UK surname
A habitational name referring to someone residing near a stream or burn.
In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Burnitt surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #28,837 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Buckland Brewer, Frithelstock, Langtree, Parkham, Bulkworthy, Newton St Petrock, Gateshead and Pontefract. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burnitt is 100 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 144.1%.
1881 census count
34
Ranked #28,837
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1891
100 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burnitt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burnitt surname density by area, 1891 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 | 64 | #21,914 |
| 1861 | historical | 71 | #24,765 |
| 1881 | historical | 34 | #28,837 |
| 1891 | historical | 100 | #24,045 |
| 1901 | historical | 52 | #28,377 |
| 1911 | historical | 65 | #26,343 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 98 | #27,923 |
| 1999 | modern | 91 | #28,937 |
| 2000 | modern | 91 | #28,952 |
| 2001 | modern | 92 | #28,528 |
| 2002 | modern | 93 | #28,920 |
| 2003 | modern | 81 | #30,311 |
| 2004 | modern | 81 | #30,569 |
| 2005 | modern | 84 | #30,359 |
| 2006 | modern | 88 | #30,160 |
| 2007 | modern | 84 | #31,067 |
| 2008 | modern | 83 | #31,483 |
| 2009 | modern | 86 | #31,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 86 | #32,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 86 | #32,006 |
| 2012 | modern | 85 | #32,395 |
| 2013 | modern | 87 | #32,472 |
| 2014 | modern | 88 | #32,495 |
| 2015 | modern | 87 | #32,514 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Buckland Brewer, Frithelstock, Langtree, Parkham, Bulkworthy, Newton St Petrock, Gateshead, Pontefract, Snaith and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. 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 | Buckland Brewer, Frithelstock, Langtree, Parkham, Bulkworthy, Newton St Petrock | Devon |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Pontefract | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Snaith | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burnitt 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 Burnitt, 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 Burnitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burnitt 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, Burnitt 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 Burnitt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burnitt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Burnitt is of English origin, emerging in the late 12th century primarily in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "burna" meaning a small stream or brook, and "hytt" meaning a small dwelling or hut. The combination of these words suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.
In its earliest recorded forms, the surname appeared as "Burnehyt", "Burnehytt", and "Burnehytte" in various medieval records and documents. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1194, where a certain "Willelmus de Burnehytt" is mentioned.
The Burnitt surname is also associated with various place names in northern England, such as Burnitt Fields in Lancashire and Burnitt Hurst in Yorkshire. These place names likely originated from the same Old English roots as the surname itself.
Notable individuals bearing the Burnitt surname throughout history include:
1. Robert Burnitt (c. 1560-1635), an English merchant and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Americas and the Arctic regions.
2. Elizabeth Burnitt (1625-1712), a Quaker preacher and author from Yorkshire, known for her religious writings and advocacy for women's rights.
3. John Burnitt (1714-1784), a British soldier who served in the French and Indian War and later became a prominent landowner in Virginia.
4. William Burnitt (1780-1861), an English engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in steam engine design and textile machinery.
5. Mary Burnitt (1832-1904), a British philanthropist and social reformer who worked to improve education and living conditions for the working class in Manchester.
While the Burnitt surname may have evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in northern England, where it likely referred to the dwellings of those who lived near small streams or brooks.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burnitt 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. Yorkshire leads with 16 Burnitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.87x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 16 | 4.87x |
| Durham | 7 | 7.10x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.51x |
| Devon | 3 | 4.35x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 3.50x |
| Fife | 1 | 5.09x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.89x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Knottingley in Yorkshire leads with 9 Burnitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1551.72x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Knottingley | 9 | 1551.72x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 7 | 163.93x |
| St Paul Covent Garden | 4 | 1212.12x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 2 | 126.58x |
| Fylingdales | 2 | 1250.00x |
| Goole | 2 | 363.64x |
| Beverley St Nicholas | 1 | 370.37x |
| Elie | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Escrick | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Exeter St Mary Major | 1 | 238.10x |
| Hook | 1 | 138.89x |
| Louth | 1 | 81.97x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 15.97x |
| Whicham | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burnitt 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 Burnitt 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 Burnitt households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| At Sea Mariner | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Engine Fitter At Works | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Heads Away From Home | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Licensed Victualler | 1 |
| Mariners Apprentice | 1 |
| Master (S) | 1 |
| Mate | 1 |
| Nursemaid | 1 |
| Sailor | 1 |
| Washwoman | 1 |
| Wife Of Mariner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Burnitt surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Burnitt a modern rank of #32,815.
A habitational name referring to someone residing near a stream or burn.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burnitt 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.