Surname Borders - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling My Roots: A Personal Account of my DNA Analysis Experience at iGENEA

The DNA analysis at iGENEA provided me with an expansive understanding of my family history, traced the roots of my last name "Borders" back to England or Scotland, and found a Celtic strain in my DNA. It opened doors to the past, making me feel more connected with my lineage.

F. Borders

Borders: What does the surname Borders mean?

The surname Borders has multiple potential origins. The most probable and often accepted explanation is that it is geographical and derives from the region known as the Border Country, between England and Scotland. Families who lived in this area were frequently given the surname “Borders” to demarcify their habitation. Another possibility is that it could be an occupational name, given to an individual who served as a border guard or customs officer.

The surname Borders could also have arisen from the Old French term "bordier," meaning a "cottager." It might have been used to denote someone who lived in a small dwelling on the edge of a village or settlement.

In most cases, surnames were adopted based on the professions, residence, or personal characteristics of the individual, which suggests that the origins of Borders could be multifold, varying from family to family. It is particularly common in the United States, stemming from early British settlers, and is concentrated in the region of Georgia. There is also a notable number of people with this surname in England and Australia.

Borders: Where does the name Borders come from?

The surname Borders originates from the British Isles, notably from Scotland and England, where it is believed to have been derived from the term "borderer", denoting someone who lived near the border between these two countries. The term was used in the historical context of the tumultuous and often hostile relations between England and Scotland, and specifically pertained to those who lived in the border regions where battles and raids were common.

According to some theories, the surname may also bear connections to the place named "Borders" in Selkirkshire, Scotland. Alternatively, it could potentially derive from the French word "Bordeur", meaning 'one who lives by the boarded area'.

Today, the surname Borders is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the southern region. It has dispersion in other parts of the world, but its highest concentration remains in the US. This can most likely be traced back to the significant British diaspora that immigrated to North America from the 17th century onwards.

Variations of the surname Borders

The surname Borders is of English origin and has various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. It primarily originates from people living on the border between two territories, such as Scotland and England. The other theory suggests that it is derived from a geographical term "Bordes", referring to someone living in a house or cottage.

Variants and similar surnames include Bordars, Border, Boarders, Bordes, Borderes, Broadars, and Bordres. Spellings like Bowers, Bolder, Bowders, or Boders, with approximately the same pronunciation, may also be related. Some surname variations could include hyphenated or double-barrelled names, like Borders-Smith or Borders-Johnson. Surnames of the same origin may exhibit local or regional differences due to dialectical influences.

However, Borders may also be directly associated with specific families and their lineage. Thus, the variants or other surnames of the same origin might differ significantly due to these diverse origins and the influences of local dialects and languages.

It's worth keeping in mind that surname variant spelling was not uncommon in earlier centuries due to a lack of standardized spelling and the phonetic recording of names.

Famous people with the name Borders

• W. L. "Wally" Borders: An actor known for the film "Making Waves".
• William Vanderbilt Borders: Known as a Catholic bishop of Baltimore.
• Lisa Borders: A politician who served as the 11th president of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
• Janie Borders: A Pageant titleholder from Bowling Green, Kentucky, who holds the Miss Kentucky title.
• Judy Borders: An actress renowned for her role in "The Mutilator".
• David Borders: A baseball player who was active in the early 1990s.
• Dionte Borders: A professional American football player.
• Merle Borders: A politician who served in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
• Wendy Borders: An actress known for her work on "All Day and a Night".
• Patty Borders: Known for her work on "The Curse of the Black Dahlia".
• Pat Borders: A former professional baseball player and manager who won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award in 1992.
• Donald Borders: A famous cricketer.
• Mike Borders: A musician known as the keyboardist for the American death metal band, Monstrosity.
• Jeff Borders: A former professional American football player.

Other surnames

BordenBordet