This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is either a topographical or locational name. As a topographical name Burrow derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century "beorg", Old High German "berg", a hill, mountain, or the Olde English "burh", fort; hence, "dweller by the hill/fort". As a locational name it may be from a number of places called Burrow. Burrow in Leicestershire is recorded as "Burg" in the Domesday Book of 1086, in Lancashire near Lancaster as "Burg" in the 1200 Cockersand Chartulary, and in Lancashire as "Borch" in the Domesday Book, and is from the Olde English "burh", fort. Burrow in Lancashire has the remains of a Roman fort, Burrow near Lancaster is on a Roman road, and at Burrow in Leicestershire there must have been an earthwork. Burrow in Somerset and Devon are from the Olde English "beorg", hill. Thomas Burewe is noted in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset (1327). In the modern idiom the surname can be found as Burrough, Burrow and Borrow. On August 19th 1576, John, son of Thomas Burrow, was christened at St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, London, and Job, son of Richard Burrow, was christened at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, also in London, on November 16th 1589. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John atte Boroghe, which was dated 1327, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Somerset", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. 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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