NameCensus.

UK surname

Burcham

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "fortified enclosure" or "castle".

In the 1881 census there were 215 people recorded with the Burcham surname, ranking it #12,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 279, ranked #15,534, down from #12,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Breckland and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burcham is 294 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.8%.

1881 census count

215

Ranked #12,249

Modern count

279

2016, ranked #15,534

Peak year

2002

294 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burcham had 215 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016, ranked #15,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burcham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burcham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burcham 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 262 #9,458
1881 historical 215 #12,249
1891 historical 239 #13,173
1901 historical 271 #12,462
1911 historical 280 #11,982
1997 modern 277 #14,253
1998 modern 282 #14,472
1999 modern 270 #14,992
2000 modern 277 #14,688
2001 modern 276 #14,507
2002 modern 294 #14,180
2003 modern 282 #14,410
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 267 #14,954
2006 modern 260 #15,329
2007 modern 268 #15,172
2008 modern 274 #15,063
2009 modern 284 #14,986
2010 modern 289 #15,127
2011 modern 282 #15,233
2012 modern 280 #15,248
2013 modern 292 #15,027
2014 modern 290 #15,203
2015 modern 280 #15,485
2016 modern 279 #15,534

Geography

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Where Burchams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Breckland, Huntingdonshire, Great Yarmouth and Warwick. 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 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 010 South Norfolk
2 Breckland 009 Breckland
3 Huntingdonshire 004 Huntingdonshire
4 Great Yarmouth 011 Great Yarmouth
5 Warwick 011 Warwick

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burcham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burcham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burcham, 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 Burcham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Burcham 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Burcham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burcham is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burcham falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burcham 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 Burcham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Burcham

The surname Burcham has its origins in the English county of Warwickshire, where it is believed to have first appeared in the late 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or manor, and "ham" meaning a homestead or settlement. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a fortified manor or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burcham can be found in the Warwickshire Subsidy Rolls of 1332, where a John de Burcham is listed as a taxpayer. The prefix "de" indicates that the name was originally a place name before becoming a hereditary surname.

The Burcham surname also appears in various spellings in historical records from the 14th to 16th centuries, including Burchham, Burcham, and Bircham. These variations were common before spelling standards were established.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Thomas Burcham (c.1420-1490) was a member of the gentry and served as the High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1466. This suggests that the Burcham family had achieved a certain level of status and importance in the region by that time.

Another notable individual was Sir John Burcham (c.1530-1605), who was a military commander and served as the Lieutenant of the Tower of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was knighted for his services in the suppression of the Northern Rebellion in 1569.

In the 17th century, a clergyman named William Burcham (1612-1675) was the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwick and published several religious works during his lifetime.

Moving into the 18th century, a wealthy merchant named Robert Burcham (1712-1785) was involved in the East India trade and amassed a considerable fortune, allowing his descendants to purchase large estates in Warwickshire and surrounding areas.

Finally, in the 19th century, a prominent figure was Sir Edward Burcham (1810-1892), who was a distinguished lawyer and served as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court in British India from 1868 to 1878.

While the Burcham surname originated in Warwickshire, it eventually spread to other parts of England and beyond, carried by those who migrated or sought opportunities elsewhere. However, its roots remain firmly planted in the medieval history of that county, where the name first emerged as a marker of a fortified homestead or village.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burcham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burcham 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. Norfolk leads with 57 Burchams recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.84x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 57 17.84x
Middlesex 52 2.50x
Surrey 24 2.37x
Suffolk 16 6.32x
Kent 11 1.55x
Sussex 11 3.14x
Lancashire 10 0.41x
Somerset 7 2.09x
Durham 5 0.81x
Hampshire 4 0.94x
Cornwall 2 0.85x
Glamorgan 2 0.55x
Gloucestershire 2 0.49x
Leicestershire 2 0.87x
Yorkshire 2 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.73x
Herefordshire 1 1.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.51x
Shropshire 1 0.56x
Staffordshire 1 0.14x
Warwickshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 13 Burchams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.18x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 13 7.18x
Lowestoft 12 100.42x
Shoreditch London 12 13.32x
Holme Hale 9 3103.45x
Mile End Old Town London 9 20.35x
Paddington London 9 11.78x
Camberwell 8 6.03x
Failsworth 8 141.84x
Norwich St Julian 7 518.52x
Chelsea London 6 9.58x
Findon 6 1200.00x
Weston Super Mare 6 71.09x
Broome 5 1351.35x
Gravesend 5 83.33x
Stanhoe 5 1612.90x
Tonbridge 5 19.55x
Westoe 5 14.27x
Acton 4 32.84x
Brading 4 70.67x
Horsham 4 58.82x
Bethnal Green London 3 3.32x
Bletchingley 3 227.27x
Colney 3 4285.71x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 3 31.28x
Little Massingham 3 3000.00x
Norwich St Clement 3 81.08x
Norwich St Peter 3 142.86x
Norwich St Peter Hungate 3 1071.43x
Wells Next Sea 3 161.29x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 14.72x
Hammersmith London 2 3.91x
Heigham 2 11.66x
Kirkley 2 94.34x
Leeds 2 1.72x
Madron Penzance 2 23.39x
Openshaw 2 17.32x
Roath 2 12.17x
St Giles Cripplegate 2 72.46x
St Marylebone London 2 1.80x
Tugby 2 800.00x
Wereham 2 454.55x
Burton Upon Trent 1 6.09x
Cuckfield 1 28.25x
Daventry 1 36.23x
Eaton St Andrew 1 112.36x
Hackney London 1 0.86x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 11.64x
Kington 1 47.39x
Mile End New Town London 1 24.33x
Milton In Gravesend 1 9.41x
North Walsham 1 43.48x
Norwich St Saviour 1 89.29x
Norwich St Stephen 1 34.13x
Portland 1 13.64x
Scarning 1 212.77x
Southwold 1 66.67x
St George Martyr London 1 23.75x
Stowe 1 555.56x
Winscombe 1 111.11x
Wootton Wawen 1 60.61x
Wymondham 1 30.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 8
Emily 6
Emma 6
Sarah 6
Alice 5
Eliza 4
Ann 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Laura 3
Susannah 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Gertrude 2
Margaret 2
Maude 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Annie 1
Augusta 1
Caroline 1
Ellenor 1
Emmeline 1
Eva 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Nelly 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Rosanna 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 12
William 10
John 9
Frederick 7
Henry 7
James 6
Charles 5
Francis 4
George 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Herbert 2
Albt. 1
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Geo. 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
R. 1
Richard 1
Sophia 1
Thos.George 1
Thos.W. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Burcham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burcham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 215 people were recorded with the Burcham surname. That placed it at #12,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burcham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016. That gives Burcham a modern rank of #15,534.

What does the Burcham surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "fortified enclosure" or "castle".

What does the Burcham map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burcham 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.