UK surname
A surname derived from words referring to a borough, fortified town, or castle.
In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Burgh surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #20,248 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Llanbeblig, Burton-on-Trent and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burgh is 224 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.1%.
1881 census count
96
Ranked #20,248
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1861
224 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burgh surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burgh surname density by area, 1891 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 | 107 | #16,402 |
| 1861 | historical | 224 | #10,882 |
| 1881 | historical | 96 | #20,248 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 85 | #24,636 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 42 | #33,791 |
| 2001 | modern | 41 | #33,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 45 | #33,803 |
| 2004 | modern | 51 | #33,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 55 | #33,349 |
| 2006 | modern | 55 | #33,688 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 56 | #34,278 |
| 2010 | modern | 49 | #34,886 |
| 2011 | modern | 51 | #34,751 |
| 2012 | modern | 43 | #35,224 |
| 2013 | modern | 49 | #34,952 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 47 | #35,056 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Llanbeblig, Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju and Edinburgh. 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 | Llanbeblig | Carnarvonshire |
| 2 | Burton-on-Trent | Staffordshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju | Norfolk |
| 5 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burgh 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 Burgh, 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 Burgh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burgh 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, Burgh 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 Burgh is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burgh, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BURGH is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "burh" or "burg," meaning a fortified town or dwelling place. This name is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 6th to 11th centuries.
The earliest recorded instances of the name BURGH can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Some examples include Hugo de Burgh, who held lands in Hertfordshire, and Rodbert de Burgh, who held lands in Gloucestershire.
During the Middle Ages, the name BURGH was associated with various noble families and landowners who held estates or properties near fortified towns or castles. One notable example is William de Burgh, Earl of Ulster (c. 1230-1333), an influential Anglo-Norman nobleman who played a significant role in the Norman conquest of Ireland.
Another prominent figure with this surname was Hubert de Burgh (c. 1170-1243), a powerful justiciar and regent of England during the minority of King Henry III. He was a skilled military leader and statesman who served as the Earl of Kent and Chief Justiciar of England.
The BURGH surname also has connections to various place names in England, such as Burgh in Suffolk, Burgh le Marsh in Lincolnshire, and Burgh by Sands in Cumbria. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in different regions.
Other notable individuals with the surname BURGH include John de Burgh (c. 1286-1313), a medieval knight and Lord of Connaught, Ireland; Richard de Burgh (c. 1259-1326), an Anglo-Norman nobleman and Lord of Connaught; and Sir John de Burgh (c. 1390-1437), a medieval English knight and Member of Parliament.
Over time, the surname BURGH has also evolved into various spelling variations, such as Burg, Bourgh, Burrough, and Borough, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burgh 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. Lanarkshire leads with 18 Burghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 18 | 6.01x |
| Lancashire | 16 | 1.46x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 1.73x |
| Staffordshire | 10 | 3.20x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 6.96x |
| Dorset | 4 | 6.58x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 2.90x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.89x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 1.65x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.95x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 2.92x |
| Angus | 2 | 2.33x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 1.77x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.25x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.55x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.06x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.67x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 11 Burghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 11 | 14.50x |
| Broughton In Salford | 10 | 99.50x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 10 | 136.61x |
| Edmonton | 6 | 80.32x |
| Govan | 6 | 8.10x |
| Cathcart | 5 | 128.53x |
| Acomb | 3 | 909.09x |
| Ashby De La Zouch | 3 | 126.05x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 3 | 49.51x |
| Charminster | 3 | 625.00x |
| Chelsea London | 3 | 10.75x |
| Croydon | 3 | 11.97x |
| Woolwich | 3 | 25.68x |
| Bramford | 2 | 476.19x |
| Dundee | 2 | 6.24x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 3.85x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 5.37x |
| West Derby | 2 | 6.22x |
| Godmanstone | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.94x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.24x |
| Old Monkland | 1 | 8.41x |
| Rickergate | 1 | 59.17x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 10.59x |
| St Dunstan In West London | 1 | 344.83x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.02x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.34x |
| Steyning | 1 | 188.68x |
| Thornton In Fylde | 1 | 41.49x |
| Wallbottle | 1 | 344.83x |
| Walton On Hill | 1 | 16.78x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.48x |
| Westbury | 1 | 526.32x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 1 | 22.37x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burgh surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Burgh 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 Burgh households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| General Servant | 4 |
| Joiner | 2 |
| Assistant Schoolmaster | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Band Sawyer | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Captain Mast | 1 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Carter Wife | 1 |
| Civil Engineer | 1 |
| Clerk Silk Trade | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Collar & Harness Maker | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Domestic (Gen) | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gardner | 1 |
| Genrl Serv | 1 |
| Hairdresser | 1 |
| Harness Maker | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| House Proprietress & Fundholder | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Nursery Maid | 1 |
| Pauper | 1 |
| Plumber & Painter | 1 |
| Sawyer | 1 |
| Storekeeper In Factory | 1 |
| Surgeon Retired | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Burgh surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Burgh a modern rank of #35,162.
A surname derived from words referring to a borough, fortified town, or castle.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burgh 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.