This interesting surname with variant spellings Burdett, Burditt, etc., is a diminutive of either the Old French personal name Burdo, probably of Germanic origin, but uncertain meaning, or, of the Latin "burdo" meaning "mule". The surname dates back to the late 11th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one Ralph Burdet (circa 1160), "Documents illustrative of the Social and Economic History of the Danelaw", and Nicholas Burdet (1216) "Testa de Neville, sive Liver Feodorum", Lincolnshire. Church recordings include one Frances Burdytt who married Peter Noxton on January 11th 1579 at St. Michael's, Cornhill, London, Annes, daughter of Richard Burdytt was christened on January 15th 1597 at St. George's, Cripplegate, London, and Abraham Burditt was christened on July 11th 1611 at St. James, Clerkenwell, London. One Sir Francis Burdett (1770-1844) was a politician. He was M.P. for Westminster (1807-1837), and conservative M.P. for North Wiltshire from 1837-1844. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Burdet, which was dated 1086, the Domesday Book, during the reign of King William the "Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.