NameCensus.

UK surname

Burnes

A Scottish and English topographical surname referring to someone who lived near a stream or brook.

In the 1881 census there were 547 people recorded with the Burnes surname, ranking it #6,313 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 95, ranked #31,782, down from #6,313 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Carlisle and Gosport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burnes is 970 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 82.6%.

1881 census count

547

Ranked #6,313

Modern count

95

2016, ranked #31,782

Peak year

1861

970 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2006

Key insights

  • Burnes had 547 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,313 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016, ranked #31,782.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 970 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Burnes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burnes surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burnes 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 705 #3,701
1861 historical 970 #2,874
1881 historical 547 #6,313
1891 historical 772 #5,191
1901 historical 513 #7,901
1911 historical 368 #9,886
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 123 #24,449
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 117 #25,494
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 101 #28,505
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 95 #31,523
2014 modern 96 #31,667
2015 modern 95 #31,749
2016 modern 95 #31,782

Geography

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Where Burnes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth, St Marylebone and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, Carlisle, Gosport, Kettering and Harrogate. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 003 Manchester
2 Carlisle 007 Carlisle
3 Gosport 008 Gosport
4 Kettering 003 Kettering
5 Harrogate 020 Harrogate

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burnes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burnes

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Burnes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Burnes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Burnes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burnes 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

Burnes falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burnes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Burnes

The surname Burnes originated in England during the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "burna," meaning a small stream or brook. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1198, where a person named William Burne is mentioned. The name was also present in various other medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

In the 13th century, the name was predominantly found in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. This is likely due to the abundance of small streams and brooks in those areas.

The surname Burnes has also been linked to several place names, such as Burneshead in Cumbria and Burneside in Westmorland. These place names suggest that individuals may have taken their surnames from the locations where they lived or worked.

One notable bearer of the surname Burnes was Sir Alexander Burnes (1805-1841), a Scottish explorer and writer who traveled extensively in Central Asia. He was assassinated in Kabul, Afghanistan, during an uprising against the British.

Another significant figure was Sir George Burnes (1786-1849), a British diplomat and colonial administrator who served as the Resident of the East India Company in Sindh (now part of Pakistan).

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name was John Burnes, who was born in Massachusetts in 1631.

Other notable individuals with the surname Burnes include:

1. Anita Burnes (1903-1986), an American actress and singer. 2. Robert Burnes (1759-1796), a Scottish poet and the elder brother of the renowned poet Robert Burns. 3. David Burnes (1888-1958), a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross during World War I. 4. James Burnes (1801-1862), a Scottish military officer and explorer who served in the East India Company.

The surname Burnes has undergone various spellings over the centuries, including Burn, Burne, and Byrne. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its connection to its English origins and the concept of living near a small stream or brook.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burnes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burnes 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. Lancashire leads with 152 Burnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.42x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 152 2.42x
Middlesex 71 1.34x
Cheshire 32 2.74x
Essex 29 2.77x
Yorkshire 28 0.53x
Cumberland 24 5.26x
Staffordshire 24 1.34x
Lanarkshire 20 1.17x
Sussex 19 2.13x
Surrey 17 0.66x
Gloucestershire 16 1.54x
Warwickshire 14 1.05x
Bedfordshire 11 4.01x
Berkshire 10 2.52x
Kent 10 0.55x
Aberdeenshire 8 1.63x
Worcestershire 8 1.16x
Anglesey 7 7.46x
Durham 7 0.44x
Somerset 7 0.82x
Hampshire 6 0.55x
Glamorgan 5 0.54x
Angus 4 0.82x
Northumberland 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 3.17x
Wiltshire 2 0.43x
Derbyshire 1 0.12x
Devon 1 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.95x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.30x
Leicestershire 1 0.17x
Monmouthshire 1 0.26x
Renfrewshire 1 0.24x
Shropshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 30 Burnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.86x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 30 7.86x
West Derby 18 9.79x
Manchester 15 5.31x
Accrington 12 21.00x
Bethnal Green London 12 5.22x
Maldon All Sts 12 579.71x
Paddington London 12 6.16x
Brighton 11 6.11x
Luton 11 23.17x
Glasgow 10 3.29x
Gloucester Longford St 10 709.22x
St Marylebone London 10 3.54x
Tilehurst 10 124.53x
Penrith 8 47.48x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 4.22x
Warrington 8 10.74x
Aberdeen Old Machar 7 6.83x
Holyhead 7 40.00x
Hyde 7 20.29x
Mile End Old Town London 7 6.21x
New Shoreham 7 130.84x
Sale 7 48.81x
Whitehaven 7 28.79x
Widnes 7 15.44x
Cambuslang 6 34.74x
Great Totham 6 441.18x
Kingswinford 6 9.24x
Shoreditch London 6 2.61x
Abinghall 5 1020.41x
Bedminster 5 6.24x
Chester St John Baptist 5 23.79x
Coventry St Michael 5 11.65x
Fulham London 5 6.51x
Greenwich 5 5.93x
Holy Trinity 5 3.96x
Newton 5 10.32x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 4.69x
Stafford St Mary 5 19.76x
Walton Le Dale 5 29.60x
Witham 5 92.94x
Worsbrough 5 32.51x
Aston 4 1.09x
Birmingham 4 0.90x
Blackburn 4 2.39x
Egremont 4 36.80x
Great Malvern 4 27.72x
Horton In Bradford 4 4.88x
Kirkham 4 48.13x
Leyland 4 36.60x
Liff Benvie 4 5.37x
Liscard 4 18.98x
Preston 4 2.38x
Stockport 4 6.65x
Barnes 3 27.50x
Cardiff St John 3 9.96x
Christchurch 3 12.74x
Habergham Eaves 3 5.22x
Kensington London 3 1.02x
Lambeth 3 0.65x
Maryhill 3 8.95x
Moston 3 47.62x
Oldham 3 1.48x
Poulton Le Fylde 3 134.53x
Sanderstead 3 434.78x
Sheffield 3 1.80x
Waverton 3 344.83x
Burnley 2 3.78x
Chatham 2 4.02x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.00x
Handsworth 2 4.54x
Haydock 2 18.47x
Hipperholme Cum 2 8.67x
Lower Upper Holker 2 232.56x
Lye 2 17.38x
Milton In Gravesend 2 7.38x
Over Darwen 2 3.98x
Royal Navy 2 3.71x
St Luke London 2 2.35x
St Pancras London 2 0.47x
Stayley 2 14.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Margaret 16
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 14
Jane 13
Ann 11
Ellen 10
Catherine 9
Alice 6
Annie 6
Bridget 6
Edith 6
Agnes 5
Emily 5
Susan 5
Caroline 4
Isabella 4
Martha 4
Catharine 3
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Janet 3
Julia 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Cathrine 2
Charlotte 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Johanna 2
May 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Anastasia 1
Beatrice 1
Carrie 1
Constance 1
Dorah 1
Elizth. 1
Infant 1
James 1
Joehannah 1
Judy 1
Trese 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
James 28
Thomas 27
William 18
Joseph 14
George 9
Charles 7
Frank 6
Patrick 6
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Robert 5
Wm. 5
Michael 4
Peter 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Gerald 3
Richard 3
Anthony 2
David 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Malcolm 2
Samuel 2
Willm. 2
Baby 1
Bertram 1
Daniel 1
Donald 1
Fitzjames 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.R. 1
Golden 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
J.S. 1
J.W. 1
Jno. 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Miceal 1
Micheal 1
Nathaniel 1
Patk. 1

FAQ

Burnes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burnes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 547 people were recorded with the Burnes surname. That placed it at #6,313 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burnes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016. That gives Burnes a modern rank of #31,782.

What does the Burnes surname mean?

A Scottish and English topographical surname referring to someone who lived near a stream or brook.

What does the Burnes map show?

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