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to bottom of pageThe Burgar/Burgess families in Shetland
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First names and surnames in the Communicants List of 1749.
Analysis of the surnames in the communicants shows that of the 908 persons listed there were 98 surnames.
The 10 most common surnames are shown in the table below. Many other surnames occur less than 10 times, suggesting that they might be relatively new arrivals. The Burgher family is reasonably well represented, but the numbers would suggest that they are relatively recent settlers in Dunrossness.
Alternatively, they have been in Shetland for hundreds of years but only recently adopted the Burgar surname. This seems less likely.
| Surname | Number of persons |
| Halcrow | 95 |
| Sinclair | 68 |
| Smith | 60 |
| Lesslie | 57 |
| Gaudie | 29 |
| Tulloch | 29 |
| Stout | 26 |
| Mouatt | 27 |
| Burgher | 22 |
Of the 12 Burgher males, 6 are called John Burgher i.e 50%. Thus it seems that the name John is really associated with the Burgher family at this time.