This uncommon name, found mainly in Scotland, is one of the variant forms of the regional surname more usually found as Burgoin or Burgoyne. The surname is of Old French origin, introduced into Britain after the Norman Conquest of 1066, and derives from the Old French term "Bourgogne", Burgundy, implying "man from Burgundy"; the region, in Eastern France, was invaded by the "Burgundii", a Germanic tribe from whom it takes its name, in A.D. circa 480. The surname from this source is distinguished by being first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, in England, while in Scotland the earliest recorded namebearer is one Robert Burgonensis, accused of rapacity by the monks of St. Serf's island, Loch Leven, in 1128. Thomas Burgane held land in Innerkethin in 1500, and another Thomas Burgan resigned his share of Ferrihill in 1595, and in 1599, one John Burgan had a charter of a tenement in North Quenesferrie. The modern surname forms include Burgon, Burgan and Burgin. In Edinburgh, the christening of Margaret, daughter of John and Elizabeth Burgan, was recorded on April 21st 1670. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Burgoin, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of Devonshire, during the reign of King William 1, known as "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.

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