NameCensus.

UK surname

Burford

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Burford in England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,674 people recorded with the Burford surname, ranking it #2,565 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,641, ranked #2,528, up from #2,565 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and Minchinhampton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Stroud and Bromsgrove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burford is 2,861 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.8%.

1881 census count

1,674

Ranked #2,565

Modern count

2,641

2016, ranked #2,528

Peak year

1998

2,861 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burford had 1,674 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,565 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,641 in 2016, ranked #2,528.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,309 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burford surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burford 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 1,219 #2,340
1861 historical 1,140 #2,465
1881 historical 1,674 #2,565
1891 historical 1,844 #2,493
1901 historical 2,137 #2,519
1911 historical 2,309 #2,201
1997 modern 2,728 #2,345
1998 modern 2,861 #2,347
1999 modern 2,855 #2,359
2000 modern 2,810 #2,372
2001 modern 2,782 #2,357
2002 modern 2,836 #2,364
2003 modern 2,739 #2,386
2004 modern 2,720 #2,400
2005 modern 2,644 #2,430
2006 modern 2,649 #2,431
2007 modern 2,656 #2,442
2008 modern 2,663 #2,446
2009 modern 2,727 #2,452
2010 modern 2,792 #2,453
2011 modern 2,760 #2,450
2012 modern 2,706 #2,454
2013 modern 2,719 #2,479
2014 modern 2,733 #2,486
2015 modern 2,702 #2,489
2016 modern 2,641 #2,528

Geography

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Where Burfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, Minchinhampton and Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Stroud, Bromsgrove and Herefordshire. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Minchinhampton Gloucestershire
5 Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 003 Forest of Dean
2 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
3 Stroud 004 Stroud
4 Bromsgrove 013 Bromsgrove
5 Herefordshire 023 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burford

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Burford is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burford is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burford 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 Burford 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 Burford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Burford

The surname Burford has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the town of Burford in Oxfordshire. The name itself is believed to come from the Old English words "burh" meaning "fortified place" and "ford" meaning "a shallow river crossing."

One of the earliest known references to the name Burford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions the town of Burford in Oxfordshire. This historical record indicates that the name was in use during the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the spelling "Burford" appears in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1230. This suggests that the name had become established as a surname by this time.

One notable bearer of the name Burford was Sir John Burford (c. 1420 - c. 1480), an English soldier and landowner who fought in the Wars of the Roses. He was knighted for his service to King Edward IV.

Another historical figure with the surname Burford was Richard Burford (1571 - 1641), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Sefton in Merseyside. He was known for his work in promoting education in the region.

In the 17th century, the name Burford was recorded in various parish registers across England. For instance, the baptism of Thomas Burford was recorded in the parish of St. Mary's, Burford, Oxfordshire, in 1628.

Another notable bearer of the name was Samuel Burford (1639 - 1719), an English Nonconformist minister and author. He wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Scripture" and "A Vindication of the Worship of God."

In the 18th century, the surname Burford appeared in various legal documents and records. One example is the will of John Burford, a yeoman farmer from Gloucestershire, dated 1742.

The name Burford has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Burford Hill in Worcestershire and Burford Meadow in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derive from the same Old English roots as the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burford 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. Gloucestershire leads with 329 Burfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.28x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 329 10.28x
Middlesex 265 1.62x
Worcestershire 206 9.67x
Surrey 110 1.38x
Somerset 109 4.15x
Staffordshire 103 1.87x
Warwickshire 84 2.04x
Kent 57 1.02x
Lancashire 45 0.23x
Glamorgan 39 1.37x
Essex 38 1.18x
Herefordshire 33 4.93x
Yorkshire 33 0.20x
Hampshire 31 0.93x
Sussex 28 1.02x
Leicestershire 27 1.49x
Monmouthshire 26 2.20x
Derbyshire 21 0.82x
Devon 20 0.59x
Hertfordshire 8 0.71x
Berkshire 6 0.49x
Cheshire 6 0.17x
Dorset 6 0.56x
Bedfordshire 5 0.59x
Durham 4 0.08x
Oxfordshire 4 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.29x
Cornwall 3 0.16x
Cumberland 3 0.21x
Lincolnshire 3 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.14x
Suffolk 3 0.15x
Wiltshire 3 0.21x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.07x
Brecknockshire 1 0.31x
Flintshire 1 0.23x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.51x
Shropshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 44 Burfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.21x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 44 3.21x
Bromsgrove 43 59.95x
Hackney London 37 4.04x
Minchinhampton 36 141.18x
Rodborough 28 181.11x
Southwark St George Martyr 28 8.53x
Stroud 27 43.35x
Hartpury 24 534.52x
Horsley 24 169.25x
Lambeth 24 1.69x
Aston 23 2.03x
Brighton 23 4.14x
West Ham 21 2.95x
Gloucester St John Baptist 19 91.92x
Hampstead London 19 7.48x
Kidderminster Borough 19 15.23x
Cheltenham 18 7.29x
Tottenham 18 6.93x
Halifax 17 7.16x
Maisemore 17 618.18x
St George Hanover Square 17 5.91x
Toxteth Park 17 2.59x
Weston 17 84.16x
St Marylebone London 16 1.84x
Kings Norton 15 7.85x
Shoreditch London 14 1.98x
Bow London 13 6.26x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 13 22.20x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.69x
Camberwell 12 1.15x
Handsworth 12 8.84x
Paddington London 12 2.00x
South Petherton 12 88.50x
Wilton 12 175.44x
Chatham 11 7.18x
Kensington London 11 1.21x
Llandaff 11 11.64x
Newington 11 1.82x
St Pancras London 11 0.84x
Amblecote 10 63.69x
Harborne 10 5.66x
Kington 10 1250.00x
Kinver 10 62.97x
Lye 10 28.19x
White Ladies Aston 10 574.71x
Forthampton 9 389.61x
Glossop Dale 9 7.52x
Kingswinford 9 4.50x
Lyncombe Widcombe 9 13.09x
Rochester St Margaret 9 15.33x
Rowley Regis 9 5.86x
Taunton St Mary 9 18.66x
Westbury On Severn East 9 12.44x
Aberdare 8 4.10x
Bedwellty 8 3.84x
Boldre 8 66.78x
Ealing 8 5.49x
Feckenham 8 32.80x
Llanover 8 19.86x
Mile End Old Town London 8 2.30x
Olveston 8 88.89x
Pitminster 8 103.63x
Redmarley 8 143.11x
Stourbridge 8 14.59x
Wednesbury 8 5.81x
Wolverhampton 8 1.89x
Avening 7 61.89x
Chard 7 22.00x
Chiswick 7 7.85x
Everton 7 1.13x
Islington London 7 0.44x
Long Sutton 7 143.15x
Moreton In Marsh 7 87.28x
North Curry 7 78.30x
Roath 7 5.42x
Stoke Prior 7 53.27x
Stonehouse 7 38.48x
West Dean 7 13.46x
Brampton Abbotts 6 504.20x
Eastington 6 56.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 100
Sarah 74
Elizabeth 64
Eliza 39
Ann 37
Emma 34
Alice 32
Ellen 31
Jane 29
Fanny 28
Annie 27
Emily 25
Clara 22
Maria 20
Harriet 15
Kate 13
Florence 12
Amy 11
Caroline 11
Edith 11
Louisa 11
Martha 11
Hannah 10
Charlotte 9
Lucy 9
Harriett 8
Matilda 8
Agnes 6
Anne 6
Esther 6
Lydia 6
Rose 5
Eleanor 4
Gertrude 4
Margaret 4
Minnie 4
Rosa 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Beatrice 3
Catherine 3
Henrietta 3
Infant 3
Julia 3
Rebecca 3
Rhoda 3
Rosina 3
Lottee 2
Lottie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 88
John 68
George 60
Thomas 53
Henry 48
James 42
Charles 37
Alfred 27
Arthur 25
Joseph 24
Samuel 19
Albert 14
Edward 13
Frederick 13
Francis 11
Richard 11
Robert 11
Walter 9
Edwin 7
Benjamin 6
Frank 6
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Jesse 5
Wm. 5
David 4
Fred 4
Tom 4
Eli 3
Fredrick 3
Jarvis 3
Mark 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Willm. 3
Chas. 2
G. 2
Geo.E. 2
Joe 2
Llewellyn 2
Michael 2
Samson 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
W. 2
Boaz 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Burford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,674 people were recorded with the Burford surname. That placed it at #2,565 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,641 in 2016. That gives Burford a modern rank of #2,528.

What does the Burford surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Burford in England.

What does the Burford map show?

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