NameCensus.

UK surname

Burgon

An English surname derived from the Old French "burg" meaning a fortified town or manor.

In the 1881 census there were 398 people recorded with the Burgon surname, ranking it #7,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 649, ranked #8,190, down from #7,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Eyemouth and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Hartlepool and Eyemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burgon is 684 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.1%.

1881 census count

398

Ranked #7,996

Modern count

649

2016, ranked #8,190

Peak year

2010

684 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burgon had 398 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 649 in 2016, ranked #8,190.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 621 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Burgon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burgon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burgon 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 239 #10,273
1881 historical 398 #7,996
1891 historical 550 #6,881
1901 historical 621 #6,877
1911 historical 584 #6,977
1997 modern 632 #7,843
1998 modern 661 #7,806
1999 modern 661 #7,845
2000 modern 646 #7,974
2001 modern 624 #8,038
2002 modern 653 #7,915
2003 modern 628 #8,032
2004 modern 628 #8,053
2005 modern 625 #8,018
2006 modern 632 #7,973
2007 modern 661 #7,764
2008 modern 672 #7,711
2009 modern 680 #7,823
2010 modern 684 #7,920
2011 modern 657 #8,088
2012 modern 654 #8,040
2013 modern 654 #8,182
2014 modern 657 #8,185
2015 modern 651 #8,187
2016 modern 649 #8,190

Geography

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Where Burgons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Eyemouth, Manchester, Stranton and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Hartlepool and Eyemouth. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Eyemouth Berwick
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Stranton Durham
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
3 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool
4 Eyemouth Scottish Borders
5 Hartlepool 014 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burgon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burgon

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Burgon is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Burgon 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

Burgon falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Burgon

The surname Burgon is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "burg" meaning a fortified town or castle, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in or near a fortified town or castle.

The earliest recorded instances of the Burgon surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The name appeared in various forms such as Burghton, Burgheton, and Burghtun, reflecting the different regional pronunciations and spellings of the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Burghtun, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230. This historical record provides valuable insight into the presence and activities of individuals bearing the Burgon surname during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the Burgon surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lincolnshire, where individuals such as Thomas Burgon and John Burgon were recorded as taxpayers. This suggests that the Burgon family had established itself in this region and had attained a certain level of social standing.

As the name spread across England, it became associated with various place names, such as Burgon in Nottinghamshire and Burgon in Yorkshire. These place names likely derived from the same Old English roots, further emphasizing the connection between the surname and fortified settlements.

Notable individuals with the Burgon surname throughout history include:

1. John William Burgon (1813-1888), an English Anglican scholar and theologian, known for his contributions to textual criticism of the New Testament.

2. Thomas Burgon (1787-1857), an English clergyman and author, best known for his work "The Life and Times of Sir Thomas Gresham."

3. Richard Burgon (1917-2010), a British politician and member of the Labour Party, who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan from 1957 to 1970.

4. John Burgon (1798-1865), an English clergyman and author, who wrote extensively on religious topics.

5. Thomas Burgon (1738-1810), an English clergyman and academic, who served as the Rector of Winston in Suffolk.

While the Burgon surname may have originated from a specific geographical location, it eventually spread across various regions of England, reflecting the mobility and migration patterns of its bearers over centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burgon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burgon 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 114 Burgons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.02x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 114 3.02x
Berwickshire 87 188.84x
Lancashire 74 1.64x
Northumberland 59 10.42x
Durham 26 2.30x
Essex 8 1.07x
Middlesex 8 0.21x
Surrey 7 0.38x
Cheshire 3 0.36x
Cumberland 1 0.31x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eyemouth in Berwickshire leads with 86 Burgons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2239.58x.

Place Total Index
Eyemouth 86 2239.58x
Berwick Upon Tweed 48 400.33x
Stranton 24 62.99x
Ecclesall Bierlow 21 27.39x
Ecclesfield 17 61.51x
Heaton Norris 13 50.60x
Sheffield 13 10.83x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 11 31.32x
Kirkdale 11 14.49x
Manchester 10 4.93x
Brightside Bierlow 8 10.82x
Tynemouth 8 26.39x
Wardleworth 8 31.01x
West Ham 8 4.83x
Cawthorne In Wortley 7 460.53x
Salford 7 5.27x
Battersea 6 4.29x
Horton In Bradford 6 10.19x
Hulme 6 6.37x
Islington London 6 1.63x
Nether Hallam 6 11.76x
Wentworth 6 257.51x
Leeds 5 2.35x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 5 28.56x
Ardwick 4 9.82x
Bury 4 7.76x
Horbury 3 45.52x
Over Darwen 3 8.32x
Tweedmouth 3 42.49x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 2.03x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 5.89x
Cheadle 2 12.47x
Houghton Le Spring 2 25.58x
St Marylebone London 2 0.98x
Tankersley 2 71.17x
Withington 2 13.76x
Alverstoke 1 3.54x
Bradfield 1 6.88x
Camberwell 1 0.41x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.39x
Coldingham 1 24.15x
Cummersdale 1 89.29x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 9.97x
Featherstone 1 23.64x
Glasgow 1 0.46x
Linthwaite 1 12.63x
Monks Coppenhall 1 3.16x
Tottington Lower End 1 4.66x
Wakefield 1 3.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Ann 11
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 10
Ellen 9
Jane 7
Margaret 7
Edith 6
Annie 5
Lucy 5
Agnes 4
Emma 4
Isabella 4
Bridget 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Elizh. 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Margt. 2
Amelia 1
Betsy 1
C.A. 1
Catherine 1
Christian 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elicia 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Fannie 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Harrt. 1
Inlist 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Katurn 1
M.J. 1
Margt.J. 1
Martha 1
Matha 1
Maud 1
Philomena 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 15
Peter 13
Henry 12
James 11
Joseph 10
Charles 9
Thomas 7
Harry 5
Alexander 3
Benjamin 3
Frederick 3
Isaac 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Frank 2
George 2
Michael 2
Sam 2
Albert 1
Alexd. 1
Anthony 1
Daniel 1
Davd. 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Fred. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Henry 1
Holmes 1
Johnny 1
Nathanial 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Burgon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burgon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 398 people were recorded with the Burgon surname. That placed it at #7,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burgon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 649 in 2016. That gives Burgon a modern rank of #8,190.

What does the Burgon surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French "burg" meaning a fortified town or manor.

What does the Burgon map show?

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