Borlase is a surname and masculine given name.
A branch of the family De Taillefer, of Périgord, who were descended from the Count of Angoulême, came to England before the reign of Henry III (1207–1272). A king granted lands in the parish of St Wenn in Cornwall to Frank (French)[clarification needed] Borlas Taillefer.[1] Following the ancient Cornish tradition, the family adopted the name of their place of residence, Borlas, as their surname.[citation needed] Originally Borlase was a manor, but the name now exists as three farms: Borlase-Vath, Borlase Burgess and Borlase farm near Rosenannon.[2]
A common saying in west Cornwall was ″Borlases were in Cornwall before the birth of Christ″.[1]