UK surname
An occupational name for someone who lived near or by a stream or brook.
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Burst surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Colne, Earl's, London parishes and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burst is 121 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.7%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1911
121 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burst surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burst 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 120 | #21,292 |
| 1901 | historical | 73 | #26,069 |
| 1911 | historical | 121 | #20,336 |
| 1997 | modern | 74 | #30,218 |
| 1998 | modern | 73 | #30,681 |
| 1999 | modern | 72 | #30,955 |
| 2000 | modern | 78 | #30,361 |
| 2001 | modern | 76 | #30,366 |
| 2002 | modern | 74 | #31,048 |
| 2003 | modern | 70 | #31,486 |
| 2004 | modern | 67 | #31,976 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 67 | #32,532 |
| 2007 | modern | 61 | #33,440 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 57 | #34,452 |
| 2013 | modern | 62 | #34,260 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 68 | #33,854 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Colne, Earl's, London parishes, 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colne, Earl's | Essex |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burst 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 Burst, 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 Burst surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burst 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, Burst 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 Burst is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burst, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BURST is believed to have originated from the Old English word "byrst," which means "a break" or "a burst." This name likely referred to someone who lived near a place where a stream or river burst its banks, or perhaps a person who had a fiery or explosive personality.
The earliest known record of the surname BURST dates back to the 13th century in England. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a mention of a Richard Burst. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.
In the 14th century, the BURST surname appeared in various forms, such as Burste, Burstes, and Burstis. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and differences in spelling conventions at the time. One notable record from this period is the mention of a Robert Burste in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327.
The BURST surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was John Burst, a landowner in Oxfordshire who lived in the late 15th century. Another was Thomas Burst, a merchant and alderman in the city of London in the early 16th century.
In the 17th century, the BURST surname gained prominence with the English clergyman and scholar, William Burst (1592-1669). He was a fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge, and served as the rector of Gunthorpe, Norfolk.
The 18th century saw the birth of James Burst (1720-1789), a prominent architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Waterloo Road.
In the 19th century, one of the most notable figures with the BURST surname was Sir John Burst (1815-1886), a British politician and barrister who served as the Attorney General for England and Wales from 1866 to 1868.
While the BURST surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonial expansion. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English language and the early medieval period in England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burst 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. Essex leads with 12 Bursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.10x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 12 | 20.10x |
| Surrey | 11 | 7.47x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.32x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.56x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 2.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halstead in Essex leads with 12 Bursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1714.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Halstead | 12 | 1714.29x |
| Bermondsey | 5 | 55.56x |
| Wotton | 5 | 7142.86x |
| Westminster St John | 4 | 108.70x |
| Aston | 2 | 9.52x |
| Great Crosby | 2 | 204.08x |
| Dorking | 1 | 101.01x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burst 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 Burst 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 Burst households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Factory Hand (Silk) | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Grocer & Baker | 1 |
| Hard Wood Turner | 1 |
| Help In (Grocers) Shop | 1 |
| Hoop Porter | 1 |
| Labourer Out Of Employ | 1 |
| Letter Carrier | 1 |
| Merchants Clerk | 1 |
| Refreshment House Manager (Eating House) | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Weaver In Silk Factory | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Burst surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Burst a modern rank of #34,017.
An occupational name for someone who lived near or by a stream or brook.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burst 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.