Surname Bürgin - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Scandinavian Roots: How a DNA Test Reworked My Understanding of My Bürgin Ancestry

A DNA Test at iGENEA unraveled a surprising Scandinavian lineage of the Bürgin family, destined to redefine the author's self-understanding and identity, far beyond the Swiss roots they'd known.

R. Bürgin

Bürgin: What does the surname Bürgin mean?

The last name Bürgin is an occupational surname with roots in German culture and language. It derives from the German word "Bürge," which means "citizen," "burgher," or "settler." The name was likely first used to distinguish people who had settled in a new area, or who had recently been granted citizenship in a new city. In addition to its use as a surname, the word "Bürge" is also used to refer to a certain type of civil servants in German-speaking countries.

The surname Bürgin is a common name in German-speaking countries, particularly in Switzerland. In Swiss German, it is spelled "Bürgä". Records of the surname date back to as early as the 15th century. The first recorded instance of the name is from 1373, when Rudolf Bürgen was mentioned as a citizen of Thann in the district of Colmar.

The surname Bürgin suggests that its bearers have strong local roots, as it has to do with being a settler or citizen and the local ties that come with it. Additionally, the surname connotes a sense of responsibility and reliability, as someone with the name Bürgin was likely seen as a trustworthy person, welcomed into the fold of their new community.

Bürgin: Where does the name Bürgin come from?

The last name Bürgin is most common today in Switzerland. It is most prevalent in the German speaking part of the country, particularly in the cantons of Bern and Graubünden.

According to the University of Basel’s surname research, the last name Bürgin first appears in medieval records from the 14th century in Bern and Thurgau. The people with this name are likely to have been of German origin, since most surnames in Switzerland were originally derived from German surnames. However, it is also possible that the origin of this name is Swiss, as names beginning with "Bür-" (as in Bürgin) generally originate from this country.

Today, Bürgin is a relatively uncommon name, but it is still found in Germany, France, Austria, and the United States. In Switzerland, this name is most prevalent in the canton of Bern, with 2.35 per million inhabitants having this last name. In the canton of Graubünden, there are roughly 0.76 people per million with this last name.

Bürgin is a clear illustration of the long history of German immigration to Switzerland. The origin of this name, as well as its prevalence today, is evidence of this legacy.

Variations of the surname Bürgin

The Bürgin surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The most common ones are Bergin, Berging, Bergesen, Bierging, Biergesen, Bürgens, Burggen, Burgesen, Burgessen, Burgman, Burgsman, Burgin, Bergam, Bergeman, Bergheim, Bergner, Bergum, Bergmann, Bergon, Bergum, Bering, Beron, Biron, Bergus, Borge, Borgman, Borgman, Burgans, Burgemann, Burghmann, Burgos, Burgu, Buergie, and Burgy.

Other variations include Burgino, Biergsin, Birgsen, Bergergen, Berginger, Boergen, Buergen, Bierginger, Biurgen, Biernan, Biernon, Birgen, Bergoon, Bierggen, Bjergen, Bugins, Buergui, Burgen, Bergien, Berium, Biergign, Bergli, Bergmannie, Burgie, Burginnie, Biergoen, and Burging.

These spellings and variants stem from different areas, such as English, German, Spanish, or Dutch. The original German version of the surname, Bürgin, can also be spelled Bürgen or Burgin.

The surname dates back to the medieval aristocracy in Europe, and with the many different spellings, multiple countries have adopted the name. The most popular countries include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, England, and the United States.

The different spellings of the Bürgin surname imply various origins for the name. Those of English descent could have the spelling of Bergin, Biergesen, or Burgesen, while those of Germanic descent could have the spelling of Bürge, Bergesen, Borkman, or Burgman. Likewise, those of Spanish descent might have the spelling of Buergui or Burgos, and those of Dutch origin may have the spelling of Burgemann, Bergon, or Biergoen.

No matter the origin, the variations of the Bürgin surname are all much of the same origin, with many regions adapting the name to suit the local dialect or language.

Famous people with the name Bürgin

• Alessandro Bürgin: Swiss football manager and former player.
• Damien Bürgin: Swiss professional ice hockey player.
• Edgar Bürgin: Swiss former ice hockey player.
• Felix Bürgin: Swiss professional footballer.
• Kurt Bürgin: Swiss ice hockey coach and former player.
• Nick Bürgin: Swiss professional footballer.
• Paul Bürgin: Swiss former ice hockey player.
• Peter Bürgin: Swiss former professional football player.
• Reto Bürgin: Swiss professional footballer.
• Stefan Bürgin: Swiss former ice hockey player.
• Urs Bürgin: Swiss professional motocross racer.
• Yannik Bürgin: Swiss professional cyclist.

Other surnames

BurgiBurgisBurgiss