NameCensus.

UK surname

Burner

An occupational surname for someone who operated a furnace or kiln, such as a charcoal burner or limeburner.

In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Burner surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #23,950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and Winchester St Thomas. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burner is 465 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.8%.

1881 census count

68

Ranked #23,950

Modern count

76

2016, ranked #33,304

Peak year

1861

465 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 1911

Key insights

  • Burner had 68 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016, ranked #33,304.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 465 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

Burner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burner surname density by area, 1911 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burner 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 142 #13,428
1861 historical 465 #5,591
1881 historical 68 #23,950
1891 historical 275 #11,847
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 69 #30,712
1998 modern 70 #30,968
1999 modern 74 #30,759
2000 modern 69 #31,273
2001 modern 68 #31,195
2002 modern 67 #31,723
2003 modern 67 #31,796
2004 modern 65 #32,177
2005 modern 59 #33,008
2006 modern 65 #32,743
2007 modern 61 #33,440
2008 modern 66 #33,217
2009 modern 68 #33,341
2010 modern 81 #32,582
2011 modern 76 #32,989
2012 modern 75 #33,263
2013 modern 75 #33,409
2014 modern 75 #33,473
2015 modern 75 #33,425
2016 modern 76 #33,304

Geography

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Where Burners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Winchester St Thomas, Stokenham and Manchester. 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.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
3 Winchester St Thomas Hampshire
4 Stokenham Devon
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burner

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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the Burner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Burner 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

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Burner

The surname BURNER is believed to have originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old German word "burnari," which referred to individuals who were involved in the process of burning or firing materials, such as potters or blacksmiths. This occupation-based surname was likely adopted by those who worked in these professions or lived in areas known for such trades.

The earliest recorded instances of the BURNER surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany. One notable example is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, which mentions a "Johannes Burnere" in 1285.

In the 14th century, the BURNER name appeared in several other German records, including the Bürgermeisterbuch (Mayor's Book) of the city of Lübeck, which lists a "Hinricus Burnere" in 1348. During this time, the surname also started to spread to neighboring regions, such as Austria and Switzerland.

By the 15th century, variations of the BURNER surname had emerged, including Burner, Börner, and Bürner. These spelling variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal practices. One notable individual from this period was Hans Burner (1470-1534), a German painter and printmaker from Nuremberg.

In the 16th century, the BURNER surname continued to appear in various German records, including church registers and tax rolls. One prominent figure was Johann Burner (1564-1631), a German theologian and author from Saxony, who wrote several influential works on Protestant theology.

The BURNER surname eventually spread beyond Germany, with individuals carrying the name emigrating to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. For instance, in the 18th century, there was a Johannes Burner (1712-1786) who was a influential craftsman and clockmaker in Pennsylvania, USA.

Other notable individuals with the BURNER surname throughout history include:

1. Friedrich Burner (1880-1944), a German businessman and politician from Bavaria. 2. Konrad Burner (1915-1991), a Swiss painter and sculptor known for his abstract and cubist works. 3. Elisabeth Burner (1892-1976), an Austrian writer and poet who published several collections of poetry and short stories. 4. Wilhelm Burner (1897-1966), a German architect and urban planner who designed several significant buildings in Berlin during the interwar period. 5. Franz Burner (1927-2018), a German-American mathematician and computer scientist who made significant contributions to the field of numerical analysis.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burner 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. Devon leads with 48 Burners recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.77x.

County Total Index
Devon 48 33.77x
Middlesex 7 1.03x
Hampshire 5 3.57x
Cornwall 1 1.29x
Durham 1 0.49x
Essex 1 0.74x
Kent 1 0.43x
Lanarkshire 1 0.45x
Lancashire 1 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.09x
Royal Navy 1 12.29x
Warwickshire 1 0.58x
Yorkshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aveton Gifford in Devon leads with 9 Burners recorded in 1881 and an index of 4285.71x.

Place Total Index
Aveton Gifford 9 4285.71x
Diptford 8 5000.00x
Slapton 7 5000.00x
South Pool 5 5555.56x
Exeter Alphington 4 1538.46x
Stokenham 4 1000.00x
East Stonehouse 3 107.14x
Kingsbridge 3 833.33x
St Faith Winchester 3 461.54x
Harberton 2 625.00x
Heston 2 88.11x
Kensington London 2 5.27x
Andover 1 75.76x
Beckenham 1 32.79x
Birmingham 1 1.74x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 7.27x
Glasgow 1 2.55x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 11.36x
Liverpool 1 2.03x
Manningtree 1 454.55x
Newark Upon Trent 1 30.21x
Royal Navy 1 14.39x
St George In East London 1 15.58x
St Marylebone London 1 2.74x
St Teath 1 212.77x
Stoke Damerel 1 10.05x
Totnes 1 120.48x
Whitechapel London 1 14.86x
Widley 1 400.00x
Witheridge 1 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Mary 6
Ann 4
Annie 3
Bessie 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Beatrice 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Hedger 1
Jane 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 7
George 5
James 3
Alfred 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Joachin 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Burner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Burner surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Burner a modern rank of #33,304.

What does the Burner surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who operated a furnace or kiln, such as a charcoal burner or limeburner.

What does the Burner map show?

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