NameCensus.

UK surname

Burgin

Derived from a place name meaning "fortified town" or "castle," originating from Old English "burh" and "ing."

In the 1881 census there were 1,173 people recorded with the Burgin surname, ranking it #3,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,057, ranked #3,142, up from #3,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bovingdon and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Dacorum and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burgin is 2,239 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.4%.

1881 census count

1,173

Ranked #3,433

Modern count

2,057

2016, ranked #3,142

Peak year

1999

2,239 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burgin had 1,173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,057 in 2016, ranked #3,142.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,911 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burgin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burgin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burgin 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 597 #4,298
1861 historical 577 #4,568
1881 historical 1,173 #3,433
1891 historical 1,199 #3,573
1901 historical 1,571 #3,284
1911 historical 1,911 #2,598
1997 modern 2,184 #2,836
1998 modern 2,206 #2,911
1999 modern 2,239 #2,897
2000 modern 2,210 #2,914
2001 modern 2,160 #2,916
2002 modern 2,165 #2,967
2003 modern 2,143 #2,931
2004 modern 2,125 #2,952
2005 modern 2,078 #2,970
2006 modern 2,055 #3,012
2007 modern 2,049 #3,053
2008 modern 2,053 #3,076
2009 modern 2,107 #3,065
2010 modern 2,148 #3,080
2011 modern 2,119 #3,080
2012 modern 2,061 #3,110
2013 modern 2,082 #3,138
2014 modern 2,101 #3,129
2015 modern 2,066 #3,146
2016 modern 2,057 #3,142

Geography

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Where Burgins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bovingdon and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Dacorum, Barnsley and Sheffield. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Bovingdon Hertfordshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 013 Rotherham
2 Rotherham 010 Rotherham
3 Dacorum 021 Dacorum
4 Barnsley 030 Barnsley
5 Sheffield 009 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burgin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burgin

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Burgin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Burgin is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burgin falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burgin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Burgin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Burgin

The surname Burgin is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "burga" or "burg," which means a fortified town or borough. It likely originated in the early medieval period, when surnames first came into use in England.

Burgin is thought to have been an occupational surname, initially given to someone who lived or worked in a borough or fortified town. It could also have been a locational surname, referring to someone who hailed from a place called Burg or a similarly named location.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Burgin can be found in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a William Burgyn from Oxfordshire. The Pipe Rolls of 1230 also reference a Robert de Burgo from Norfolk.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including Burghyn, Burgyn, and Burgoin, reflecting the different regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. Some of these early spellings may have been influenced by the Norman-French word "bourg," meaning a small town or village.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Burgin was John Burgin, a merchant and alderman who lived in London in the late 15th century (c. 1450-1510). Another historical figure was Richard Burgin, a member of the Parliament of England during the reign of King Henry VIII (c. 1480-1545).

In the 16th century, the name Burgin was associated with several places in England, such as Burgyn's Bury in Oxfordshire and Burgin's Court in Hampshire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname Burgin who lived or held land in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Burgin include:

1. Thomas Burgin (c. 1635-1705), an English philosopher and clergyman. 2. George Burgin (1786-1854), a British architect known for designing several churches in London. 3. Elizabeth Burgin (1854-1941), an American social reformer and advocate for women's rights. 4. John Burgin (1905-1975), a British painter and printmaker associated with the Surrealist movement. 5. Richard Burgin (b. 1947), an American author and academic, known for his works of fiction and non-fiction.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burgin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burgin 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. Yorkshire leads with 590 Burgins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.20x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 590 5.20x
Derbyshire 95 5.30x
Hertfordshire 86 10.90x
Middlesex 81 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 79 5.12x
Lincolnshire 41 2.24x
Leicestershire 38 3.00x
Surrey 29 0.52x
Lancashire 27 0.20x
Worcestershire 25 1.67x
Northamptonshire 11 1.02x
Warwickshire 11 0.38x
Durham 9 0.26x
Oxfordshire 9 1.27x
Essex 8 0.35x
Huntingdonshire 8 3.52x
Kent 8 0.20x
Northumberland 5 0.29x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.43x
Devon 2 0.08x
Hampshire 2 0.09x
Staffordshire 2 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.12x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Shropshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesfield in Yorkshire leads with 124 Burgins recorded in 1881 and an index of 149.15x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesfield 124 149.15x
Sheffield 73 20.22x
Ecclesall Bierlow 71 30.79x
Bovingdon 43 1041.16x
Hammersmith London 36 12.77x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 34 32.19x
Flaunden 26 2765.96x
Nether Hallam 26 16.95x
Hoyland Nether 25 89.90x
Wales 24 267.86x
Codnor Loscoe 21 147.99x
Brightside Bierlow 20 8.99x
Rawmarsh 20 49.93x
Alfreton 16 29.40x
Kimberworth 16 25.43x
Wentworth 16 227.92x
Kidderminster Borough 15 17.15x
Sproxton 15 1145.04x
Lambeth 14 1.40x
Mansfield 13 24.36x
Leeds 12 1.87x
Wath On Dearne 12 53.05x
Whittington 12 48.41x
Bradfield 11 25.17x
Islington London 11 0.99x
Manthorpe Cum Little 11 78.63x
Radford 11 14.04x
Camberwell 10 1.37x
Chesterfield 10 14.89x
Dudley 10 5.50x
Hunshelf 10 179.86x
Hunslet 10 5.66x
Newark Upon Trent 10 18.04x
Waltham On The Wolds 10 429.18x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 8.81x
Darlington 9 6.85x
Handsworth 9 30.02x
Kings Langley 9 156.52x
Lenton 9 24.77x
Nottingham St Mary 9 2.26x
Stonesby 9 1058.82x
Ardsley 8 61.21x
Barnsley 8 6.84x
Basford 8 11.25x
Eynesbury 8 152.09x
Hasland 8 43.86x
Pendleton In Salford 8 4.95x
Eynsham 7 156.60x
Foston 7 500.00x
Grantham 7 29.35x
Hucknall Torkard 7 17.90x
Northowram 7 8.80x
Abbots Langley 6 51.19x
Adwick On Dearne 6 606.06x
Aston 6 0.76x
Eastwood 6 43.51x
Halifax 6 3.60x
Hornsey 6 4.15x
Ratcliffe London 6 9.50x
Ringstead 6 160.43x
St Pancras London 6 0.65x
Staveley 6 18.87x
Worsbrough 6 18.06x
Berwick Upon Tweed 5 13.86x
Chatham 5 4.66x
North Hyckeham 5 280.90x
Northampton St Giles 5 12.20x
Pentrich 5 49.60x
Spittlegate 5 19.76x
West Ham 5 1.00x
Wombwell 5 15.12x
Kensington London 4 0.63x
Leamington Priors 4 5.63x
Long Bennington 4 112.36x
York St Mary 4 8.52x
Aston Cum Aughton 3 32.36x
Batley 3 2.78x
Blackwell 3 34.09x
Chesham 3 11.77x
Dronfield 3 13.07x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 67
William 62
George 50
Thomas 28
Joseph 27
Charles 25
James 25
Henry 19
Arthur 17
Edward 16
Walter 15
Alfred 13
Frank 12
Frederick 11
Harry 9
Samuel 9
Robert 8
Albert 7
Francis 7
Benjamin 6
Ernest 6
Richard 6
Wm. 6
Edwin 5
Herbert 5
Fred 3
Jonathan 3
Mark 3
Patrick 3
Aaron 2
Abraham 2
Daniel 2
Eli 2
Ezra 2
Farewell 2
Frances 2
Horace 2
Jabez 2
Jesse 2
Joe 2
Levi 2
Matthew 2
Sydney 2
Timothy 2
Tom 2
Willie 2
Amos 1
Bennett 1
Edmund 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Burgin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burgin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,173 people were recorded with the Burgin surname. That placed it at #3,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burgin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,057 in 2016. That gives Burgin a modern rank of #3,142.

What does the Burgin surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "fortified town" or "castle," originating from Old English "burh" and "ing."

What does the Burgin map show?

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