Burdett, Bourdet, Burditt, Bordet, Bowdett, Burdeth, Burdon or Bourdon may be diminutives of the Old German BURDO “mule” introduced from France or from the Old French BOURDON “a pilgrim’s staff”.

Hugo Bourdet was one of the 450 companions of William the Conqueror. In return for his services Hugo was given lands in Leicestershire. Only surviving records can fill in some of the story of the family and there is much that does not survive or which has not yet been translated. It is with this caveat that we begin our story.

William Burdet founded the Benedictine Alvercote Priory in 1159. In 1230 Almaricus Burdet was born and married Agnes de Denby who brought lands around Denby under the Burdet influence.

In 1535, Richard Burdet was accused of treason by his son Aymer Burdet.

Between 1659 and 1707 Tobias Burdett and his son Samuel Burdett lived in Denby and christened their children in St. John the Baptist’s Church in Penistone, Yorkshire. They were clothiers. The term “clothier” described a farmer-weaver whose wife and children helped to produce a piece of cloth each week for the various Piece Halls in the market towns.

In 1721 Matthew Burdett and his son Amos Burdett lived in Denby, Yorkshire and christened their children in the village church. They were handloom weavers by trade. The term “weaver” was used for a man who worked full time at his loom in an upstairs chamber.

By 1778 William Burdett lived in Ingbirchworth, Yorkshire and the following four generations were christened at Denby Church. The family stayed in Ingbirchworth, Yorkshire and the men were weavers or fancy weavers until 1891.

John Burdett was then a journeyman draper. His family soon moved to Denby Dale, Yorkshire. John was known as “Stocking Johnny” as he went on foot from place to place selling stockings, pinafores and herbal remedies. His children and grandchildren, however, worked in the local mills. Family members still live locally. Their lives have been touched by war, illness and premature death but the strong bonds of a close family continue to support them to this day.