NameCensus.

UK surname

Burchett

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "birch tree cottage."

In the 1881 census there were 596 people recorded with the Burchett surname, ranking it #5,868 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 746, ranked #7,323, down from #5,868 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Isleworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harlow, Wealden and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burchett is 986 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.2%.

1881 census count

596

Ranked #5,868

Modern count

746

2016, ranked #7,323

Peak year

1911

986 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burchett had 596 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,868 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016, ranked #7,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 986 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burchett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burchett surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Burchett 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 393 #6,118
1861 historical 448 #5,777
1881 historical 596 #5,868
1891 historical 688 #5,693
1901 historical 867 #5,287
1911 historical 986 #4,595
1997 modern 856 #6,211
1998 modern 860 #6,386
1999 modern 864 #6,404
2000 modern 842 #6,510
2001 modern 818 #6,528
2002 modern 839 #6,531
2003 modern 812 #6,575
2004 modern 844 #6,386
2005 modern 803 #6,599
2006 modern 797 #6,650
2007 modern 786 #6,789
2008 modern 790 #6,822
2009 modern 804 #6,858
2010 modern 804 #6,994
2011 modern 790 #7,023
2012 modern 771 #7,073
2013 modern 779 #7,127
2014 modern 769 #7,219
2015 modern 746 #7,334
2016 modern 746 #7,323

Geography

Back to top

Where Burchetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Isleworth and Woking. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harlow, Wealden, Horsham and Eastbourne. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 Isleworth Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Woking Surrey
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harlow 010 Harlow
2 Wealden 009 Wealden
3 Horsham 014 Horsham
4 Eastbourne 007 Eastbourne
5 Eastbourne 004 Eastbourne

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Burchett

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Burchett

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Burchett is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Burchett is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burchett falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Burchett

The surname Burchett is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning "fortified dwelling" and "cet" meaning "cottage" or "hut." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a small dwelling near a fortified town or castle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burchett can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Burchet" in this famous manuscript, indicating its presence in England during the Norman period.

The Burchett surname is also associated with various place names in England, such as Burchett's Green in Berkshire and Burchetts Farm in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Burchett surname who once resided or owned land in these areas.

One notable bearer of the Burchett name was Sir John Burchett (1653-1726), an English naval officer and author who served as the Secretary of the Admiralty. He wrote several works on naval history and maritime affairs during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Another prominent figure with the Burchett surname was Richard Burchett (1815-1875), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes and coastal landscapes. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries during the Victorian era.

In the 16th century, the Burchett family held lands in the county of Wiltshire, as evidenced by the mention of a William Burchett in records from 1564. This suggests that the family had established roots in this region during the Tudor period.

The Burchett name can also be found in various spellings throughout history, such as Burchitt, Burchitt, and Burchytt. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, phonetic interpretations, and the inconsistencies in record-keeping practices of the time.

Other notable individuals bearing the Burchett surname include Nellie Burchett (1889-1964), an Australian author and journalist known for her work on women's issues and social reform, and David Burchett (born 1932), a British naval officer who served as the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1986 to 1989.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Burchett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burchett 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. Sussex leads with 157 Burchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.91x.

County Total Index
Sussex 157 15.91x
Surrey 141 4.94x
Middlesex 130 2.22x
Kent 116 5.81x
Hampshire 21 1.75x
Warwickshire 9 0.61x
Gloucestershire 5 0.44x
Royal Navy 3 4.30x
Wiltshire 3 0.58x
Norfolk 2 0.22x
Berkshire 1 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.28x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.27x
Channel Islands 1 0.58x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Durham 1 0.06x
Essex 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Midlothian 1 0.13x
Oxfordshire 1 0.28x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x
Suffolk 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 34 Burchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.08x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 34 17.08x
Woking 33 191.97x
Elstead 23 1678.83x
Boughton Aluph 18 1592.92x
Cranbrook 16 189.13x
Hammersmith London 16 11.10x
Islington London 16 2.82x
Isleworth 15 57.65x
Bexhill 14 284.55x
Bethnal Green London 12 4.72x
Camberwell 12 3.21x
Chelsea London 12 6.80x
Herstmonceaux 12 404.04x
Battersea 11 5.11x
Heathfield 10 250.00x
Mile End Old Town London 10 8.03x
Aston 9 2.21x
Farnham 9 40.58x
Folkestone 9 23.24x
Newington 9 4.16x
East Hoathly 8 465.12x
Kensington London 8 2.46x
Laleham 8 720.72x
Oving 8 240.24x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 6.79x
Wartling 8 666.67x
Wye 8 258.90x
Croydon 7 4.42x
Elmsted 7 804.60x
Lambeth 7 1.37x
Milton In Milton 7 82.45x
Weeke 7 192.84x
Ashford 6 30.85x
Chartham 6 120.48x
Hastings St Andrew 6 169.49x
Hastings St Leonards 6 41.38x
Hastings St Mary 6 24.43x
St Pancras London 6 1.27x
Thanington Wilton In 6 638.30x
Ventnor 6 52.59x
Canterbury St Dunstan 5 144.93x
Crowhurst 5 595.24x
Hawkhurst 5 80.52x
Richmond 5 12.51x
Salehurst 5 117.10x
Shere 5 144.93x
Hampton London 4 41.58x
Lee 4 13.80x
Mayfield 4 68.49x
Sunbury 4 56.90x
Tetbury 4 61.44x
Ealing 3 5.74x
Eastbourne 3 6.61x
Guildford St Mary 3 85.47x
Hastings St Clement 3 32.29x
Kennington 3 202.70x
Rainham 3 54.64x
Royal Navy 3 5.03x
St George In East London 3 5.45x
Streatham 3 6.91x
Thakeham 3 275.23x
Warbleton 3 102.04x
Binsted 2 43.76x
Broadwater 2 8.84x
Chilbolton 2 289.86x
East Grinstead 2 14.32x
Fisherton Anger 2 20.88x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 27.51x
Kingston On Thames 2 2.92x
Lewisham 2 1.88x
Midhurst 2 61.73x
Paddington London 2 0.93x
St George Hanover Square 2 1.94x
St Marylebone London 2 0.64x
West Chiltington 2 156.25x
Westminster St John 2 2.81x
Wrotham 2 30.21x
New Romney 1 48.54x
Slaugham 1 31.35x
Winlaton 1 5.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 19
Eliza 16
Emily 15
Caroline 12
Ann 11
Jane 11
Ellen 10
Emma 10
Alice 9
Annie 9
Florence 7
Hannah 6
Edith 5
Charlotte 4
Harriett 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Ada 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Hester 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Ruth 3
Selina 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Beatrice 2
Elizth. 2
Emely 2
Ethel 2
Helen 2
Minnie 2
Nellie 2
Rebecca 2
Anne 1
Eleanor 1
Eva 1
Flora 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Lizzetta 1
Margt. 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
George 34
James 23
John 23
Henry 20
Charles 18
Thomas 12
Albert 9
Alfred 9
Arthur 9
Walter 9
Frank 7
Harry 6
Frederick 5
Philip 5
Robert 5
David 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Joseph 4
Samuel 4
Edwin 3
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
J. 2
Leonard 2
Louis 2
Stephen 2
Alfd 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Fleetwood 1
Fredk. 1
Heny.Crump 1
Heny.Earl 1
Jabez 1
Justin 1
Richard 1
Richd.A. 1
Ruben 1
Sebastian 1
Sidney 1
Solomon 1
W.T. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Burchett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burchett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 596 people were recorded with the Burchett surname. That placed it at #5,868 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burchett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016. That gives Burchett a modern rank of #7,323.

What does the Burchett surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "birch tree cottage."

What does the Burchett map show?

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