UK surname
A locative surname derived from someone who lived by a stream or brook that had burned its banks.
In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Burnfield surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #25,733 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, St Leonard Shoreditch and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burnfield is 106 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 41.1%.
1881 census count
56
Ranked #25,733
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1861
106 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burnfield surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burnfield surname density by area, 1861 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 | 14 | #30,790 |
| 1861 | historical | 106 | #20,147 |
| 1881 | historical | 56 | #25,733 |
| 1891 | historical | 74 | #27,538 |
| 1901 | historical | 59 | #27,609 |
| 1911 | historical | 18 | #31,542 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 28 | #34,936 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 32 | #35,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 33 | #35,119 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 35 | #35,545 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 39 | #35,444 |
| 2012 | modern | 34 | #35,711 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 36 | #35,662 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, St Leonard Shoreditch, Edinburgh, Perth and Glasgow. 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 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Perth | Perth |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burnfield 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 Burnfield, 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 Burnfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burnfield 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, Burnfield 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 Burnfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burnfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BURNFIELD is of English origin, derived from a locational name signifying someone who lived near a stream or brook that burned or had burned banks. The name can be traced back to the 13th century, originating in areas of northern England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The earliest known record of the name appears in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297, where it is listed as de Burnefeld. This spelling variation reflects the Old English words "burnan" meaning a small stream, and "feld" meaning a field or open land.
During the Middle Ages, the name was occasionally written as Burnfelde, Burnfeild, or Burnefeild, reflecting regional dialects and spelling variations common in those times. By the 16th century, the more modern spelling of BURNFIELD had become established.
Notable individuals bearing the BURNFIELD surname include:
1. Sir Richard BURNFIELD (c.1490-1555), an English landowner and magistrate in Staffordshire.
2. John BURNFIELD (1564-1641), a Protestant minister and author from Yorkshire.
3. Elizabeth BURNFIELD (born c.1620), one of the earliest recorded English settlers in Virginia Colony, arriving in 1635.
4. Thomas BURNFIELD (1775-1846), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars.
5. Margaret BURNFIELD (1832-1911), a renowned Scottish philanthropist and advocate for women's education.
While the name BURNFIELD is not among the most common surnames, it has been present in various regions of England for centuries, reflecting the country's rich history and linguistic heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burnfield 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. Perthshire leads with 32 Burnfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 130.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Perthshire | 32 | 130.56x |
| Lanarkshire | 7 | 3.96x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 2.90x |
| Argyllshire | 3 | 19.74x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.55x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.07x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 2.73x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.98x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.93x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 2.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kinclaven in Perthshire leads with 7 Burnfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 6363.64x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kinclaven | 7 | 6363.64x |
| Perth East Church | 7 | 303.03x |
| Redgorton | 7 | 2592.59x |
| Caputh | 5 | 1282.05x |
| Glasgow | 4 | 12.76x |
| Barony | 3 | 6.71x |
| Campbeltown | 3 | 163.93x |
| Little Dunkeld | 3 | 714.29x |
| Rosedale West Side | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Aston | 2 | 5.27x |
| Coventry St Michael | 2 | 45.25x |
| Deptford St Paul | 2 | 13.92x |
| Perth Middle Church | 2 | 217.39x |
| Edinburgh St Andrews | 1 | 166.67x |
| Edinburgh St Marys | 1 | 70.42x |
| Forfar | 1 | 36.50x |
| Forgandenny | 1 | 833.33x |
| Westbury On Trym | 1 | 27.55x |
| Whittington | 1 | 256.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burnfield 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 Burnfield 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 Burnfield households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Ironstone Miner | 1 |
| Labourer At Gas Works | 1 |
| Land Drainer | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Pension | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Burnfield surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Burnfield a modern rank of #35,829.
A locative surname derived from someone who lived by a stream or brook that had burned its banks.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burnfield 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.