Show ContentsBurland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Burland family came to Scotland with the Normans in the 11th century. The Burland surname is derived from someone who lived in one of the numerous locations named Borland or Boreland in the counties of Dumfriesshire, Galloway, Fife, and Perthshire. The name of these places is thought to mean home-farm. [1]

"Bordlands were lands which the lords kept in their hands for the maintenance of their board or table. " [2]

Early Origins of the Burland family

The surname Burland was first found in Somerset where Robert de la Burlionde was recorded in 1268. A few years later, William atte Borland was recorded in 1303, again in Somerset. [3] Burland is a location name in Yorkshire. [4]

Back in Scotland where most families today call their homeland, "James Bordland [was a ] witness in Ayrshire, 1513. Allan Bordlandes was a weaver in Edinburgh in 1609. In the same record the name also appears as Borland, Bordland, Borelands." [1]

Early History of the Burland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burland research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1625, 1652, 1661, 1684, 1774, 1792, 1796, 1798, 1799 and 1863 are included under the topic Early Burland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burland Spelling Variations

There has been great variation in spelling of Scottish names over the centuries. Spelling variations of the name Burland include Boland, Borland, Bolan, Bolland, Bollin, Boreland and many more.

Early Notables of the Burland family

Notable among the family at this time was James Borland (1774-1863), Scottish inspector-general of army hospitals, born at Ayr, N.B., in April 1774, and entered the army medical department as surgeons-mate in the 42nd Highlanders in 1792. Having been promoted on the staff next year, he made two campaigns under the Duke of York in Flanders, after which he proceeded to the West Indies as surgeon, 23rd royal Welsh fusiliers. He was then again transferred to the staff, and did duty...
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burland Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Burland migration to the United States +

Settlers of this name who made their way from Scotland to North America include:

Burland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John, Burland Jr., who arrived in Virginia in 1639 [5]
Burland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas M Burland, who landed in Tennessee in 1811 [5]


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  5. 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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