Burgess (title)

Burgess is a word in English that originally meant a freeman of a borough (England, Wales, Ireland) or burgh (Scotland). It later came to mean an elected or unelected official of a municipality, or the representative of a borough in the English House of Commons. The term was also used in some of the original American colonies. In Virginia, a "burgess" was a member of the legislative body, which was termed the "House of Burgesses."

Burgess (title)

Burgess is a word in English that originally meant a freeman of a borough (England, Wales, Ireland) or burgh (Scotland). It later came to mean an elected or unelected official of a municipality, or the representative of a borough in the English House of Commons. The term was also used in some of the original American colonies. In Virginia, a "burgess" was a member of the legislative body, which was termed the "House of Burgesses."