UK surname
From a Scottish surname meaning "place at a fort."
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Burce surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Govan Combination and Weston Turville. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burce is 126 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1891
126 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burce surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burce surname density by area, 1891 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 | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 26 | #30,677 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 126 | #20,604 |
| 1901 | historical | 77 | #25,627 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 13 | #36,679 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Govan Combination, Weston Turville, Bower and Bangor. 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 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Weston Turville | Buckinghamshire |
| 4 | Bower | Caithness |
| 5 | Bangor | Carnarvonshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burce 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 Burce, 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 Burce surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burce 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, Burce 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 Burce is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burce, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BURCE has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "burh" and "cæce," which together mean "dweller by the fortress or fortified town."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Burchese." This entry refers to a landowner in the county of Gloucestershire.
In the 13th century, the name was found in various forms, such as "Burches," "Burchis," and "Burchys," in records from counties like Oxfordshire and Warwickshire.
The BURCE surname is also linked to several place names in England, including Burthorpe in Leicestershire and Burchester in Oxfordshire, both of which likely influenced the development of the surname.
One notable individual with the BURCE surname was Sir John Burce (c. 1300-1368), a knight and landowner from Wiltshire who fought in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War.
Another noteworthy figure was Richard Burce (c. 1450-1521), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, known for his philanthropic work and endowments.
In the 16th century, the name was sometimes spelled "Burse," as seen in the case of Thomas Burse (c. 1540-1615), a prominent lawyer and judge from Gloucestershire.
The BURCE surname also has connections to Scotland, where it was sometimes rendered as "Burs" or "Burse." One example is Robert Burs (c. 1550-1620), a Scottish scholar and poet who resided in Aberdeen.
Another notable figure was Sir John Burce (c. 1620-1685), a Scottish nobleman and military commander who served as the Governor of Blackness Castle in West Lothian.
While these are just a few examples, the BURCE surname has a rich history that spans several centuries and regions of the British Isles, reflecting the diverse origins and experiences of those who carried this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burce 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. Middlesex leads with 2 Burces recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 2 | 10.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 2 Burces recorded in 1881 and an index of 194.17x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 194.17x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burce 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 Burce households.
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Burce surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Burce a modern rank of #39,061.
From a Scottish surname meaning "place at a fort."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burce 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.