Show ContentsBorges History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Borges is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Borges family lived in Sussex. The name is derived from the Middle English word burge(i)s, or the Old French word burgeis which both mean "inhabitant and freeman of a fortified town." [1]

This line are believed to be descended from the Barons Burghersh, which later became Burwash, a parish in that county. A line of the family also remained in Normandy, as Simon de Borgeis was noted there in 1195. [2] But originally the family was from Bourgeois in Picardy, France. This line of barons became extinct in 1369.

Early Origins of the Borges family

The surname Borges was first found in Sussex where one of the first records of the name was Ralph de Burgeis, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1195. Philip Burgis was listed in Leicestershire in 1199 and Philip Burges, Burgeis was listed in Oxfordshire in 1220, 1234. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex listed Walter le Borgeys in 1296. [3]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Hawise Burgeys in Bedfordshire; Philip Burgeis on Oxfordshire; John le Burges in Southampton; and Thomas Burgeys in Norfolk. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 179 list: Adam Burgeys and Johannes Burges. [4]

Further to the south in Cornwall, "the barton of Cuskease [in the parish of St. Erth] belonged formerly to the family of Burgess of Trethingey. From these it passed by an heiress to the Hoblyns of Nanswhyden, in whom it is still vested." [5]

Early History of the Borges family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Borges research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1115, 1382, 1515, 1589, 1650, 1664, 1665, 1673, 1685, 1690, 1716, 1746, 1747 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Borges History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Borges Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Borges include Burgess, Burgeis, Burghersh, Burges, Burgesse, Burgar, Bergiss, Bergess, Bargess, Bargeis, Bergeus, Burgeus, Burgeuss and many more.

Early Notables of the Borges family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Berth de Borways; Cornelius Burges or Burgess, D.D. (ca.1589-1665), an English minister, descended from the Burgesses of Batcombe, Somerset; and Anthony Burges or Burgess (died 1664), a Nonconformist English clergyman, a prolific preacher and writer. On the infamous side, Captain Samuel Burgess (c. 1650-1716) was a member of Captain William Kidd's crew in 1690...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Borges Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Borges Ranking

In the United States, the name Borges is the 3,452nd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. [6] However, in France, the name Borges is ranked the 4,252nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. [7]

Ireland Migration of the Borges family to Ireland

Some of the Borges family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 94 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Borges migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Borgess to arrive on North American shores:

Borges Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Samuel Borges, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1683 [8]
Borges Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John H Borges, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1841 [8]
  • John Henry Borges, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1844 [8]
  • Miss Charlotte Borges, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Creole"
  • Eberh Heinr Borges, who arrived in Cincinnati, Oh in 1847 [8]
  • Th Borges, aged 28, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1848 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Borges Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Antonio Gonvea Borges, aged 35, who settled in America, in 1909
  • Carl Borges, aged 63, who immigrated to America, in 1910
  • Elir. M. Borges, aged 44, who settled in America, in 1913
  • Allertino Borges, aged 23, who landed in America from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1916
  • Capitolino Jose Borges, aged 59, who landed in America, in 1917
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Borges (post 1700) +

  • Phil Borges (b. 1942), American social documentary photographer and filmmaker
  • Alan Borges (b. 1955), American college football coach
  • John R. Borges, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives from Genesee County 1st District, 1960
  • Francisco L. Borges, American Democratic Party politician, Connecticut State Treasurer, 1987-93;Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut, 2008
  • Antônio Pedro Borges de Oliveira (1940-2023), Brazilian actor, comedian, stage director and playwright
  • Nilson Borges (1941-2021), Brazilian footballer who played as a winger
  • António Mendo de Castel-Branco do Amaral Osório Borges (1949-2013), Portuguese economist and banker, Managing Director and International Adviser of Goldman Sachs
  • Julio Andrés Borges (b. 1969), Venezuelan politician and lawyer
  • Márcio Borges (b. 1973), retired Brazilian football defender
  • Gilvam Pinheiro Borges (b. 1958), Brazilian sociologist and politician
  • ... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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