NameCensus.

UK surname

Burberry

From the Old English words "burr" (brushwood) and "berry" (berry-bearing plant).

In the 1881 census there were 142 people recorded with the Burberry surname, ranking it #16,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 317, ranked #14,198, up from #16,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Betchworth, Buckland, London parishes and Horley, Leigh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Comrie, Gilmerton and St Fillans and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burberry is 317 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 123.2%.

1881 census count

142

Ranked #16,012

Modern count

317

2016, ranked #14,198

Peak year

2016

317 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burberry had 142 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016, ranked #14,198.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 273 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burberry surname distribution map

The map shows where the Burberry surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Burberry surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burberry over time

The 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 99 #17,294
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 142 #16,012
1891 historical 177 #16,330
1901 historical 225 #14,047
1911 historical 273 #12,177
1997 modern 293 #13,736
1998 modern 312 #13,532
1999 modern 312 #13,615
2000 modern 309 #13,651
2001 modern 292 #13,967
2002 modern 309 #13,733
2003 modern 291 #14,100
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 296 #13,947
2006 modern 279 #14,577
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 288 #14,537
2009 modern 299 #14,445
2010 modern 301 #14,697
2011 modern 303 #14,506
2012 modern 288 #14,934
2013 modern 309 #14,451
2014 modern 309 #14,533
2015 modern 314 #14,275
2016 modern 317 #14,198

Geography

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Where Burberrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Betchworth, Buckland, London parishes, Horley, Leigh, Newdigate and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Comrie, Gilmerton and St Fillans, Swindon, Test Valley and Cornwall. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Betchworth, Buckland Surrey
2 London parishes London 3
3 Horley, Leigh Surrey
4 Newdigate Surrey
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 001 Mid Sussex
2 Comrie, Gilmerton and St Fillans Perth and Kinross
3 Swindon 023 Swindon
4 Test Valley 003 Test Valley
5 Cornwall 046 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burberry

These lists show first names that appear often with the Burberry surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burberry

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burberry, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Burberry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Burberry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Burberry is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burberry is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burberry falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burberry is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Burberry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Burberry

The surname Burberry is an English name that originated in the county of Yorkshire during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or borough, and "byrig" meaning a dwelling or habitation, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or in a borough town.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Burberry surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Burberie" and is associated with landholdings in the village of Burberry, located in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Burberry surname appeared in various records and documents, often with slight variations in spelling such as "Burberie," "Burbury," and "Burburie." These variations were likely due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that period.

One notable figure bearing the Burberry surname was Sir John Burberry (1542-1612), a wealthy English merchant and landowner who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1603. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and for funding the construction of several churches and almshouses in the city.

Another prominent individual with the Burberry name was William Burberry (1676-1744), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works, including "A Discourse on the Nature and Design of the Lord's Supper" published in 1726.

In the 19th century, the Burberry surname gained further recognition with the establishment of the iconic British fashion brand Burberry by Thomas Burberry (1835-1926). Born in Basingstoke, Hampshire, Burberry founded the company in 1856 and is credited with popularizing the iconic trench coat design.

Other notable figures with the Burberry surname include the English actor and playwright Richard Burberry (1892-1972), known for his roles in several classical theater productions, and the Australian cricketer John Burberry (1915-1997), who played for the Australian national team in the 1930s and 1940s.

While the Burberry surname may not be among the most common in England, it has a rich history that spans centuries and is deeply rooted in the medieval origins of the English language and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burberry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burberry surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 67 Burberrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.14x.

County Total Index
Surrey 67 10.14x
Sussex 35 15.31x
Middlesex 25 1.84x
Hampshire 7 2.52x
Kent 3 0.65x
Oxfordshire 1 1.19x
Royal Navy 1 6.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Betchworth in Surrey leads with 11 Burberrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1358.02x.

Place Total Index
Betchworth 11 1358.02x
Reigate Foreign 10 139.86x
Brighton 9 19.51x
Ifield 8 842.11x
Leigh 8 3333.33x
Hampton London 7 313.90x
Basingstoke 6 187.50x
Caterham 6 205.48x
East Grinstead 6 185.19x
Newdigate 6 1935.48x
Bermondsey 5 12.39x
Warnham 5 1020.41x
Croydon 4 10.91x
Dorking 4 90.09x
Isleworth 4 66.34x
St Marylebone London 4 5.53x
St Pancras London 4 3.67x
Lambeth 3 2.54x
Camberwell 2 2.31x
Horsham 2 45.05x
Reigate Borough 2 131.58x
Shoreditch London 2 3.40x
Worth 2 120.48x
Banstead 1 55.87x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.70x
Bromley 1 14.18x
Capel 1 161.29x
Chessington 1 909.09x
Faversham 1 22.68x
Hastings St Leonards 1 29.76x
Oxford St Giles 1 25.06x
Paddington London 1 2.01x
Piddinghoe 1 1000.00x
Putney 1 16.18x
Royal Navy 1 7.24x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.67x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.19x
St George In East London 1 7.84x
Strood 1 37.88x
Wimbledon 1 13.48x
Wisborough Green 1 129.87x
Yateley 1 188.68x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burberry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Burberry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Burberry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burberry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 142 people were recorded with the Burberry surname. That placed it at #16,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burberry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016. That gives Burberry a modern rank of #14,198.

What does the Burberry surname mean?

From the Old English words "burr" (brushwood) and "berry" (berry-bearing plant).

What does the Burberry map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burberry bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.