Meredith Burrill
American geographer and cartographer
About Meredith Burrill
Lived 1902 – 1997 (aged 94–95).
Meredith Frederic Burill (December 23, 1902 – October 5, 1997) was an American geographer and cartographer who served as the executive secretary of the United States Board on Geographic Names from 1943 to 1973. Dubbed "the world's foremost authority" on toponymy, he pushed the United Nations to standardize the naming of international bodies of water, most notably Lake Geneva.
Early life and education Born and raised in Houlton, Maine, the son of a school superintendent, he attended Bates College in Lewiston majoring in geography. He went on to attend Clark University where he received his masters and doctorate in the same field.
Personal life Born with a traditionally feminine name, "Meredith", Burill casually went by Pete (derived from the French word "petit") as a nickname.
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Important facts
People in Meredith Burrill's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Meredith Burrill's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Meredith Burrill?
American geographer and cartographer
When was Meredith Burrill born?
Meredith Burrill was born on 23 December 1902.
When did Meredith Burrill die?
Meredith Burrill died in 1997.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Meredith Burrill. https://biography.guide/meredith-burrill/
MLA: "Meredith Burrill." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/meredith-burrill/.
Chicago: "Meredith Burrill." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/meredith-burrill/.
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