Burckhardt

Burckhardt, or (de) Bourcard in French, is a family of the Basel patriciate, established by Christoph (Stoffel) Burckhardt (1490–1578), a merchant in cloth and silk originally from Münstertal, Black Forest, who received Basel citizenship in 1523, and became a member of the Grand Council of Basel-Stadt in 1553. The family was represented in the Grand Council continuously from 1553 until the 20th century. The surname is derived from the dithematic Germanic given name Burkhard, from burg "protection" and hard "brave, hardy". In the 17th century and early 18th century, the family was the most powerful family of the canton of Basel.