English
The name 'Burrow' originates from England. It is a variant of the name 'Burrows', derived from the topographic name for someone who lived by a hill or tumulus (from the Old English word 'boerg', a cognate of the Old High German word 'gerg' meaning hill, mountain). However, the name has become inextricably confused with derivatives of the Old English word 'burh' meaning fort. Compiled information from Historical and Private archive's has confirmed that the surname 'Burris' and or it's variant's, dates as far back as the 18th century were a 'Hercules Burrows', and 'Sarah Whitehead', were recorded as marrying in 1752Historical archive's have been unable to definitely determine the exact period of settlement in North America but It is believed that the forefather's of this surname were part of the exodus of migrants that followed the Treaty of Peace signed in Paris in 1763, when great Britain obtained ownership of the whole of North America east of the Missisipi River excepting New Orleans. The chief reasons causing working class people to emigrate were, poor crop yields, high unemployment, and the misconception that America was a land of golden opportunity. It is has been estimated that after 1769 some 20,000 persons a year migrated to the Americas from the British Isles. Today, 'Burris' is the 'One Thousand One Hundredth' most common surname in North America.