NameCensus.

UK surname

Burne

A surname denoting someone who lived near a stream or brook.

In the 1881 census there were 457 people recorded with the Burne surname, ranking it #7,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 480, ranked #10,292, down from #7,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newbiggin, London parishes and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, Isle of Anglesey and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burne is 605 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.0%.

1881 census count

457

Ranked #7,240

Modern count

480

2016, ranked #10,292

Peak year

1891

605 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burne had 457 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016, ranked #10,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 605 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burne surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Burne 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 371 #6,410
1861 historical 523 #5,015
1881 historical 457 #7,240
1891 historical 605 #6,341
1901 historical 503 #8,015
1911 historical 428 #8,827
1997 modern 471 #9,732
1998 modern 481 #9,893
1999 modern 480 #9,971
2000 modern 485 #9,853
2001 modern 481 #9,743
2002 modern 501 #9,611
2003 modern 491 #9,612
2004 modern 479 #9,811
2005 modern 480 #9,718
2006 modern 470 #9,924
2007 modern 475 #9,936
2008 modern 478 #9,977
2009 modern 498 #9,894
2010 modern 498 #10,091
2011 modern 493 #10,056
2012 modern 464 #10,439
2013 modern 492 #10,138
2014 modern 493 #10,191
2015 modern 485 #10,233
2016 modern 480 #10,292

Geography

Back to top

Where Burnes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newbiggin, London parishes, Paddington and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, Isle of Anglesey, Leicester and Sedgemoor. 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 Newbiggin Westmorland
2 London parishes London 1
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 001 Eden
2 Eden 006 Eden
3 Isle of Anglesey 003 Isle of Anglesey
4 Leicester 003 Leicester
5 Sedgemoor 005 Sedgemoor

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Burne

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Burne

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Burne is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burne is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burne falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Burne

The surname Burne is believed to have originated in England, with roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from various place names containing the Old English word "burna," meaning a stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Burnehala" and "Burna." This suggests that the name was already established in various parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, records show examples such as Walter de Burne (1242), indicating the name's prevalence in that era. The name was sometimes spelled as "Bourne" or "Bourn," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation.

The Burne family can trace their ancestry to various locations across England, including villages and towns with names like Burnham, Burnley, and Burneside. These place names likely contributed to the development of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Burne include:

1. Robert Burne (c. 1470 - c. 1535), an English composer and musician during the Tudor period. 2. Nicol Burne (1665 - 1726), a Scottish botanist and author of several works on horticulture. 3. John Burne (1776 - 1853), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. 4. Sir Owen Tudor Burne (1836 - 1914), a British lawyer and judge who served as the Attorney General of Hong Kong. 5. Eric Burne (1900 - 1982), an Australian artist and illustrator known for his landscape paintings.

Throughout its history, the surname Burne has been associated with various professions, from artists and musicians to military personnel and legal professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Burne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burne 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. Middlesex leads with 123 Burnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 123 2.75x
Lancashire 51 0.96x
Staffordshire 31 2.06x
Cheshire 30 3.04x
Westmorland 27 27.50x
Cumberland 24 6.24x
Hampshire 24 2.62x
Surrey 24 1.10x
Somerset 18 2.50x
Yorkshire 14 0.32x
Kent 12 0.79x
Sussex 11 1.46x
Cornwall 10 1.98x
Leicestershire 7 1.41x
Derbyshire 6 0.86x
Devon 6 0.65x
Roxburghshire 6 7.41x
Warwickshire 6 0.53x
Shropshire 4 1.04x
Gloucestershire 3 0.34x
Lanarkshire 3 0.21x
Northumberland 3 0.45x
Worcestershire 3 0.51x
Durham 2 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.24x
Ayrshire 1 0.30x
Bedfordshire 1 0.43x
Berkshire 1 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.35x
Monmouthshire 1 0.31x
Northamptonshire 1 0.24x
Oxfordshire 1 0.36x
Royal Navy 1 1.88x
Stirlingshire 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 18 Burnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.55x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 18 7.55x
Hackney London 16 6.39x
Kensington London 14 5.64x
Paddington London 14 8.52x
Culgaith 13 2452.83x
Holdenhurst 13 54.12x
Newbiggin 12 5714.29x
Curry Rivell 10 414.94x
Northenden 10 555.56x
Albury 9 452.26x
Alston 9 364.37x
Smallthorne 9 160.71x
Tottenham 9 12.65x
Tranmere 9 24.83x
Mile End Old Town London 8 8.41x
Beckenham 7 35.12x
Linkinhorne 7 198.86x
Walcot 7 18.28x
Ealing 6 15.03x
Hugglescote 6 82.30x
North Meols 6 11.56x
Oxnam 6 576.92x
Preston 6 45.63x
Rowley Regis 6 14.28x
St George Martyr London 6 66.30x
St Luke London 6 8.37x
Wardleworth 6 19.80x
West Derby 6 3.87x
Aston 5 1.61x
Brighton 5 3.29x
Portsea 5 2.79x
St Dunstan In West London 5 359.71x
Westminster St James 5 10.89x
Blackburn 4 2.84x
Chiswick 4 16.39x
Croydon 4 3.31x
Derby St Werburgh 4 9.90x
Donington 4 655.74x
Long Marton 4 363.64x
Macclesfield 4 9.12x
Millom 4 33.93x
Penrith 4 28.15x
Rainhill 4 117.65x
Wolstanton 4 8.73x
Battersea 3 1.82x
Chatham 3 7.15x
Eccleshall 3 52.45x
Hunslet 3 4.35x
Kirkby Thore 3 379.75x
Lambeth 3 0.77x
Newby 3 810.81x
St Tudy 3 375.00x
Tanshelf 3 84.75x
Temple Sowerby 3 468.75x
Westbury On Trym 3 10.10x
Whittington 3 97.40x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.03x
Bow London 2 3.52x
Brightside Bierlow 2 2.30x
Burton Upon Trent 2 5.67x
Camberwell 2 0.70x
Castlemorton 2 175.44x
Chester St Oswald 2 11.20x
Cornsay 2 55.87x
Leftwich 2 45.66x
Normanby In 2 16.89x
Pendleton In Salford 2 3.17x
Sheffield 2 1.42x
Toxteth Park 2 1.11x
Walkhampton 2 224.72x
Wallsend 2 9.49x
Weeke 2 72.20x
Wigan 2 2.70x
Workington 2 9.08x
Ardwick 1 2.09x
Dacre 1 67.57x
Fulham London 1 1.54x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 1 32.57x
Reigate Foreign 1 4.24x
St Pancras London 1 0.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 28
William 27
James 17
Thomas 15
Edward 11
Michael 10
George 8
Henry 8
Charles 7
Arthur 6
Joseph 5
Patrick 5
Frederick 4
Richard 4
Francis 3
Frank 3
Isaac 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Knightley 2
Newdigate 2
Owen 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Chas.Richard 1
Christian 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Godfry 1
Herbt. 1
Jonathan 1
Lawrence 1
Lionel 1
Loughlan 1
Louis 1
Malcolm 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Miles 1
Myles 1
Nicholas 1
Ormond 1

FAQ

Burne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 457 people were recorded with the Burne surname. That placed it at #7,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016. That gives Burne a modern rank of #10,292.

What does the Burne surname mean?

A surname denoting someone who lived near a stream or brook.

What does the Burne map show?

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