The surname Burwell is of Anglo-Saxon origin and refers to a fort (burh-) located close to a spring (-well). The first record of the name in the area dates from 1060 and the village of Burwell is recorded in the Domesday Book under the spellings Burewelle, Burwella and Burwelle. A spring is situated in the south of the village of Burwell close to the remains of 12th century Burwell Castle. Burwell is a fen-edge village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England, about 10 miles (16 km) north east of Cambridge. Burwell, therefore, meant one who came from Burwell. The Old English form was Burgwell, byrig-wiellw, literally meaning the dweller at the spring or stream by the fort.
Variations: Burewell, Burgwell
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