UK surname
A locative surname likely denoting one from Bergen or a similar place name.
In the 1881 census there were 150 people recorded with the Burgen surname, ranking it #15,489 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #15,489 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burgen is 406 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.7%.
1881 census count
150
Ranked #15,489
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1891
406 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burgen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burgen surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 73 | #20,581 |
| 1861 | historical | 179 | #13,127 |
| 1881 | historical | 150 | #15,489 |
| 1891 | historical | 406 | #8,765 |
| 1901 | historical | 110 | #21,604 |
| 1911 | historical | 101 | #22,589 |
| 1997 | modern | 63 | #31,335 |
| 1998 | modern | 63 | #31,639 |
| 1999 | modern | 50 | #33,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 53 | #32,805 |
| 2001 | modern | 55 | #32,482 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 60 | #32,684 |
| 2005 | modern | 57 | #33,178 |
| 2006 | modern | 57 | #33,513 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 58 | #33,918 |
| 2009 | modern | 65 | #33,611 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 66 | #34,003 |
| 2014 | modern | 69 | #33,833 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, St Pancras, Hammersmith and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Hammersmith | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burgen surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burgen, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Burgen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burgen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Burgen is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burgen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burgen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BURGEN" originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "burg," meaning "fortified town" or "castle." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals living in or near a fortified settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a manuscript from the Duchy of Saxony, dated around 1275, which mentions a certain "Henricus von Burgen." This indicates that the name was already in use during the High Middle Ages in the region of present-day northern Germany.
In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Johann Burgen, a merchant and burgher from the city of Hamburg. Records from 1367 show that he was involved in trade with the Hanseatic League, a powerful economic alliance of merchant guilds and market towns across northern Europe.
During the Renaissance period, the name appeared in various regions of Germany. In the 16th century, a scholar named Andreas Burgen (1486-1552) gained recognition for his contributions to the field of theology and his work translating ancient texts from Greek and Latin.
Another individual of note was Katharina Burgen (1499-1568), a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation movement. She was a close associate of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the establishment of Protestantism in the German states.
In the 17th century, the name was also found in areas of modern-day Austria and Switzerland. One notable bearer was Johann Michael Burgen (1623-1691), a renowned Swiss clockmaker and inventor who made significant advancements in the design and construction of timepieces.
As the name spread across different regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as "Burghen," "Burghen," and "Burgin." These variations were often influenced by local dialects and linguistic differences within the German-speaking territories.
Throughout its history, the surname "BURGEN" has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, scholars, reformers, and artisans, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and occupations of those who bore this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burgen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 41 Burgens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 41 | 2.80x |
| Yorkshire | 27 | 1.86x |
| Surrey | 21 | 2.95x |
| Kent | 17 | 3.41x |
| Cheshire | 12 | 3.72x |
| Hertfordshire | 8 | 7.93x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.35x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 1.75x |
| Sussex | 3 | 1.22x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.21x |
| East Lothian | 2 | 10.32x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 0.92x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 1.32x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0.91x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 2.31x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willesden in Middlesex leads with 10 Burgens recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.52x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burgen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 12 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Caroline | 5 |
| Emily | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Janet | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Anni | 1 |
| Celia | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Emeler | 1 |
| Etty | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Eve | 1 |
| Hanah | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Nora | 1 |
| Olive | 1 |
| Patrick | 1 |
| Pricilla | 1 |
| Rosanna | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Burgen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Burgen households.
FAQ
In 1881, 150 people were recorded with the Burgen surname. That placed it at #15,489 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Burgen a modern rank of #34,017.
A locative surname likely denoting one from Bergen or a similar place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burgen bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.