UK surname
A surname derived from the city of Birmingham, England.
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Burmingham surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 80, ranked #33,030, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and Ludlow St Lawrence. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burmingham is 152 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.7%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
80
2016, ranked #33,030
Peak year
1891
152 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burmingham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burmingham 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 | 11 | #31,309 |
| 1861 | historical | 85 | #22,922 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 152 | #18,163 |
| 1901 | historical | 89 | #24,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 64 | #31,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 69 | #31,273 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 77 | #30,762 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 72 | #31,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 82 | #30,933 |
| 2007 | modern | 84 | #31,067 |
| 2008 | modern | 84 | #31,370 |
| 2009 | modern | 86 | #31,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 88 | #31,875 |
| 2011 | modern | 87 | #31,905 |
| 2012 | modern | 84 | #32,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 83 | #32,813 |
| 2014 | modern | 82 | #32,992 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 80 | #33,030 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, Ludlow St Lawrence, Holybourne and Farnham. 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 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Ludlow St Lawrence | Shropshire |
| 4 | Holybourne | Hampshire |
| 5 | Farnham | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burmingham 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 Burmingham, 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 Burmingham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burmingham 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, Burmingham 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 Burmingham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burmingham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Burmingham is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the city of Birmingham in the West Midlands region of England. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, when surnames derived from place names became increasingly common.
Birmingham itself is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "Beormingahām," meaning "the home or settlement of the Beormingas." The Beormingas were an Anglo-Saxon tribe or clan who settled in the area during the early medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burmingham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry refers to a landowner named Richard de Bermingham, who held property in the Birmingham area.
Throughout the centuries, various spellings of the name have been documented, including Bermingham, Burmyngham, and Burmingeham, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects. Additionally, the name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history.
One such individual was Sir John Burmingham, born around 1290, who served as a member of Parliament for Warwickshire and played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. Another notable figure was Robert Burmingham, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century.
In the 16th century, Edward Burmingham, born in 1535, was a prominent clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Windsor and was involved in the translation of the Bishop's Bible. William Burmingham, born in 1670, was a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Burmingham was John Burmingham, born in 1805, who was a pioneering engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing the first successful metal-cased pencil, among other innovations.
While the surname Burmingham has evolved over time, it remains firmly rooted in its English origins and the rich history of the city that bears its name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burmingham 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. Surrey leads with 20 Burminghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.61x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 9 Burminghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.26x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 9 | 19.26x |
| St Pancras London | 8 | 13.59x |
| Huddersfield | 6 | 56.82x |
| Kingsley | 6 | 5454.55x |
| Ockham | 6 | 4285.71x |
| Hartley Wintney | 5 | 1111.11x |
| Newbury | 5 | 284.09x |
| West Ham | 5 | 15.68x |
| Bray | 2 | 124.22x |
| Epsom | 2 | 114.94x |
| Hove | 2 | 36.97x |
| Petworth | 2 | 270.27x |
| Saffron Walden | 2 | 130.72x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 5.12x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 19.92x |
| Bishops Hull | 1 | 263.16x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 9.03x |
| Clapham | 1 | 10.93x |
| Devonport | 1 | 57.14x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 9.43x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.41x |
| Portland | 1 | 38.76x |
| Reading St Mary | 1 | 22.73x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 3.15x |
| Stoke | 1 | 59.52x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 25.00x |
| Wycombe | 1 | 30.30x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burmingham 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 Burmingham 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 Burmingham households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Herbalist (Sub Med) | 2 |
| Stay Maker | 2 |
| Agri Laborer | 1 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| Assistant | 1 |
| B 2 Cl | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Bookseller & Barber | 1 |
| Builder Employing 38 Men And 4 Boys | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Cellarman | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coach Body Maker | 1 |
| Coachsmith | 1 |
| Convent Resident (Nuns) | 1 |
| Dressmaker Assistant | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gen Laborer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| H R M | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Journeyman Plumber | 1 |
| Magistrate Barrister Not In Practice | 1 |
| Private 2nd Surrey Militia | 1 |
| Private Soldier | 1 |
| Retired | 1 |
| Stationers Assistant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Burmingham surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 80 in 2016. That gives Burmingham a modern rank of #33,030.
A surname derived from the city of Birmingham, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burmingham 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.