NameCensus.

UK surname

Burrowes

A topographical surname likely referring to someone living near a small hill or mound.

In the 1881 census there were 217 people recorded with the Burrowes surname, ranking it #12,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 436, ranked #11,062, up from #12,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Pickering and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Denny - Nethermains, Dowanhill and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burrowes is 481 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.9%.

1881 census count

217

Ranked #12,188

Modern count

436

2016, ranked #11,062

Peak year

1998

481 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burrowes had 217 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016, ranked #11,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 258 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Burrowes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burrowes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burrowes 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 146 #13,157
1861 historical 142 #15,982
1881 historical 217 #12,188
1891 historical 258 #12,440
1901 historical 150 #18,075
1911 historical 195 #15,197
1997 modern 458 #9,939
1998 modern 481 #9,893
1999 modern 459 #10,310
2000 modern 458 #10,281
2001 modern 436 #10,500
2002 modern 436 #10,712
2003 modern 442 #10,434
2004 modern 437 #10,557
2005 modern 436 #10,457
2006 modern 446 #10,301
2007 modern 444 #10,445
2008 modern 445 #10,521
2009 modern 454 #10,590
2010 modern 472 #10,488
2011 modern 467 #10,474
2012 modern 429 #11,078
2013 modern 433 #11,184
2014 modern 442 #11,057
2015 modern 440 #11,017
2016 modern 436 #11,062

Geography

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Where Burrowes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Pickering, St Marylebone and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Denny - Nethermains, Dowanhill, Leeds, East Hampshire and Greenwich. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Pickering Yorkshire, North Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Denny - Nethermains Falkirk
2 Dowanhill Glasgow City
3 Leeds 011 Leeds
4 East Hampshire 010 East Hampshire
5 Greenwich 017 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burrowes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burrowes

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Burrowes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burrowes is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burrowes falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burrowes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Burrowes

The surname Burrowes is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "burh" or "burg," meaning a fortified town or borough. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or was associated with a particular borough or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burrowes can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Burghes" and "Boroughes," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

In the 13th century, the name Burrowes was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Records from this period show individuals with the name holding positions of influence, such as landowners or members of local governing bodies.

One notable figure bearing the name Burrowes was Sir John Burrowes, who lived in the 15th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Nottingham in 1437.

During the 16th century, the name Burrowes gained broader recognition, with several individuals bearing the name making significant contributions in various fields. One such individual was Richard Burrowes, born in 1567, who was a renowned scholar and author of several works on theology and philosophy.

In the 17th century, the Burrowes family established themselves as prominent landowners in the county of Hertfordshire. One member of this family, William Burrowes (1610-1679), was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of St. Albans, a historic city in Hertfordshire.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Burrowes was Robert Burrowes, born in 1720, who was a renowned architect and designer of several notable buildings in London, including the Mansion House and the Royal Exchange.

As the name Burrowes spread throughout England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the colonies in North America and other parts of the world through migration and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burrowes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burrowes 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. Surrey leads with 46 Burrowes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.46x.

County Total Index
Surrey 46 4.46x
Middlesex 42 1.98x
Lancashire 19 0.76x
Leicestershire 18 7.67x
Hampshire 13 3.00x
Warwickshire 13 2.44x
Yorkshire 13 0.62x
Devon 11 2.50x
Kent 9 1.25x
Suffolk 9 3.49x
Norfolk 7 2.15x
Buckinghamshire 3 2.34x
Worcestershire 3 1.09x
Durham 2 0.32x
Flintshire 2 3.52x
Lanarkshire 2 0.29x
Northamptonshire 2 1.00x
Dorset 1 0.72x
Lincolnshire 1 0.30x
Wiltshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hathern in Leicestershire leads with 17 Burrowes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1789.47x.

Place Total Index
Hathern 17 1789.47x
Birmingham 12 6.75x
Portsea 12 14.11x
Kingston On Thames 11 44.41x
Pickering 11 416.67x
Battersea 9 11.56x
Birkdale 9 141.73x
Tormoham 9 48.28x
Tottenham 9 26.70x
Ilketshall St Margaret 8 3809.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 18.78x
Hampstead London 6 18.20x
Great Yarmouth 5 18.55x
Kensington London 5 4.25x
Putney 5 51.81x
Litherland 4 76.19x
Bethnal Green London 3 3.26x
Lambeth 3 1.63x
Little Missenden 3 370.37x
North Meols 3 12.21x
Oldbury 3 22.06x
St Marylebone London 3 2.65x
St Pancras London 3 1.76x
Walmer 3 95.54x
Wandsworth 3 14.73x
Camberwell 2 1.48x
Chelsea London 2 3.14x
Dawlish 2 60.79x
Ealing 2 10.57x
Islington London 2 0.97x
Lewisham 2 5.19x
Mold 2 38.76x
North Elmham 2 253.16x
Paddington London 2 2.57x
Pattishall 2 303.03x
Southwark St John 2 30.91x
St George Hanover Square 2 5.36x
Stanhope 2 30.77x
Streatham 2 12.74x
Westerdale 2 1052.63x
Westminster St James 2 9.19x
Barony 1 0.58x
Basingstoke 1 20.04x
Cheriton 1 34.01x
Clapham 1 3.78x
Claydon 1 263.16x
Dover St James 1 31.65x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 14.31x
Edmonton 1 5.87x
Everton 1 1.25x
Gorbals 1 24.63x
Great Glenn 1 161.29x
Greenwich 1 2.97x
Hillmarton 1 217.39x
Kimmeridge 1 833.33x
Leamington 1 28.25x
Moss Side 1 7.56x
Moulton 1 61.35x
Upper Rawcliffe With 1 222.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 11
Mary 11
Sarah 9
Alice 5
Margaret 5
Martha 5
Eliza 4
Florence 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Charlotte 3
Emma 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Isabella 2
Kathleen 2
Lucy 2
Amy 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Ellen 1
Elsa 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Fidelia 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Hetty 1
Honour 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Louise 1
Lurza 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Marian 1
Maude 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Nannie 1
Pleasance 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 9
Charles 8
Henry 8
Thomas 8
George 5
Arthur 4
Frederick 4
Walter 3
Arnold 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Algernon 1
Ambrose 1
Amos 1
Aubrey 1
Authur 1
Barrington 1
Benjamin 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Josiah 1
Leslie 1
Loftus 1
Louis 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
R.S. 1
Richard 1
Septimus 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Burrowes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burrowes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 217 people were recorded with the Burrowes surname. That placed it at #12,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burrowes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016. That gives Burrowes a modern rank of #11,062.

What does the Burrowes surname mean?

A topographical surname likely referring to someone living near a small hill or mound.

What does the Burrowes map show?

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