burge

Burge is a surname of English origin that also functions as a placename element in several English-speaking countries. It may refer to individuals bearing the surname as well as to geographic features or communities named in honor of such families.

The name derives from Old English burg or burh, meaning a fortified place, town, or borough. It likely originated as a topographic or locational surname for people who lived near a fortification or market town. Historical records show variant spellings such as Burgh and Burge, reflecting shifts in pronunciation and orthography over time.

As a surname, Burge is found across the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking areas, often carried by descendants of early settlers or residents in towns with fortification-related place-names. As a placename element, Burge appears in combinations that denote local geography, such as streets or districts that originated from nearby fortifications or properties associated with a family named Burge.

This article does not enumerate individual bearers of the surname. For information on notable people or specific places named Burge, consult dedicated biographical or gazetteer resources.