NameCensus.

UK surname

Burney

A habitational surname derived from places in England, likely referring to a burn or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 404 people recorded with the Burney surname, ranking it #7,919 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 664, ranked #8,037, down from #7,919 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Darlington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Swale and Upper Nithsdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burney is 681 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.4%.

1881 census count

404

Ranked #7,919

Modern count

664

2016, ranked #8,037

Peak year

2002

681 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burney had 404 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,919 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 664 in 2016, ranked #8,037.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 607 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Burney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burney 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 335 #6,984
1861 historical 383 #6,680
1881 historical 404 #7,919
1891 historical 552 #6,859
1901 historical 607 #7,011
1911 historical 493 #7,902
1997 modern 608 #8,068
1998 modern 634 #8,065
1999 modern 648 #7,966
2000 modern 650 #7,936
2001 modern 632 #7,946
2002 modern 681 #7,677
2003 modern 658 #7,764
2004 modern 633 #7,994
2005 modern 629 #7,978
2006 modern 628 #8,016
2007 modern 620 #8,149
2008 modern 616 #8,237
2009 modern 659 #7,989
2010 modern 680 #7,956
2011 modern 665 #8,014
2012 modern 662 #7,949
2013 modern 668 #8,031
2014 modern 676 #8,000
2015 modern 668 #8,009
2016 modern 664 #8,037

Geography

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Where Burneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Darlington, London parishes, Manchester and Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Swale, Upper Nithsdale and Manchester. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 Darlington Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 064 County Durham
2 Swale 014 Swale
3 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
4 Manchester 009 Manchester
5 Manchester 023 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burney

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Burney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Burney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Burney is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Burney is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burney falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Burney

The surname Burney originated in England, likely deriving from the Old English word "burna," meaning a stream or small river. This suggests that the name may have been a topographic surname, given to someone who lived near a stream or brook.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Burnei" and "Burnehi." This indicates that the name was already established in various parts of England by the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was commonly spelled as "Burnay," "Burneye," and "Burney." These variations reflect the fluid nature of spelling practices in those times, as well as regional differences in pronunciation.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Thomas Burney (1694-1770), an English judge and author. He served as a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas and wrote several legal works.

In the 18th century, James Burney (1750-1821) was a renowned English naval officer and explorer. He led several expeditions to the Pacific Ocean and published accounts of his voyages, contributing to the understanding of navigation and cartography.

Another prominent individual was Frances Burney (1752-1840), an English satirical novelist and playwright. She is best known for her novels "Evelina" and "Cecilia," which offered insightful commentary on 18th-century English society.

Charles Burney (1726-1814) was a renowned English music historian and composer. He authored the influential work "A General History of Music," which remains a valuable resource for scholars studying the development of Western music.

In the 19th century, Admiral Sir Cecil Burney (1858-1929) was a prominent British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy. He held several important commands and played a significant role in the development of naval strategy during his time.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals bearing the surname Burney throughout history, spanning fields such as law, exploration, literature, music, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burney 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. Kent leads with 75 Burneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.61x.

County Total Index
Kent 75 5.61x
Middlesex 56 1.43x
Cumberland 55 16.29x
Durham 46 3.94x
Yorkshire 43 1.11x
Lancashire 31 0.67x
Surrey 30 1.57x
Somerset 8 1.27x
Northumberland 7 1.20x
Buckinghamshire 6 2.53x
Cheshire 6 0.69x
Leicestershire 6 1.38x
Devon 5 0.61x
Warwickshire 5 0.51x
Berkshire 4 1.36x
Hampshire 3 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.57x
Lanarkshire 2 0.16x
Royal Navy 2 4.28x
Staffordshire 2 0.15x
Angus 1 0.28x
Ayrshire 1 0.34x
Hertfordshire 1 0.37x
Lincolnshire 1 0.16x
Oxfordshire 1 0.41x
Westmorland 1 1.16x
Worcestershire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mickleton in Yorkshire leads with 27 Burneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3000.00x.

Place Total Index
Mickleton 27 3000.00x
Greenwich 24 38.44x
Preston Quarter 19 200.85x
Faversham 16 125.39x
Whitehaven 13 72.26x
Framwellgate 12 173.66x
Gillingham 10 36.26x
Southwark Christchurch 10 54.44x
Darlington 9 19.98x
Preston 9 7.23x
Barrow In Furness 8 12.64x
Islington London 8 2.10x
Streatham 8 27.50x
Cleator 7 49.82x
Deptford St Paul 7 6.78x
Evenwood Barony 7 176.32x
Kingston On Thames 7 15.25x
Lunedale 7 1346.15x
Strood 7 91.74x
Gateshead 6 6.87x
Oadby 6 257.51x
St Marylebone London 6 2.87x
Aston 5 1.84x
Birkenhead 5 7.25x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 35.84x
Mile End Old Town London 5 5.99x
Southwick 5 45.25x
St George In East London 5 13.56x
Witham Friary 5 769.23x
Acton 4 17.40x
Brightside Bierlow 4 5.25x
Everton 4 2.70x
Great Marlow 4 62.50x
Hackney London 4 1.82x
Kirkoswald 4 506.33x
Newchurch 4 10.51x
Ratcliffe London 4 18.47x
Alverstoke 3 10.31x
Binfield 3 132.74x
Byker 3 10.40x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 28.25x
East Rainton 3 132.74x
Kensington London 3 1.38x
North Bierley 3 14.30x
Norton St Philip 3 434.78x
Parton 3 150.75x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 17.67x
St Giles Cripplegate 3 57.58x
Walton On Thames 3 34.21x
Cockington 2 416.67x
Cotgrave 2 181.82x
Flimby 2 70.18x
Govan 2 0.64x
Hampstead London 2 3.27x
Holme St Cuthbert 2 200.00x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 5.74x
Royal Navy 2 5.01x
Ryhope 2 24.69x
Seaton 2 50.76x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.89x
St Pancras London 2 0.63x
Stoke Damerel 2 3.50x
Stoke Newington London 2 6.55x
Ulverston 2 14.76x
Walsall Foreign 2 2.93x
Wavendon 2 152.67x
Canterbury St Mary 1 11.14x
Carshalton 1 13.68x
Coxlodge 1 22.52x
Crosscanonby 1 8.95x
Great Grimsby 1 2.51x
Hulme 1 1.03x
Hunderthwaite 1 263.16x
Irvine 1 12.27x
Liverpool 1 0.35x
Newington 1 0.69x
Plumstead 1 2.24x
Plympton Maurice 1 64.94x
Undermilbeck 1 35.21x
Upton 1 178.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 20
Elizabeth 17
Jane 14
Eliza 10
Margaret 10
Alice 8
Ellen 8
Annie 7
Emma 6
Catherine 5
Hannah 5
Eleanor 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Frances 3
Georgina 3
Ada 2
Adah 2
Blanche 2
Francis 2
Martha 2
Nellie 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Elizebth 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Hortensea 1
Isabell 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 25
George 15
Thomas 14
James 11
Charles 10
Frederick 7
Joseph 7
Robert 6
Samuel 5
Alfred 4
Henry 4
Edward 3
Alexander 2
Frank 2
Hugh 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
A.D.Arblay 1
Ashworth 1
Augustus 1
Cary 1
Cecil 1
Daniel 1
Edmond 1
Ernle 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Geo.F. 1
Ging 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Herman 1
Hny.G. 1
Isaac 1
Ivison 1
Jacob 1
Jno.W. 1
Jonathan 1
Jonathon 1
Luke 1
Malcolm 1
Michael 1
Monkhouse 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Sidney 1
Silvester 1
Will. 1
Wm.Edmd. 1

FAQ

Burney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 404 people were recorded with the Burney surname. That placed it at #7,919 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 664 in 2016. That gives Burney a modern rank of #8,037.

What does the Burney surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from places in England, likely referring to a burn or stream.

What does the Burney map show?

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