NameCensus.

UK surname

Burgwin

A surname derived from a Germanic compound meaning "fortified settlement" or "enclosed town."

In the 1881 census there were 54 people recorded with the Burgwin surname, ranking it #26,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 152, ranked #23,516, up from #26,009 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Shropshire and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burgwin is 168 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 181.5%.

1881 census count

54

Ranked #26,009

Modern count

152

2016, ranked #23,516

Peak year

2010

168 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burgwin had 54 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,009 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016, ranked #23,516.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Burgwin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burgwin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burgwin 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 84 #23,058
1881 historical 54 #26,009
1891 historical 99 #24,200
1901 historical 116 #20,933
1911 historical 94 #23,391
1997 modern 154 #20,780
1998 modern 163 #20,582
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 153 #21,520
2001 modern 145 #21,951
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 159 #21,598
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 160 #22,260
2013 modern 162 #22,433
2014 modern 154 #23,439
2015 modern 154 #23,306
2016 modern 152 #23,516

Geography

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Where Burgwins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington, London parishes, Pulverbatch, Church and Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Shropshire, Caerphilly and Birmingham. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington Shropshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Pulverbatch, Church Shropshire
5 Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 021 Barnsley
2 Shropshire 030 Shropshire
3 Caerphilly 006 Caerphilly
4 Caerphilly 010 Caerphilly
5 Birmingham 085 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burgwin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burgwin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burgwin, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Burgwin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Burgwin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Burgwin 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

Burgwin is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burgwin 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 Burgwin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Burgwin

The surname Burgwin is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words 'burg' meaning fort or castle, and 'win' meaning friend or protector. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a fortified town or castle, or perhaps someone who was responsible for guarding or protecting such a place.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burgwin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Burguuine'. This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Burgwin who held lands in Dorset, England. This indicates that the name had spread beyond its original location and was being used as a surname by this time.

During the 15th century, a John Burgwin was recorded as a merchant in the city of Bristol, England. This suggests that the name was not exclusively associated with military or defensive roles, but had also been adopted by those involved in trade and commerce.

One notable bearer of the Burgwin surname was Henry Burgwin (1678-1737), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Llandaff in Wales. He was known for his contributions to religious literature and his support for charitable causes.

In the 18th century, John Burgwin (1709-1775) was a prominent North Carolina planter and politician. He served as a member of the colonial assembly and was involved in the early stages of the American Revolution.

Another significant figure was John Henry Burgwin (1788-1858), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was awarded several military honors for his service.

Interestingly, the name Burgwin has also been associated with several locations. There is a Burgwin-Wright House in Wilmington, North Carolina, which was built in the early 18th century and is now a historic site. Additionally, there is a Burgwin Hill in the state of Rhode Island, named after a local landowner.

Throughout its history, the surname Burgwin has maintained its connection to the concepts of fortification, protection, and community stewardship, reflecting its origins as a locational name tied to defensive structures and settlements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burgwin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burgwin 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. Shropshire leads with 18 Burgwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.31x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 18 40.31x
Herefordshire 14 66.07x
Flintshire 6 43.20x
Staffordshire 5 2.87x
Lancashire 3 0.49x
Warwickshire 3 2.30x
Middlesex 2 0.39x
Surrey 2 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashperton in Herefordshire leads with 7 Burgwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Ashperton 7 10000.00x
Shrewsbury St Chad 7 445.86x
Hereford St Peter 6 1052.63x
Hope 6 869.57x
Berrington 5 2941.18x
Aston 3 8.36x
West Derby 3 16.72x
Wolverhampton 3 22.37x
Clun 2 625.00x
Hammersmith London 2 15.71x
Lambeth 2 4.44x
Church Stretton 1 333.33x
Clunbury 1 588.24x
Hereford St Nicholas 1 344.83x
Leebotwood 1 3333.33x
Pelsall 1 192.31x
Tettenhall 1 93.46x
Wellington 1 39.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Ann 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Elizbth. 1
Ellen 1
Ester 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Burgwin households.

FAQ

Burgwin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burgwin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 54 people were recorded with the Burgwin surname. That placed it at #26,009 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burgwin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016. That gives Burgwin a modern rank of #23,516.

What does the Burgwin surname mean?

A surname derived from a Germanic compound meaning "fortified settlement" or "enclosed town."

What does the Burgwin map show?

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