1981 to 1985.
• August Burger: German opera composer best known for his works in the late 1800s.
• Steven Burger: South African rugby player who represented Golden Lions and Xerox Lions from 2015 to 2022.
• Hans Burger: A Dutch football player who played as a goalkeeper for Feyenoord from 1965 to 1972.
• Willem Burger: South African Olympic athlete in the 1908 games.
• Klaus Burger: A retired German football player who played as a midfielder in the Bundesliga.
• Lloyd Burger: American journalist and editor known for his work at The New York Times.
• Edward Burger: An American mathematician and president of Southwestern University.
• James J. Burger: An American director and writer, primarily known for his work on "American High" TV series.
• Steven T. Burger: Parked his place in history as the Commander of Radar Picket Station during the Korean War.
• Elliot Burger: Noted for his work as a software engineer, working on well-known projects like Qt and KDE.

Other surnames

BurgeBürgeBurgelBürgelBürgelinBürgeltBurgemeesterBurgemeisterBürgemeisterBurgenBurgenlehnerBurgerdtBurgermeisterBürgermeisterBurgersBürgersBurgesBurgessBurgestBurgetBurgey