UK surname
An anglicized variant of the French surname Bernette, derived from the given name Bernard.
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Bernett surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bernett is 1,319 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.9%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
1,319 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bernett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bernett surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 316 | #7,323 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,319 | #2,169 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 977 | #4,234 |
| 1901 | historical | 152 | #17,916 |
| 1911 | historical | 153 | #17,633 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 27 | #35,188 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 23 | #35,606 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 24 | #36,148 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Manchester, Lambeth, Liverpool and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bernett surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bernett, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bernett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bernett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bernett is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bernett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bernett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bernett is believed to have originated in the Normandy region of northern France during the early medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old French word "bernart," which itself comes from the Germanic personal name Bernhard or Bernard, meaning "brave bear."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bernart." This suggests that the name had already been established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Bernett, Burnett, Burnet, and Burnette, reflecting regional dialects and the inconsistencies of early record-keeping. It's believed that the spelling "Bernett" emerged as a distinct form in the 13th or 14th century.
Notable historical figures with the surname Bernett include:
1. Sir John Bernett (c. 1490-1556), an English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Edward VI.
2. Thomas Bernett (1542-1618), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1599 to 1600.
3. William Bernett (1620-1692), an English merchant and philanthropist who founded the Bernett Grammar School in his hometown of Chippenham, Wiltshire.
4. Mary Bernett (1675-1738), an English writer and poet who gained recognition for her collection of poems titled "The Muse's Delight."
5. Robert Bernett (1785-1859), a Scottish engineer and inventor who pioneered the use of steam power in textile mills and was instrumental in the Industrial Revolution.
The name Bernett has also been associated with various place names throughout England and Scotland, such as Bernett's Hill in Gloucestershire and Bernett's Muir in Renfrewshire, further reinforcing its locational origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bernett surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hampshire leads with 9 Bernetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.38x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 9 | 9.38x |
| Kent | 8 | 5.01x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.50x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 6.34x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.75x |
| Durham | 3 | 2.15x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.54x |
| Fife | 2 | 7.22x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.53x |
| Dorset | 1 | 3.26x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.23x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.09x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.39x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.85x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Romsey Extra in Hampshire leads with 9 Bernetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1578.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Romsey Extra | 9 | 1578.95x |
| Bulwell | 4 | 291.97x |
| Deptford St Paul | 4 | 32.47x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 8.89x |
| Poplar London | 3 | 33.98x |
| Whickham | 3 | 234.38x |
| Brighton | 2 | 12.56x |
| Burntisland | 2 | 259.74x |
| Greenwich | 2 | 26.85x |
| Islington London | 2 | 4.41x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 4.90x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.54x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 1 | 27.03x |
| Chatham | 1 | 22.78x |
| Croydon | 1 | 7.90x |
| Great Bookham | 1 | 555.56x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 11.75x |
| Litton Cheney | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Norwich St Etheldred | 1 | 1000.00x |
| St Bartholomew Less | 1 | 416.67x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 4.00x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 14.97x |
| Westbury On Trym | 1 | 32.15x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bernett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bernett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bernett households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Apprentice Pawn Broker | 1 |
| Book Folder | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engineer Machine Worker (E & M) | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| General Serv (Domestic) | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Iron Founder | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| N K | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Ropemaker | 1 |
| Screw Mkr Porter ((Carman Porter)) | 1 |
| Serv Dairywork | 1 |
| Ship Steward | 1 |
| Soldier Wife | 1 |
| Stevedore | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Bernett surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Bernett a modern rank of #36,125.
An anglicized variant of the French surname Bernette, derived from the given name Bernard.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bernett bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.