UK surname
A Spanish surname possibly derived from "burro" meaning "donkey".
In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Burras surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #20,467 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Garforth, West, Sheffield and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burras is 115 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.0%.
1881 census count
94
Ranked #20,467
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1911
115 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burras surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burras surname density by area, 1911 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 80 | #23,566 |
| 1881 | historical | 94 | #20,467 |
| 1891 | historical | 93 | #24,965 |
| 1901 | historical | 91 | #23,921 |
| 1911 | historical | 115 | #20,951 |
| 1997 | modern | 80 | #29,554 |
| 1998 | modern | 84 | #29,537 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 85 | #29,598 |
| 2001 | modern | 83 | #29,617 |
| 2002 | modern | 87 | #29,644 |
| 2003 | modern | 79 | #30,549 |
| 2004 | modern | 75 | #31,233 |
| 2005 | modern | 77 | #31,156 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 87 | #30,666 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 87 | #31,489 |
| 2010 | modern | 81 | #32,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 85 | #32,127 |
| 2012 | modern | 79 | #32,966 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 83 | #32,847 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Garforth, West, Sheffield, Blackburn, Beverley St Martin and St Nicholas and Leeds. 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 | Garforth, West | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Blackburn | Lancashire |
| 4 | Beverley St Martin and St Nicholas | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 5 | Leeds | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burras 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 Burras, 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 Burras surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burras 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, Burras 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 Burras is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burras, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BURRAS has its origins in medieval England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "burr," which referred to a small hill or mound. The name likely emerged as a descriptor for someone who lived near or on a small hillock.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BURRAS can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and taxpayers in England. The entry mentions a "William de Burras" from Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name was already established and associated with a particular location.
During the 14th century, the name BURRAS appeared in various records across different counties in England. For instance, the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a "John Burras" from Wiltshire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 include a "Robert Burras" from Yorkshire.
In the 15th century, the name BURRAS began to appear in its modern spelling more consistently. The Paston Letters, a collection of correspondences from the Paston family in Norfolk, mention a "Thomas Burras" who served as a bailiff in 1459.
One notable figure with the surname BURRAS was Sir John Burras (1490-1563), a English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a member of the Queen's Council and was instrumental in the settlement of disputes between the Crown and various landowners.
Another individual of note was William Burras (1635-1701), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He played a significant role in the local community and was a benefactor of several churches and charitable causes in the region.
In the 18th century, the BURRAS surname was found in various parts of Britain, with concentrations in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Warwickshire. One notable bearer of the name was Elizabeth Burras (1742-1828), a renowned botanist and naturalist who contributed to the study of plant life in her native Derbyshire.
As the centuries progressed, the BURRAS surname spread to other parts of the world, often carried by emigrants and settlers from Britain. However, its roots can be traced back to the small hills and mounds of medieval England, where the name first emerged as a descriptor for those who lived near such geographical features.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burras 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 78 Burras' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 78 | 8.59x |
| Durham | 7 | 2.57x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.65x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 19 Burras' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.04x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 19 | 37.04x |
| Garforth | 10 | 1428.57x |
| Horsforth | 9 | 452.26x |
| Armley | 7 | 174.56x |
| Beverley St Martin | 7 | 460.53x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 7 | 37.88x |
| Monkwearmouth | 7 | 268.20x |
| Hammersmith London | 6 | 26.57x |
| Shipley | 5 | 106.16x |
| Normanton | 4 | 146.52x |
| Beverley St Mary | 3 | 225.56x |
| Sandal Magna | 2 | 149.25x |
| West Derby | 2 | 6.29x |
| Chapel Allerton | 1 | 73.53x |
| Eccleshill | 1 | 45.25x |
| Gomersal | 1 | 23.58x |
| Hunslet | 1 | 7.06x |
| Salford | 1 | 3.13x |
| Wakefield | 1 | 14.35x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burras 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 Burras 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 Burras households.
FAQ
In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Burras surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Burras a modern rank of #33,100.
A Spanish surname possibly derived from "burro" meaning "donkey".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burras 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.