NameCensus.

UK surname

Burge

Derived from Old English "burh," referring to a person who lived in or near a fortified town or castle.

In the 1881 census there were 2,169 people recorded with the Burge surname, ranking it #2,047 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,837, ranked #2,369, down from #2,047 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sampford Brett, Bicknoller, Stogumber and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, Forest of Dean and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burge is 3,136 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.8%.

1881 census count

2,169

Ranked #2,047

Modern count

2,837

2016, ranked #2,369

Peak year

1999

3,136 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burge had 2,169 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,047 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,837 in 2016, ranked #2,369.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,092 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Burge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burge 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 1,595 #1,803
1861 historical 1,475 #1,920
1881 historical 2,169 #2,047
1891 historical 2,308 #2,032
1901 historical 2,722 #2,043
1911 historical 3,092 #1,688
1997 modern 2,996 #2,155
1998 modern 3,095 #2,171
1999 modern 3,136 #2,160
2000 modern 3,102 #2,171
2001 modern 2,999 #2,198
2002 modern 3,046 #2,212
2003 modern 2,990 #2,198
2004 modern 2,982 #2,198
2005 modern 2,898 #2,233
2006 modern 2,886 #2,246
2007 modern 2,901 #2,259
2008 modern 2,885 #2,288
2009 modern 2,928 #2,311
2010 modern 2,976 #2,315
2011 modern 2,897 #2,345
2012 modern 2,855 #2,337
2013 modern 2,941 #2,312
2014 modern 2,916 #2,339
2015 modern 2,877 #2,349
2016 modern 2,837 #2,369

Geography

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Where Burges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sampford Brett, Bicknoller, Stogumber, London parishes and Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, Forest of Dean, Mendip and North Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Sampford Brett, Bicknoller, Stogumber Somerset
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 002 West Somerset
2 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
3 West Somerset 001 West Somerset
4 Mendip 003 Mendip
5 North Somerset 007 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burge

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burge, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Burge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Burge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Burge 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

Burge is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Burge

The surname Burge originates from England and dates back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "burg," which means a fortified town or borough. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a borough or fortified settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Burge" and "Burg," referring to individuals living in various parts of the country.

During the Middle Ages, the name Burge was particularly prevalent in the counties of Wiltshire, Somerset, and Gloucestershire. Some early bearers of the name include Robert Burge, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1197, and William Burge, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327.

The name Burge has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Sir John Burge (1539-1612), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Thomas Burge (1655-1717), an English physician and writer who published several works on medical topics, including "The Advancement of Physick" in 1700.

In the 18th century, John Burge (1731-1805) was a renowned English engraver and cartographer, known for his detailed maps and charts of various regions around the world.

The name Burge has also been associated with places and locations. For example, Burgetown, a village in Somerset, England, likely derived its name from the presence of Burge families in the area during medieval times.

Throughout history, variations in the spelling of the name have been observed, including Burg, Bourge, and Burge. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of individual scribes and record-keepers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burge 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. Somerset leads with 753 Burges recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.12x.

County Total Index
Somerset 753 22.12x
Middlesex 296 1.40x
Gloucestershire 215 5.18x
Devon 141 3.20x
Surrey 108 1.05x
Dorset 85 6.12x
Hampshire 69 1.59x
Glamorgan 54 1.47x
Monmouthshire 47 3.07x
Kent 46 0.64x
Lancashire 46 0.18x
Cornwall 38 1.59x
Sussex 36 1.01x
Wiltshire 23 1.23x
Yorkshire 23 0.11x
Bedfordshire 19 1.74x
Berkshire 17 1.07x
Worcestershire 13 0.47x
Midlothian 11 0.39x
Lincolnshire 10 0.30x
Staffordshire 10 0.14x
Northamptonshire 9 0.45x
Warwickshire 9 0.17x
Hertfordshire 8 0.55x
Anglesey 7 1.87x
Lanarkshire 7 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.47x
Derbyshire 6 0.18x
Dumfriesshire 6 1.28x
Durham 6 0.10x
Essex 5 0.12x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.74x
Shropshire 5 0.27x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.20x
Cheshire 4 0.09x
Royal Navy 4 1.59x
Brecknockshire 3 0.71x
Channel Islands 3 0.48x
Oxfordshire 3 0.23x
Argyllshire 2 0.34x
Nairnshire 2 3.10x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.12x
Isle of Man 1 0.25x
Renfrewshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 48 Burges recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.34x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 48 2.34x
St Marylebone London 47 4.16x
Bridgewater 42 45.44x
St Pancras London 42 2.47x
Lyncombe Widcombe 41 46.00x
Midsomer Norton 41 127.85x
Portsea 34 4.00x
Stogumber 32 355.95x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 30 7.68x
Nailsea 25 185.87x
Taunton St Mary 25 40.01x
Cheltenham 24 7.50x
Bratton Fleming 23 606.86x
Bedminster 22 6.88x
Chelsea London 22 3.45x
Camberwell 21 1.55x
Henstridge 20 212.77x
Lambeth 20 1.08x
Mells 20 284.09x
Walcot 18 9.93x
Clifton 17 8.11x
Taunton St James 17 34.24x
Bicknoller 16 675.11x
Kingston 16 233.92x
Tormoham 16 8.59x
Kensington London 15 1.28x
Nunney 15 203.53x
Fairford 14 126.35x
Haselbury Bryan 14 268.71x
Huish Champflower 14 526.32x
Monksilver 14 732.98x
Newport 14 19.19x
West Buckland 14 214.07x
Brighton 13 1.81x
Bristol St James St Paul 13 9.40x
Cirencester 13 23.15x
Roath 13 7.77x
Wolborough 13 23.36x
Baltonsborough 12 235.76x
Bathwick 12 31.86x
Long Ashton 12 71.09x
Westbourne 12 67.61x
Bibury 11 220.00x
Milverton 11 87.58x
North Petherton 11 40.06x
Old Cleeve 11 90.54x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 3.24x
Poole St James 11 21.09x
Camborne 10 10.14x
East Quantoxhead 10 581.40x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 10 13.18x
Great Faringdon 10 43.84x
Iwerne Courtnay 10 106.95x
Kilton 10 980.39x
Longfleet 10 62.19x
Luton 10 5.28x
Melcombe Regis 10 17.39x
Weston Super Mare 10 11.63x
Aberdare 9 3.56x
Birmingham 9 0.51x
Dulverton 9 90.27x
Hammersmith London 9 1.73x
Margate St John Baptist 9 6.81x
St Decumans Watchet 9 104.53x
Warrington 9 3.03x
Westbury On Trym 9 6.40x
Willesden 9 4.51x
Battersea 8 1.03x
Bedwellty 8 2.96x
Bristol St Michael 8 22.50x
Gainsborough 8 10.04x
Hornsey 8 2.99x
Hougham 8 18.64x
Kilmersdon 8 47.56x
Paddington London 8 1.03x
Stratton St Margaret 8 27.88x
Swansea Town 8 2.65x
Watford 8 7.08x
Minehead 7 54.43x
Yardley Hastings 7 81.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 126
Elizabeth 94
Sarah 81
Jane 40
Emily 39
Eliza 38
Emma 35
Ann 33
Ellen 33
Alice 29
Annie 29
Louisa 19
Harriet 18
Kate 17
Hannah 16
Caroline 14
Amelia 13
Charlotte 13
Fanny 13
Florence 12
Maria 12
Ada 11
Lucy 11
Bessie 10
Margaret 9
Martha 9
Susan 9
Agnes 8
Edith 8
Esther 8
Frances 8
Laura 8
Rose 8
Anne 7
Catherine 7
Eva 7
Grace 7
Harriett 7
Maud 7
Clara 6
Elizth. 6
Henrietta 6
Rosa 6
Jessie 5
Matilda 5
Rhoda 5
Amy 4
Anna 4
Blanche 4
Selina 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 130
John 101
James 83
George 73
Henry 60
Thomas 59
Charles 51
Joseph 30
Robert 29
Edward 28
Frederick 28
Samuel 22
Albert 20
Alfred 20
Richard 20
Arthur 14
Benjamin 14
Francis 14
Walter 14
Edwin 13
Isaac 11
Frank 9
Ernest 8
Harry 8
Fredrick 7
Herbert 7
Fred 6
Sidney 6
Tom 6
Sydney 5
Thos. 4
Abraham 3
Daniel 3
Hugh 3
Jesse 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Abram 2
Charley 2
Earnest 2
Fred. 2
Frederic 2
Henery 2
Hy.A. 2
Joshua 2
Matthew 2
Nathan 2
Oscar 2
Owen 2
Reginald 2

FAQ

Burge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,169 people were recorded with the Burge surname. That placed it at #2,047 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,837 in 2016. That gives Burge a modern rank of #2,369.

What does the Burge surname mean?

Derived from Old English "burh," referring to a person who lived in or near a fortified town or castle.

What does the Burge map show?

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