ENGLAND

   The name Burgess was taken by many different people independently in former times, arising from their status as Burgesses or freemen of a particular borough - which could be anywhere in England.

   A Burgess was a freeman renting land worth forty shillings anually and entitled to vote and hold office in local government. The law of premogeniture was the law in England and it means that the eldest son always inherits the family property, though the father by Will could leave small farms and leases of other lands to his younger sons.

SCOTTLAND

   The Scottish surname "Burgess" discribes the civic status of the original bearer. In this instance, it is derived from the Middle English word "burgeys", ultimately from the Old French word "burgeis", meaning quite simply "burgess", and would have been bestowed upon a burgess, that is, a citizen or freeman of a coorperate town or burgh. In the strict sense, this ment someone possessing full municipal rights. The word "freeman" originated in the late Middle Ages amongst the members of the craft guilds who had risen in rank above the peasants of the country districts. Unlike their country counter parts, they were not obliged to serve a feudal lord.