In 2013, an archaeological survey was conducted on the site by Hardin W. James, Rachel Hallote, and Benjamin Adam Saidel, on behalf of Mississippi State University.

[8] It has been suggested that the name Burayr reflects that of a Jewish town, Bror Hayil, mentioned in the Talmud as where rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai lived in the Ist century CE and officiated over the rabbinic court.

[14] During Mamluk rule, it was positioned on a main highway leading from Gaza to Bayt Jibrin, branching off the Via Maris at Beit Hanoun.

[16] The villagers paid a 40% tax rate on agricultural products, such as wheat, barley, fruits, beehives, and goats;[16][13] a total of 32,000 akçe.

[16] During the 17th and 18th centuries, the area of Burayr experienced a significant process of settlement decline due to nomadic pressures on local communities.

[17] In 1838, Edward Robinson found that Burayr was "a flourishing village forming a sort of central point in the plain.. [It had] a large public well, at which camels were drawing water by means of a sakia, or water wheel with jars..."[18] He further noted it as a Muslim village, located in the Gaza district.

[25] A flourmill was constructed at Bureir sometime around 1904 by a Jewish merchant from Gaza, al-Khudajah Hayyim, which was cooled by water drawn from a well dug nearby.

[12] Burayr was strategically important in World War I and on November 9, 1917, was one of the first places captured by the Allied Forces from the Ottoman Empire, consolidating British hold on positions controlling the approaches to Jaffa and Jerusalem.

[14] During the British Mandate period, Burayr expanded westward, a mosque was built in the center of the village along with a clinic and grain mill.