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BURR Family History

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...