NameCensus.

UK surname

Burd

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "brid," meaning a young bird or a maiden.

In the 1881 census there were 288 people recorded with the Burd surname, ranking it #9,988 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 447, ranked #10,857, down from #9,988 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace and Wem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Warwickshire, Mid Devon and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burd is 480 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.2%.

1881 census count

288

Ranked #9,988

Modern count

447

2016, ranked #10,857

Peak year

1999

480 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burd had 288 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,988 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 447 in 2016, ranked #10,857.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 364 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burd surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Burd 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 262 #8,456
1861 historical 292 #8,626
1881 historical 288 #9,988
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 364 #10,128
1911 historical 364 #9,985
1997 modern 464 #9,831
1998 modern 471 #10,048
1999 modern 480 #9,971
2000 modern 470 #10,089
2001 modern 461 #10,049
2002 modern 450 #10,452
2003 modern 443 #10,413
2004 modern 436 #10,581
2005 modern 417 #10,833
2006 modern 426 #10,712
2007 modern 423 #10,888
2008 modern 415 #11,145
2009 modern 441 #10,875
2010 modern 449 #10,931
2011 modern 444 #10,902
2012 modern 426 #11,139
2013 modern 445 #10,928
2014 modern 448 #10,946
2015 modern 443 #10,957
2016 modern 447 #10,857

Geography

Back to top

Where Burds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, Wem and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Warwickshire, Mid Devon, Bradford and Harlow. 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 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wem Shropshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Warwickshire 006 North Warwickshire
2 Mid Devon 009 Mid Devon
3 Bradford 061 Bradford
4 Harlow 008 Harlow
5 Mid Devon 002 Mid Devon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Burd

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Burd

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

Burd is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burd falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Burd

The surname Burd originated from England during the medieval period, deriving from an Old English word "bridd" meaning a young bird or chick. It was initially used as a nickname for someone who was small or perhaps had a youthful appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated around 1273, which mentions a person named William Brid. Over time, the spelling evolved to Burd, as seen in records from the 14th century.

In the Domesday Book, a survey of England conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are several entries that may be related to the surname, such as "Bridia" and "Bridham," which could have been place names or personal names that eventually evolved into the surname Burd.

The Burd family had a presence in various parts of England, particularly in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. One notable figure was William Burd, born in 1550 in Arncliffe, Yorkshire, who served as a Member of Parliament for Aldborough in 1593.

Another individual of note was Sir John Burd, born in 1616 in Lancashire, who was knighted in 1660 for his loyalty to King Charles II during the English Civil War. He later became a prominent landowner and served as High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1671.

In Scotland, the surname Burd can be traced back to the 15th century, with records mentioning individuals such as Robert Burd, who lived in Aberdeen in the 1480s, and John Burd, who was a burgess (a town resident with certain privileges) of Edinburgh in 1526.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Burd was George Burd, born in 1688 in Wiltshire, England. He was a renowned architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings, including St. Mary's Church in Nottingham and the chapel at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Another noteworthy figure was Samuel Burd, born in 1726 in Pennsylvania, who served as a colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He played a significant role in the defense of Fort Ligonier and was commended for his bravery and leadership.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Burd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burd 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. Shropshire leads with 62 Burds recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.37x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 62 25.37x
Lancashire 43 1.28x
Middlesex 34 1.20x
Montgomeryshire 16 24.68x
Surrey 16 1.16x
Cornwall 14 4.37x
Yorkshire 14 0.50x
Warwickshire 13 1.82x
Devon 12 2.04x
Lanarkshire 11 1.20x
Midlothian 8 2.11x
Fife 7 4.18x
Aberdeenshire 6 2.29x
Hampshire 5 0.86x
Angus 4 1.53x
Gloucestershire 4 0.72x
Sutherland 4 18.39x
Cheshire 2 0.32x
Flintshire 2 2.63x
Kent 2 0.21x
Berwickshire 1 2.92x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Durham 1 0.12x
Essex 1 0.18x
Northamptonshire 1 0.38x
Royal Navy 1 2.97x
Somerset 1 0.22x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x
Suffolk 1 0.29x
Sussex 1 0.21x
Wiltshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shrewsbury St Mary in Shropshire leads with 21 Burds recorded in 1881 and an index of 217.84x.

Place Total Index
Shrewsbury St Mary 21 217.84x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 24.38x
Paddington London 12 11.54x
Glasgow 11 6.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 19.33x
Llandyssil 10 1428.57x
Solihull 8 155.95x
Idle 7 53.85x
Ludlow St Lawrence 7 144.03x
Pittenweem 7 339.81x
Hulme 6 8.56x
Kensington London 6 3.82x
Okehampton 6 270.27x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 6 222.22x
St Stephen 6 526.32x
Stokesay 6 833.33x
Andover 5 91.24x
Heaton Norris 5 26.16x
Liverpool 5 2.45x
Llanmerewig 5 1612.90x
Lt Wenlock 5 925.93x
North Leith 5 28.51x
Assynt 4 300.75x
Birmingham 4 1.68x
Hampstead London 4 9.08x
Ratcliffe London 4 25.61x
St Mary Magdalene 4 170.21x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 6.12x
Bishopsteignton 3 270.27x
Chelsea London 3 3.52x
Edgmond 3 111.52x
Gorton 3 9.51x
Liff Benvie 3 7.54x
St Breock 3 173.41x
Wem 3 82.64x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 3.66x
Broseley 2 46.08x
Castleton 2 5.97x
Clifton 2 7.13x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.31x
Garston 2 20.18x
Islington London 2 0.73x
Leeds 2 1.26x
Madeley 2 22.32x
Neen Savage 2 625.00x
Putney 2 15.52x
Saddleworth 2 9.25x
Settle 2 93.02x
Tidenham 2 232.56x
Tooting Graveney 2 52.08x
West Derby 2 2.04x
Baildon 1 18.94x
Cheadle 1 8.38x
Chellaston 1 208.33x
Chirbury 1 69.44x
Christ Church Newgate 1 75.76x
Dundee 1 1.02x
East Teignmouth 1 41.49x
Holton 1 227.27x
Moss Side 1 5.66x
Much Wenlock 1 44.44x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 5.92x
Newington 1 0.96x
Newtown 1 24.10x
North Meols 1 3.04x
Padstow 1 46.95x
Penicuik 1 19.42x
Peterborough 1 5.19x
Preshute 1 64.94x
Rhuddlan 1 14.95x
Shrewsbury St Alkmond 1 73.53x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 11.66x
Slains 1 81.97x
South Shields 1 13.33x
Spotland 1 2.68x
St Pancras London 1 0.44x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.43x
Stretford 1 5.41x
West Ham 1 0.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 9
Mary 9
Eliza 7
Margaret 7
Sarah 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Josephine 2
Lydia 2
Anna 1
Bertie 1
Camilla 1
Constance 1
Dorothy 1
E.C. 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ellenn 1
Ellinor 1
Eva 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Gillah 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 14
George 6
Henry 6
Thomas 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Herbert 3
James 3
Richard 3
Edmund 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Pryce 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Charley 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ezekiel 1
F.M. 1
Frank 1
Fredk.J. 1
Frek. 1
Harrison 1
Harry 1
J.B. 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Lawrance 1
Lawrence 1
Osmund 1
Patrick 1
Perry 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Russell 1
Timotheus 1
W.O. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Burd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 288 people were recorded with the Burd surname. That placed it at #9,988 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 447 in 2016. That gives Burd a modern rank of #10,857.

What does the Burd surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "brid," meaning a young bird or a maiden.

What does the Burd map show?

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