Most of us are familiar with a person – often a well-known person born in the place – being awarded freedom of a city, but what does it actually mean, and are there relevant historical records available?

The practice has its origins in a medieval custom of granting individuals freedom from serfdom. In medieval feudal society, basically a system of land tenure and agricultural economy, there were, broadly speaking, three classes of people – nobles, free men and serfs. Serfs were those who lived in land that was owned by the Lord of the Manor. As residents, they were bound to work for the manor. In return, they were entitled to protection and could farm the land to provide food for their families. Being awarded freeman status in effect gave a serf the rights of a citizen, including being exempt from tolls and being able to own property, trade and vote in elections. In some areas it was possible for freeman status to be inherited by women. In some cases there are collections of printed freemen’s rolls which have been digitised and made available, most notably at leading family history data website TheGenealogist.co.uk .

The decline of the feudal system, especially with the changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution, meant that the concept of ‘freedom’ no longer carried such weight, although until parliamentary reform in 1832, freedom of a city or town still conferred the right to vote in parliamentary boroughs and until the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 (extending the franchise to all property owners), freemen were the exclusive electorate for these boroughs. Gradually the system of freedom evolved into the honorific notion we are familiar with today.

In 1885 the Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act gave councils of boroughs (self-governing towns or administrative areas) in England and Wales power to award the title of freeman, or honorary freeman, to persons of distinction and any persons who have rendered eminent services to the borough. Today, being granted freedom of a city does not allow any real privileges: it is more an honour given to an important, valued or celebrity resident or visitor. Sometimes those bestowed with freedom are presented with a key, but this is purely symbolic. By law, no one is allowed to buy freedom of a city.

A burgess is a freeman of a borough, or a burgh in Scotland, with full rights of citizenship. Many of those who were granted this freedom had tenure of land by burgage – a payment of a rent money, or payment in service. Burgesses were often merchants, traders or craftsmen who owned property. The status of burgess meant that they could trade freely within boroughs or burghs. In effect, burgesses were the merchant class. Burgess also came to be a title for a borough MP. TheGenealogist.co.uk has a wealth of informative information especially for those whose ancestors hail from or have connections to freemen and burgesses from some of Britain’s major historic cities. Among its records, some of which go back to the 1200s, are:

• Borough of Bedford: List of Burgesses, 1875, Prominent members of the town
• Freemen of Chester 1392–1805
• 1406–1700 Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses and Guild-Brethren
• Freemen of Leicester 1770–1930
• Freemen of Leicester 1196–1770
• Freemen of Norwich 1317–1603
• Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne 1733–1760
• Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne 1409–1710
• Freemen of York 1272–1759

The records contain names and occupations of men of legal age who had earned privileges and the right to work in the respective city. They may help you connect with other records such as apprenticeships or parish records (both of which can be found at TheGenealogist).