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Question: Why do so many town names in Virginia in "burg"!?
I have recently been spending a lot of time in Virginia and have noticed that many of the city names end in "burg" and I was wondering why this is!? Does anyone know the history behind this!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The first answer is correct, in part!. also the earlier settlers of Virgina (My great grandfather 4 times back) were from Germany and many spoke German!. There was even a regiment in the Confederate Army made up of Non-English speakers!. Most were Germans and Dutch from Virginia!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Word Tutor: burg


IN BRIEF: n!. - Colloquial American term for a town!.

Tutor's tip: A "berg" is an iceberg, a "burg" is a fortified or walled town, and a "burgh" is a town in Scotland!.

Many of the Scots who came early to this country were traders or merchants, and some were not permanent residents!. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries!. Scottish immigrants were often skilled workers or craftsmen!. Many were jewelers, gardeners, miners, clerks, shopkeepers, printers, bakers, butchers, cooks, barbers, saddlers, and some were wigmakers and portrait painters!. The early Scots were active in printing and publishing!. It was said in 1773 that the Virginians imported all their tutors and schoolmasters from Scotland!.

Prior to 1855 the most numerous group of skilled craftsmen to immigrate were weavers, including a good many female spinsters or textile workers
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King George I was German!.
King George II, also known as "German George", was responsible for the huge influx of German immigrants to the various colonies, because he was German!.
King George III was the grandson of King George II!.
King George III's mother was German!.
His wife was also German!.
Thus, the German influence!.

England has been ruled by many different "Houses"!.
1!. Alfred the Great ruled during the Saxon period!.
2!. William the Conqueror was the first of the Norman ruling families!.
3!. The Plantagenet period includes King Richard the Lion Hearted, a direct descendant of William the Conqueror!.
4!. Then came the House of Lancaster!.
5!. The House of York
6!. Queen Elizabeth I was of the House of Tudor!.
7!. King James of the House of Stuart!.
8!. King George III was of the House of Hanover!.
9!. Present-day Queen Elizabeth is of the House of Windsor!.

The above, very briefly, covers 1,000 years of British Monarchy, 973-1973!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

This word is of German origin and reflects the large number of German immigrants who settled there!.
If you look at a map of Germany you will see the same thing with a lot of their towns!.
In the middle of the 20th century one third of US citizens were of German origin which is one reason why the USA was so reluctant to enter the war against Hitler!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

!.lt is scottish as borough is english!.The scottish is capital Edinburgh!.it may be a derivative of german!.When the New England was being colonised,thousands of scots were deported to New England!.ln fact the highlands of Scotland were denuded of people after the Battle Culloden (1645) Www@QuestionHome@Com

Gayleg may be more closer to the correct answer about the Scots reference!. You would have a better chance of knowing if you knew when the individual towns were founded and by whom!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Burgh is german for TOWN!.Www@QuestionHome@Com