UK surname
An English locational surname indicating a person from a town named Burrington.
In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Burrington surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #18,324 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster and Sandford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burrington is 136 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 43.0%.
1881 census count
114
Ranked #18,324
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1891
136 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burrington surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burrington surname density by area, 1881 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 | 115 | #15,634 |
| 1861 | historical | 127 | #17,469 |
| 1881 | historical | 114 | #18,324 |
| 1891 | historical | 136 | #19,601 |
| 1901 | historical | 102 | #22,596 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 74 | #30,218 |
| 1998 | modern | 74 | #30,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 75 | #30,661 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 68 | #31,195 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 65 | #31,979 |
| 2004 | modern | 62 | #32,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 67 | #32,196 |
| 2006 | modern | 66 | #32,629 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 61 | #33,915 |
| 2010 | modern | 58 | #34,346 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 64 | #34,028 |
| 2013 | modern | 61 | #34,317 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 64 | #34,112 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster, Sandford, Exeter City: St Sidwell and Heavitree. 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 | Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) | Devon |
| 2 | Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster | Devon |
| 3 | Sandford | Devon |
| 4 | Exeter City: St Sidwell | Devon |
| 5 | Heavitree | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burrington 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 Burrington, 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 Burrington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burrington 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, Burrington 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 Burrington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burrington, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Burrington is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 11th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place called Burrington, located in the county of Somerset.
The name Burrington is believed to be derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified hill or hill-spur, and "ing" which is a widely used suffix denoting a place of settlement or belonging. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a settlement on or near a fortified hill.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Burrington can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror. In this document, the name is spelled "Burintone," which is believed to be an early variation of the modern spelling.
In the 13th century, a notable person named William de Burrington was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset, which were administrative records of the county's finances and taxes. William de Burrington was likely a landowner or person of some importance in the area at the time.
Another early example of the name can be found in the records of the Hundred Rolls, a series of census-like surveys conducted in England between 1274 and 1275. These records mention a person named Robert de Burrington, who was likely a resident of the village of Burrington or a nearby area.
During the 16th century, a prominent figure named Sir John Burrington (c. 1525-1593) was appointed as the High Sheriff of Somerset in 1565. He was a landowner and a member of the gentry class, holding several important positions in the county.
Another notable person with the surname Burrington was George Burrington (1677-1754), who served as the colonial governor of North Carolina from 1723 to 1725, and later as the governor of New Hampshire from 1728 to 1729.
In more recent times, the name Burrington has been associated with several individuals, including the British archaeologist and historian Ralph Burrington (1909-2003), who was known for his work on the history and archaeology of Somerset.
While the surname Burrington is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the early medieval period and the village of Burrington in Somerset. The name has been carried by landowners, public officials, and scholars throughout the centuries, showcasing its enduring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burrington 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. Devon leads with 55 Burringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 55 | 23.76x |
| Somerset | 24 | 13.41x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.76x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 2.75x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.45x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.79x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 3.47x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.88x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.71x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.49x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.79x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.46x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.27x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridgewater in Somerset leads with 10 Burringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 205.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater | 10 | 205.76x |
| Exeter Heavitree | 9 | 520.23x |
| Exminster | 9 | 1084.34x |
| Oldham | 9 | 21.14x |
| Bedminster | 7 | 41.62x |
| Cheddar | 7 | 777.78x |
| Tewkesbury | 6 | 307.69x |
| Exeter St Mary Major | 5 | 357.14x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 5 | 49.02x |
| Stoke Damerel | 5 | 30.86x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 4 | 75.47x |
| Shobrooke | 4 | 1666.67x |
| Barnstaple | 3 | 82.64x |
| Exeter St Kerrian | 3 | 1875.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 10.95x |
| Tonbridge | 3 | 21.93x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.14x |
| Dawlish | 2 | 115.61x |
| Exeter St David | 2 | 101.01x |
| Luton | 2 | 20.06x |
| Portsea | 2 | 4.48x |
| Antony | 1 | 81.97x |
| Chudleigh | 1 | 135.14x |
| Exeter St Olave | 1 | 333.33x |
| Exeter St Paul | 1 | 217.39x |
| Hook | 1 | 41.32x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.93x |
| Litherland | 1 | 36.23x |
| Oxford St Giles | 1 | 30.49x |
| Sandford | 1 | 175.44x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.68x |
| Wolstanton Oldcott | 1 | 73.53x |
| Wooburn | 1 | 107.53x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burrington surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Bessie | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Mary | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Dorothy | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Flor.Mabel | 1 |
| Georgiana | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Juliana | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Marie | 1 |
| Milly | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Rosina | 1 |
| Susanna | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Burrington 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 Burrington households.
FAQ
In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Burrington surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Burrington a modern rank of #34,017.
An English locational surname indicating a person from a town named Burrington.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burrington 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.