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Question about a listing on Scottish Birth Records from the mid 1700's

Catherine Norris
Catherine Norris ✭
January 27, 2022 edited January 28, 2022 in Search

I have seen in two place a birth record where the father's name, his occupation then the word "Burgefs" is listed on the record. No mother's name listed. The word could be Burgess if I had to guess as I cannot find a meaning for Burgefs. I am wondering if this means free citizen, however, that does not make complete sense.

Thank you for your help.

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Best Answer

  • Áine Ní Donnghaile
    Áine Ní Donnghaile ✭✭✭✭✭
    January 27, 2022 Answer ✓

    The word is burgess. In that time - and up to fairly modern times - a double s was often written with one "long s" (what looks a bit like an "f") and one short s (the s we use today.)

    Long s = https://www.livescience.com/65560-long-s-old-texts.html

    One historical definition of the word burgess is "an inhabitant of a town or borough with full rights of citizenship." More here: https://www.scan.org.uk/familyhistory/myancestor/burgess.htm

    My mother's surname was Burgess, so the history of the name has long been of interest to me. I've also corrected many records that have been transcribed as "burgep" when someone didn't understand the usage of the long s.

    1

Answers

  • Catherine Norris
    Catherine Norris ✭
    January 28, 2022

    Thank you for your help!!! I appreciate your time!

    1
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