NameCensus.

UK surname

Burnie

A surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "small stream".

In the 1881 census there were 368 people recorded with the Burnie surname, ranking it #8,454 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 310, ranked #14,406, down from #8,454 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelton, Edinburgh and Dumfries. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Burnley and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burnie is 447 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.8%.

1881 census count

368

Ranked #8,454

Modern count

310

2016, ranked #14,406

Peak year

1901

447 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burnie had 368 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,454 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016, ranked #14,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 447 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Burnie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burnie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burnie 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 257 #8,596
1861 historical 248 #9,947
1881 historical 368 #8,454
1891 historical 420 #8,528
1901 historical 447 #8,746
1911 historical 135 #19,058
1997 modern 277 #14,253
1998 modern 290 #14,179
1999 modern 307 #13,757
2000 modern 298 #13,981
2001 modern 274 #14,576
2002 modern 287 #14,402
2003 modern 298 #13,886
2004 modern 290 #14,178
2005 modern 282 #14,368
2006 modern 300 #13,911
2007 modern 292 #14,313
2008 modern 293 #14,364
2009 modern 298 #14,480
2010 modern 318 #14,136
2011 modern 303 #14,506
2012 modern 305 #14,357
2013 modern 317 #14,186
2014 modern 320 #14,181
2015 modern 314 #14,275
2016 modern 310 #14,406

Geography

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Where Burnies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelton, Edinburgh, Dumfries, Annan and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Burnley, North Lincolnshire, Calside and Upper Nithsdale. 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 Kelton Kirkcudbright
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dumfries Dumfries
4 Annan Dumfries
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 004 Northumberland
2 Burnley 002 Burnley
3 North Lincolnshire 019 North Lincolnshire
4 Calside Dumfries and Galloway
5 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burnie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burnie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Burnie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Burnie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Burnie is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burnie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burnie falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Burnie

The surname Burnie is of Scottish origin, and it is believed to have originated in the late 12th or early 13th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "burn," which means "stream" or "brook." It is thought to have been given as a descriptive name to someone who lived near a stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burnie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of parchment rolls that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name is spelled "Burnye."

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms in Scottish records, such as "Burnee," "Burney," and "Burnye." It is also believed that the name may be related to the place name "Burnie" in Morayshire, Scotland, which was first documented in the 13th century.

One notable person with the surname Burnie was William Burnie (c. 1340-1420), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who served as a member of the Scottish Parliament during the reign of King Robert III. Another early bearer of the name was John Burnie (c. 1450-1525), a Scottish cleric who served as the Bishop of Brechin in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, including the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. One example is Robert Burnie (c. 1620-1690), a merchant and burgess of Edinburgh who was involved in trade with the Netherlands.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Burnie continued to be found in various Scottish records. Notable individuals include James Burnie (1742-1820), a Scottish lawyer and writer who published works on Scottish history and law, and Alexander Burnie (1805-1876), a Scottish-born farmer and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John James Burnie (1851-1923), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the jute industry in India. He was knighted in 1917 for his contributions to the war effort during World War I.

Overall, the surname Burnie has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 12th or early 13th century. Over the centuries, it has been associated with various notable individuals, from landowners and clergymen to merchants and politicians.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burnie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burnie 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. Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 86 Burnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 165.48x.

County Total Index
Kirkcudbrightshire 86 165.48x
Dumfriesshire 71 89.53x
Renfrewshire 28 10.06x
Ayrshire 24 8.93x
Lancashire 23 0.54x
Midlothian 15 3.12x
Wigtownshire 13 27.27x
Buteshire 12 55.17x
Dunbartonshire 12 12.44x
Northumberland 11 2.06x
Argyllshire 10 10.01x
Middlesex 9 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.65x
Yorkshire 8 0.22x
Aberdeenshire 6 1.80x
Glamorgan 6 0.96x
Sussex 6 0.99x
Cumberland 4 1.29x
Stirlingshire 4 3.02x
Lanarkshire 3 0.26x
Gloucestershire 2 0.28x
Inverness-shire 2 1.87x
Perthshire 2 1.24x
Angus 1 0.30x
Durham 1 0.09x
Shropshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Urr in Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 33 Burnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 488.17x.

Place Total Index
Urr 33 488.17x
Kelton 24 562.06x
Annan 20 293.69x
Ruthwell 14 1308.41x
Kirkintilloch 12 91.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 5.17x
Dalry 8 63.29x
Irvine 8 107.24x
Kilfinichen 8 323.89x
Moffat 8 220.99x
Nottingham St Mary 8 6.39x
Preston 8 7.02x
Cumbrae 7 305.68x
Cummertrees 7 522.39x
East Greenock 7 26.65x
Lochwinnoch 7 168.67x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 9.65x
Broadwater 6 43.23x
Byker 6 22.73x
Colvend 6 379.75x
Dornock 6 600.00x
Girthon 6 342.86x
Kirkcowan 6 375.00x
Cathcart 5 33.22x
Clitheroe 5 39.87x
Newabbey 5 450.45x
Rothesay 5 47.48x
Swansea Town 5 9.76x
Bradford 4 4.64x
Coylton 4 104.99x
Elswick 4 9.38x
Hutton 4 400.00x
Kirkmabreck 4 176.21x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 4 220.99x
Rotherham 4 19.95x
Stirling 4 23.97x
Troqueer 4 58.65x
Carlaverock 3 232.56x
Dalton In Furness 3 18.25x
Gosforth 3 198.68x
Penninghame 3 61.73x
St George In East London 3 8.89x
St Pancras London 3 1.04x
Abbey 2 4.71x
Barony 2 0.68x
Cheltenham 2 3.68x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.96x
Edinburgh New 2 53.48x
Harrow 2 36.43x
Logie 2 34.60x
Paisley High Church 2 9.03x
Paisley Low Church 2 22.70x
Toxteth Park 2 1.39x
Twynholm 2 240.96x
Wigtown 2 73.53x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.64x
Closeburn 1 54.05x
Colne 1 7.88x
Dreghorn 1 20.58x
Dumfries 1 12.79x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 10.02x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 10.70x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 10.56x
Gt Hanwood 1 250.00x
Hoddam 1 52.36x
Holywood 1 75.76x
Irongray 1 104.17x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 15.77x
Kilwinning 1 11.52x
Liverpool 1 0.39x
Lochrutton 1 131.58x
Mochrum 1 35.09x
Moresby 1 84.75x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.61x
Paisley Middle Church 1 6.17x
St John Near Swansea 1 12.94x
Strath 1 30.67x
West Derby 1 0.80x
West Greenock 1 2.00x
Whithorn 1 27.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Margaret 4
Mary 4
Agnes 3
Annie 2
Emma 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Deborah 1
Dorothea 1
Dorothy 1
Drusilla 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Georgeanna 1
Isabella 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Olive 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Burnie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burnie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 368 people were recorded with the Burnie surname. That placed it at #8,454 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burnie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016. That gives Burnie a modern rank of #14,406.

What does the Burnie surname mean?

A surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "small stream".

What does the Burnie map show?

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