NameCensus.

UK surname

Burniston

An English toponymic surname originating from the village named Burniston in North Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 213 people recorded with the Burniston surname, ranking it #12,328 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 497, ranked #10,024, up from #12,328 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Upleatham, Doncaster and Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burniston is 536 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 133.3%.

1881 census count

213

Ranked #12,328

Modern count

497

2016, ranked #10,024

Peak year

2002

536 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burniston had 213 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,328 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 497 in 2016, ranked #10,024.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 363 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burniston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burniston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burniston 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 196 #10,573
1861 historical 169 #13,823
1881 historical 213 #12,328
1891 historical 259 #12,399
1901 historical 322 #11,090
1911 historical 363 #10,005
1997 modern 511 #9,162
1998 modern 503 #9,547
1999 modern 521 #9,362
2000 modern 523 #9,304
2001 modern 509 #9,323
2002 modern 536 #9,163
2003 modern 505 #9,419
2004 modern 487 #9,687
2005 modern 490 #9,577
2006 modern 490 #9,613
2007 modern 488 #9,740
2008 modern 498 #9,664
2009 modern 502 #9,818
2010 modern 505 #9,985
2011 modern 497 #9,997
2012 modern 493 #9,975
2013 modern 509 #9,892
2014 modern 518 #9,833
2015 modern 508 #9,891
2016 modern 497 #10,024

Geography

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Where Burnistons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Upleatham, Doncaster, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Bradford and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Upleatham Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 003 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Redcar and Cleveland 001 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Redcar and Cleveland 004 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Redcar and Cleveland 002 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Redcar and Cleveland 005 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burniston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burniston

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Burniston is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burniston is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burniston 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 Burniston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Burniston

The surname Burniston is of English origin, derived from the place name Burniston, a village in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The name is thought to have originated in the 12th century, derived from the Old English words "burna" meaning a small stream, and "tun" meaning a town or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Burniston dates back to 1273, when a Roger de Burniston was listed in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines records. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Burnyston, Burneston, and Burnistun, reflecting the variation in spelling and pronunciation common at the time. The Burniston family likely hailed from the village of the same name, and the surname would have been adopted by those who migrated from the area.

During the Tudor period, a notable figure bearing the name was William Burniston, a merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived from around 1520 to 1585. He was a prominent member of the city's mercantile community and played a role in local governance.

In the 17th century, John Burniston (1617-1684) was a clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1673 to 1674. He was also the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, from 1677 until his death.

Another historical figure was Robert Burniston (1640-1707), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of York from 1690 until his death. He was also the Rector of Settrington and Prebendary of York Minster.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various parish records and local registers across Yorkshire, indicating its continued presence in the region. Thomas Burniston (1753-1826) was a notable figure from this period, serving as the Mayor of York in 1811.

As the Burniston family spread beyond Yorkshire, the name began to appear in other parts of England, though it remained relatively uncommon outside its place of origin. Throughout its history, the surname Burniston has maintained a strong connection to its Yorkshire roots and the village from which it derives its name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burniston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burniston 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. Yorkshire leads with 150 Burnistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.35x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 150 7.35x
Lancashire 19 0.78x
Kent 17 2.42x
Aberdeenshire 7 3.67x
Durham 6 0.98x
Lincolnshire 5 1.52x
Hampshire 3 0.71x
Leicestershire 2 0.88x
Ayrshire 1 0.65x
Surrey 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 32 Burnistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.79x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 32 27.79x
Clayton 13 260.52x
Redcar 10 617.28x
Little Hulton 8 198.02x
Aberdeen Old Machar 7 17.59x
Bradford 7 14.18x
Doncaster 7 46.98x
Elvington 7 2692.31x
Knaresborough 7 218.75x
Rochester St Margaret 7 94.59x
Whitstable 7 203.49x
Cleckheaton 5 66.58x
Danby Wiske 5 2500.00x
Dunnington In York 5 961.54x
Garforth 5 320.51x
North Duffield 5 1923.08x
Pudsey 5 45.87x
West Derby 5 7.00x
Great Grimsby 4 19.15x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 30.46x
Sproatley Wyton 4 1379.31x
Stockton On Tees 4 13.55x
Basingstoke 3 61.86x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 42.98x
Conisbrough 3 157.07x
Falsgrave 3 99.67x
Goudhurst 3 154.64x
Aismunderby Cum 2 344.83x
Chester Le Street 2 42.55x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 4.82x
Hulme 2 3.92x
Kirkby Overblow 2 1052.63x
Scarborough 2 10.79x
South Kilworth 2 666.67x
Stainbrough 2 526.32x
Wardleworth 2 14.33x
York St Nicholas In 2 173.91x
Aberford 1 217.39x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 1 41.15x
Bossall Claxton 1 500.00x
Bridlington 1 21.41x
Frensham 1 68.03x
Glanford Brigg 1 85.47x
Harpurhey 1 29.50x
Kilmaurs 1 38.17x
Lotherton Cum Aberford 1 322.58x
Manchester 1 0.91x
Rawdon 1 41.67x
Richmond 1 31.35x
Warter 1 232.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 9
Ann 8
Sarah 5
Hannah 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Martha 3
Edith 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Rachel 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Catherine 1
Charlotta 1
Charlotte 1
Christianna 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Florie 1
Florry 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Kathleen 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Marth 1
Matilda 1
Olivia 1
Rebecker 1
Susan 1
Teresa 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 14
John 14
Richard 10
Thomas 6
Arthur 5
Harry 4
James 3
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Peter 2
Abriam 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Asa 1
Charles 1
Ed. 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Hy.Jas. 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Norman 1
Ralph 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Burniston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burniston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 213 people were recorded with the Burniston surname. That placed it at #12,328 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burniston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 497 in 2016. That gives Burniston a modern rank of #10,024.

What does the Burniston surname mean?

An English toponymic surname originating from the village named Burniston in North Yorkshire, England.

What does the Burniston map show?

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