Our name has been the subject of endless, useless discussions. Some of us question its origin but most are more concerned with its future. Allen Bordoley, our ancestral archaeologist reported on this matter. His findings are something to behold....

The name BORDOLEY (Bordolej) comes from ROVNO in the Ukraine. However one is referred to look at the name Burdulej

If we look up the name Burdulej, which is common to the town of LUTSK, this come from the word “burdyul” (Belorussian) and may mean pimple?3  The following three names are found in Lutsk: Bordolej, Burdlej, Burdalev.  I have seen name plates on doors ( Abba Bordoley in Israel spelled as Bordolej. ) 

There are various forms of the Bordoley name: Bordelay, Borderlove, Bordolay,  Bordoley, Brudalay, Brudeley, Brudley, Brudoley, Burdalev. (The name Borderlove which is in our tree may come from this name).  The name Broder is found in one branch of the family tree when they took the name Broder either on entering the United States of America  or subsequently changed it. The name Bordoley or any of its derivatives therefore comes from the Belorus area of what was formerly Russia and at one point Poland. 

The Bordoley’s (I shall use that name to cover all forms of the name) is found in Antonuvka, Kostopol, Rovno and Lutsk. There are Family Bordoleys in Belorussia (Family of Tania and Michael Majednek).  Bordoley family is found in Gt.Britain, Israel, Russia, Canada, America, Brazil, Argentina .  All seem to spell it differently but all originate from the Bordoleys from Rovno and Kostopol as far as I am aware. I have come across the name Bordoley in Pinsk during the Nazi era (they were murdered). Shalom Bordoley of Kfar Blum at one time changed his name to Barzeli (meaning iron). My late father, Joe Bordoley used a trade name of Bordsley.

Curious information:  The name Bordoley, Bordley, Borelaie is very old and goes back to 1134 C.E. It is Old German and is found in Yorkshire in England. There is a Parish called Bordley. The name means Brorda’s forest glade or clearing.The name Brorda is Old English. I do not think that there is a connection between the name in the Ukraine and the name in England. The only connection is that my late grandfather, o.b.m. was a woodsman in Rovno and chose which trees to be felled.

If you have any other information re the history of the name please contact me (Allen Bordoley)

1) According to the book “ A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames in the Russian Empire” author: Alex Beider, published 1993 by Avotaynulne, New Jersey, USA.

2) The “j” on the end of a Russian name is the equivalent of the letter “y”.  The “j” is the Cyrillic form of “y”.

 3) The name Burdyl may refer to a village.  The village itself appears to be in a marshy flat area.  Therefore if the village stood out above the rest of the land, it would appear as a pimple on the landscape.  It would of course be a “dry point” in a marshy area. (I taught Geography!)