NameCensus.

UK surname

Burkitt

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "bright settlement" or "bright village".

In the 1881 census there were 589 people recorded with the Burkitt surname, ranking it #5,928 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 762, ranked #7,197, down from #5,928 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Louth, Clee and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Bassetlaw and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burkitt is 913 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.4%.

1881 census count

589

Ranked #5,928

Modern count

762

2016, ranked #7,197

Peak year

1911

913 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burkitt had 589 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,928 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 762 in 2016, ranked #7,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 913 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burkitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burkitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burkitt 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 418 #5,816
1861 historical 349 #7,318
1881 historical 589 #5,928
1891 historical 605 #6,341
1901 historical 747 #5,961
1911 historical 913 #4,888
1997 modern 819 #6,417
1998 modern 829 #6,567
1999 modern 830 #6,610
2000 modern 829 #6,586
2001 modern 812 #6,567
2002 modern 800 #6,773
2003 modern 767 #6,884
2004 modern 760 #6,956
2005 modern 750 #6,960
2006 modern 744 #7,029
2007 modern 757 #7,000
2008 modern 750 #7,104
2009 modern 764 #7,147
2010 modern 771 #7,234
2011 modern 771 #7,161
2012 modern 764 #7,126
2013 modern 783 #7,091
2014 modern 776 #7,172
2015 modern 769 #7,160
2016 modern 762 #7,197

Geography

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Where Burkitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Louth, Clee, London parishes, Alford and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, Bassetlaw, Kingston upon Hull and East Lindsey. 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 Louth Lincolnshire
2 Clee Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Alford Lincolnshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 001 Sandwell
2 Bassetlaw 015 Bassetlaw
3 Kingston upon Hull 003 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 Sandwell 039 Sandwell
5 East Lindsey 001 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burkitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burkitt

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

Burkitt 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

Burkitt 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 Burkitt 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 Burkitt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Burkitt

The surname Burkitt is of English origin and dates back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or dwelling, and "cyte" meaning a humble cottage or dwelling. The name was likely originally taken by someone who lived in a small dwelling within or near a fortified town or manor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Burhcyte". This early spelling provides evidence of the name's Old English roots and its connection to the concepts of fortified dwellings and humble cottages.

During the Medieval period, the name was commonly found in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. The Burkitt family is known to have held lands and estates in these areas, with records showing their presence as early as the 13th century.

One notable early figure with the surname Burkitt was Sir John Burkitt (1484-1548), a prominent English lawyer and judge during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as a Justice of the Common Pleas and was instrumental in the dissolution of the monasteries.

Another significant individual was William Burkitt (1650-1703), an English biblical scholar and commentator. He authored the widely influential "Expository Notes on the New Testament," which was a highly regarded work in its time.

In the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of William Burkitt (1768-1805), a British naval officer and explorer. He is best known for his expeditions to the West African coast and for publishing the first detailed account of the Guinea region.

Moving into the 19th century, the Burkitt name was carried by Frederick Burkitt (1864-1935), a renowned English theologian and scholar of Christian antiquity. He made significant contributions to the study of early Christian texts and was a respected figure in his field.

Another notable figure was George Burkitt (1900-1993), a British surgeon and pioneer in the field of cancer research. He is credited with discovering the Burkitt lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that bears his name.

Throughout its history, the surname Burkitt has been associated with various locations, including the village of Burcott in Berkshire, and the town of Bircote in Nottinghamshire, both of which are believed to have influenced the name's spelling and pronunciation over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burkitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burkitt 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. Lincolnshire leads with 178 Burkitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.34x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 178 19.34x
Yorkshire 92 1.61x
Staffordshire 60 3.09x
Middlesex 38 0.66x
Derbyshire 33 3.66x
Durham 25 1.46x
Nottinghamshire 22 2.84x
Northamptonshire 20 3.69x
Kent 18 0.92x
Lancashire 17 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 16 4.39x
Bedfordshire 14 4.70x
Surrey 14 0.50x
Cheshire 8 0.63x
Leicestershire 8 1.25x
Wiltshire 7 1.38x
Gloucestershire 6 0.53x
Warwickshire 4 0.28x
Hertfordshire 3 0.76x
Somerset 2 0.22x
Flintshire 1 0.65x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.46x
Shropshire 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. Wednesbury in Staffordshire leads with 27 Burkitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.61x.

Place Total Index
Wednesbury 27 55.61x
Silk Willoughby 17 3090.91x
Boston 15 53.72x
Holy Trinity 15 10.93x
Wellingborough 15 55.11x
Alford 13 228.07x
Tuxford 13 680.63x
Openshaw 12 37.52x
Wolverhampton 12 8.03x
Belchford 11 1145.83x
Haddenham 11 320.70x
Mile End Old Town London 10 8.16x
Norton 10 134.59x
Shoreditch London 10 4.01x
Bilston 9 23.90x
Louth 9 42.67x
Shillington 9 205.01x
Barnsley 8 13.60x
Rigsby 8 3636.36x
South Elkington 8 1142.86x
St Pancras London 8 1.73x
Wainfleet All Sts 8 298.51x
Yarborough 8 1481.48x
Brightside Bierlow 7 6.26x
Buttermere 7 2800.00x
Holmpton 7 1627.91x
Kingerby 7 3500.00x
Tettenhall 7 58.92x
Woolwich 7 9.65x
Bridlington 6 45.94x
Brimington 6 87.72x
Calcethorpe 6 2068.97x
New Sleaford 6 101.69x
Newington 6 2.82x
North Somercotes 6 248.96x
Ouston 6 240.00x
Southcoates 6 18.95x
Bedford St Mary 5 65.10x
Bilsby 5 495.05x
Bishopwearmouth 5 3.40x
Brampton 5 39.71x
Bristol St George 5 9.58x
Cheadle 5 20.60x
Gateshead 5 3.90x
Gringley On Hill 5 304.88x
Leicester St Mary 5 9.70x
Staveley 5 31.25x
Brookland 4 465.12x
Coventry St Michael 4 8.58x
Faldingworth 4 714.29x
Folkingham 4 353.98x
Kings Cliffe 4 158.73x
Maidstone 4 6.84x
Market Rasen 4 77.82x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 11.97x
Pannal 4 73.13x
Rawdon 4 59.52x
Rotherham 4 12.44x
South Somercoates 4 476.19x
Wigtoft 4 300.75x
Badsworth 3 697.67x
Bermondsey 3 1.75x
Brandesburton 3 200.00x
Chesterfield 3 8.88x
Conside Knitsley 3 22.54x
Dinnington 3 588.24x
Dukinfield 3 5.11x
Kensington London 3 0.94x
Laxton 3 315.79x
Rawmarsh 3 14.89x
Rotherhithe 3 4.22x
Skirbeck 3 58.14x
Swayfield 3 600.00x
Tetney 3 188.68x
West Bromwich 3 2.70x
Whitwood 3 37.04x
Ashby Cum Fenby 2 384.62x
St Mary 2 52.49x
St Marylebone London 2 0.65x
Welton 2 149.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 43
John 42
Charles 23
Thomas 21
George 20
Henry 14
Joseph 11
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Robert 7
James 6
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Edwin 5
Herbert 5
David 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Josiah 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edwd. 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Simeon 2
Tom 2
Wharfe 2
Charlotte 1
Cyril 1
Ebenezer 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jesse 1
Jno 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Murray 1
Oliver 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Ridley 1
Samual 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Burkitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burkitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 589 people were recorded with the Burkitt surname. That placed it at #5,928 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burkitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 762 in 2016. That gives Burkitt a modern rank of #7,197.

What does the Burkitt surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "bright settlement" or "bright village".

What does the Burkitt map show?

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