This very rare and intriguing name is of either Anglo-Saxon or early medieval English origin, and in both cases is a variant dialectal form of a more familiar name. Firstly, Boarleyson may be a locational surname deriving from Burleston in Dorset, recorded as "Bordelestone" in the Saxon Charters of 939; the placename means "Bordel's settlement", from an Olde English pre 7th Century personal name of obscure etymology, with "tun", settlement, enclosure. There are a surprising number of variant forms of the surname derived from this place, ranging from Burlisson (1614, London) and Burlesone (1625, ibid.) to Burrlestone (1653, Devon) and Barleson (1655, London). Secondly, the name may be a patronymic form of the surname Bartle, from a diminutive form of Bartholomew, an Aramaic name meaning "rich in land". This is found as Bartleson, Barletson, Burletson, and Burlin(g)son, with the variant forms Bo(a)rleson and Bo(a)rl(e)yson, and all of these also being used as forms of the locational name Burleston. The marriage of Elizabeth Barlasyn and Phillip Tule was recorded in Crediton, Devonshire, on January 16th 1624, and Ann Borleson married William Bostard at Kippax, Yorkshire, on February 13th 1624. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hamfray Birliston, which was dated August 8th 1587, witness at the christening of his son, John, at St. Michael le Belfrey, York, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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