NameCensus.

UK surname

Burgis

A surname derived from the Old French word "burgeis," meaning a resident of a borough or town.

In the 1881 census there were 125 people recorded with the Burgis surname, ranking it #17,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, down from #17,335 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Henley-on-Thames, Berwick Salome, Brightwell Salome (Watlington, Oxfordshire), Bensington, and Ewelme and Docking. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Edmundsbury, Cheshire East and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burgis is 221 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.4%.

1881 census count

125

Ranked #17,335

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

1851

221 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burgis had 125 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,335 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 221 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burgis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burgis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burgis 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 221 #9,630
1861 historical 123 #17,914
1881 historical 125 #17,335
1891 historical 130 #20,173
1901 historical 157 #17,577
1911 historical 130 #19,504
1997 modern 111 #25,394
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 117 #25,494
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 112 #26,415
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 116 #26,510
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Burgis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Henley-on-Thames, Berwick Salome, Brightwell Salome (Watlington, Oxfordshire), Bensington, and Ewelme, Docking, London parishes and Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Edmundsbury, Cheshire East, Bournemouth, West Dorset and Great Yarmouth. 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 Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire
2 Berwick Salome, Brightwell Salome (Watlington, Oxfordshire), Bensington, and Ewelme Berkshire
3 Docking Norfolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Edmundsbury 003 St Edmundsbury
2 Cheshire East 032 Cheshire East
3 Bournemouth 009 Bournemouth
4 West Dorset 009 West Dorset
5 Great Yarmouth 010 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burgis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burgis

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

Burgis 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

Burgis falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burgis 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 Burgis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Burgis

The surname Burgis is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "burg" meaning a fortified town or borough, and "hys" meaning a house or dwelling. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a fortified town or borough.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burgis can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Burgis" in the county of Suffolk. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records with different spellings such as "Burgeys", "Burgeys", and "Burgheys". These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the evolution of the English language over time.

During the 14th century, the name Burgis was associated with several notable individuals. John Burgis (c. 1320-1390) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of London. He served as an alderman and sheriff of the city during his lifetime.

Another early bearer of the name was William Burgis (c. 1380-1452), a cleric who held various ecclesiastical positions, including Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London from 1435 until his death.

In the 16th century, the Burgis surname was found in various parts of England, including the counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Gloucestershire. Robert Burgis (c. 1510-1580) was a notable landowner and justice of the peace in Lincolnshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, the name Burgis was sometimes associated with place names, such as "Burgis Hill" in Sussex and "Burgis Wood" in Kent. This may suggest that some branches of the family took their surnames from specific locations where they resided.

One of the most prominent individuals with the surname Burgis was Sir James Burgis (1660-1734), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the borough of Shoreham in Sussex. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Bank of England in 1694.

Throughout its history, the Burgis surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergymen, landowners, and political figures. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has left its mark on the historical records of several counties across England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burgis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burgis 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. Oxfordshire leads with 27 Burgis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.87x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 27 35.87x
Norfolk 16 8.54x
Surrey 15 2.53x
Berkshire 13 14.21x
Warwickshire 12 3.90x
Sussex 10 4.87x
Middlesex 9 0.74x
Staffordshire 7 1.70x
Lancashire 4 0.28x
Yorkshire 4 0.33x
Essex 2 0.83x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.22x
Cornwall 1 0.72x
Devon 1 0.39x
Kent 1 0.24x
Wiltshire 1 0.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bensington in Oxfordshire leads with 12 Burgis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Bensington 12 2500.00x
Leamington Priors 12 158.73x
Henley On Thames 9 584.42x
Lambeth 9 8.47x
Brighton 8 19.29x
Docking 8 1355.93x
Reading St Giles 8 89.09x
West Bromwich 7 29.71x
Heigham 6 59.64x
Bethnal Green London 4 7.55x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 17.41x
Southwark St Saviour 4 63.80x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 72.64x
Hammersmith London 3 9.99x
Rotherfield Greys 3 375.00x
Whitchurch 3 789.47x
Brentwood 2 136.05x
Dersingham 2 476.19x
Eastwood 2 136.05x
Epsom 2 69.20x
Frant 2 136.99x
Reading St Lawrence 2 102.04x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 4.07x
Exeter Heavitree 1 52.91x
Goring 1 232.56x
Isleworth 1 18.45x
Madron Penzance 1 19.92x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 1 112.36x
South Mimms 1 59.88x
Tonbridge 1 6.67x
Warborough 1 344.83x
Warminster 1 42.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 9
James 5
William 4
Charles 3
Edwin 3
George 3
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Danl. 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Hebyin 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Manfred 1
Sewell 1
Timothy 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Burgis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burgis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 125 people were recorded with the Burgis surname. That placed it at #17,335 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burgis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Burgis a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Burgis surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "burgeis," meaning a resident of a borough or town.

What does the Burgis map show?

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