UK surname
Of Arabic origin referring to agricultural people, possibly an occupational name for cultivators or planters.
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Burm surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Glossop and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burm is 102 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.2%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1891
102 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burm surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burm surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 82 | #19,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 101 | #20,955 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 5 | #33,728 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Glossop, London parishes, Earsdon and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Earsdon | Northumberland |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burm surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burm, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Burm surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burm household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Burm is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burm is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burm, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Burm is believed to have originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Saxony. It is thought to have derived from the Old German word "burm," which means "a small stream or brook." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a small body of water or a person who came from a place with a similar name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burm can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dating back to the 12th century. In this codex, a person named "Burmo de Burmen" is mentioned, indicating that the name was already in use during that time.
In the 14th century, the name Burm appeared in the Annales Veterocellenses, a chronicle written by the monks of the Cistercian abbey of Altenzelle in Saxony. This chronicle mentions a nobleman named "Heinrich von Burm" who was involved in a local dispute over land rights.
The Burm surname can also be traced back to various place names in Germany, such as Burmbach, a small town in Bavaria, and Burmeister, a village in Lower Saxony. These place names likely influenced the formation of the surname or were named after individuals bearing the Burm name.
One notable individual with the surname Burm was Johann Burm (1706-1779), a Dutch botanist and physician who specialized in the study of plants from South Africa and the Cape Colony. He was born in Amsterdam and is known for his work on the genus Protea, a group of flowering plants native to the southern regions of Africa.
Another person of historical significance was Friedrich Burm (1806-1876), a German composer and music teacher who lived in the 19th century. He was born in Magdeburg and is remembered for his contributions to choral and church music.
In the realm of literature, the name Burm is associated with Wilhelm Burm (1806-1864), a German poet and writer who was born in Darmstadt. He is known for his collection of poems titled "Gedichte" (Poems), published in 1842.
Furthermore, the name Burm appears in historical records related to the military. One example is General Johann Burm (1767-1834), a Prussian military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and participated in several major battles, including the Battle of Waterloo.
Lastly, in the field of theology, there was Johannes Burm (1525-1595), a German Lutheran theologian and reformer who was born in Lübeck. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and authored several theological works.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burm surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 5 Burms recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 5 | 3.94x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 10.26x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 6.25x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 4.53x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 19.23x |
| Kent | 1 | 2.31x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 3 Burms recorded in 1881 and an index of 96.15x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 96.15x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 36.30x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 18.76x |
| Heigham | 2 | 190.48x |
| Dylais Lower | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Ledbury | 1 | 555.56x |
| Rotherhithe | 1 | 63.69x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 64.10x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burm surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Burm surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Burm households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Carrier & Porter | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Parlourmaid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Serv House Work | 1 |
| Steel Pen Raiser | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Burm surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Burm a modern rank of #37,967.
Of Arabic origin referring to agricultural people, possibly an occupational name for cultivators or planters.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burm bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.