Burroughs

Burroughs is an English-language surname of toponymic origin, derived from the Old English elements burh, meaning a fortified place, and -ing or -ingas, meaning people or descendants, historically used for someone living near a fortified settlement.

Notable individuals with the surname include American writer William S. Burroughs (1914–1997), a prominent figure of the Beat Generation known for works such as Naked Lunch; John Burroughs (1837–1921), an American naturalist and essayist who contributed to observational science and nature writing; and William Seward Burroughs (1857–1895), inventor and entrepreneur who founded the Burroughs Adding Machine Company, an early pioneer in calculating machines.

Burroughs Corporation, originally the Burroughs Adding Machine Company, became a major American mainframe computer manufacturer in the mid-20th century. The company produced large punched-card and later electronic computers and played a significant role in early computing before merging with Sperry Univac in 1986 to form Unisys.