NameCensus.

UK surname

Burt

Derived from the Old English words for "fort" or "stronghold," indicating someone who lived near or worked at such a place.

In the 1881 census there were 7,085 people recorded with the Burt surname, ranking it #601 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,131, ranked #716, down from #601 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Northumberland and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burt is 9,856 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.9%.

1881 census count

7,085

Ranked #601

Modern count

9,131

2016, ranked #716

Peak year

1999

9,856 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burt had 7,085 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #601 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,131 in 2016, ranked #716.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9,165 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burt 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 4,585 #614
1861 historical 4,341 #655
1881 historical 7,085 #601
1891 historical 7,568 #598
1901 historical 9,165 #570
1911 historical 8,484 #585
1997 modern 9,414 #668
1998 modern 9,734 #670
1999 modern 9,856 #665
2000 modern 9,756 #669
2001 modern 9,476 #673
2002 modern 9,667 #677
2003 modern 9,394 #681
2004 modern 9,278 #690
2005 modern 9,144 #694
2006 modern 9,087 #697
2007 modern 9,218 #693
2008 modern 9,169 #700
2009 modern 9,399 #701
2010 modern 9,530 #705
2011 modern 9,423 #703
2012 modern 9,163 #709
2013 modern 9,253 #714
2014 modern 9,288 #717
2015 modern 9,170 #717
2016 modern 9,131 #716

Geography

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Where Burts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall, London parishes and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Northumberland, South Somerset and Cornwall. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall Fife
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 004 Purbeck
2 Northumberland 030 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 009 Northumberland
4 South Somerset 003 South Somerset
5 Cornwall 019 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burt

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Burt 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

Burt is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burt falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Burt

The surname BURT originated in England and traces back to the Old English language. It is derived from the Old English word "burht," which means a fortified place or town. The surname was likely first adopted as a descriptive name for someone who lived in or near a fortified settlement or borough.

BURT is also believed to be related to the Old English word "beorht," meaning bright or shining. This suggests the name may have been used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone with a bright complexion or a radiant personality.

The BURT surname is found in early English records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists several individuals with the name or variations such as Burt, Burte, and Burto. This indicates the name was well-established in England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname BURT was Robert Burt, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1197. Another early bearer of the name was William Burt, who was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

The BURT surname has also been associated with various place names in England, including Burton, meaning "fortified farm" or "fortified enclosure," and Buerton, meaning "bright farmstead." These place names may have influenced the development of the surname in certain regions.

Notable individuals with the surname BURT throughout history include:

1. William Burt (1776-1858), an American surveyor and inventor who developed the solar compass and other surveying instruments.

2. Nathaniel Burt (1825-1874), an American author and editor who wrote several books on spiritualism and the occult.

3. Marie Burt (1923-2010), an American actress best known for her role in the television series "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

4. Cyril Burt (1883-1971), a British educational psychologist known for his work on intelligence testing and the nature-nurture debate.

5. Sir Alister Burt (1925-2008), a British diplomat and former Governor of Bermuda.

The BURT surname has a rich history rooted in Old English and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including surveyors, authors, actors, psychologists, and diplomats.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burt 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. Middlesex leads with 781 Burts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 781 1.13x
Dorset 543 11.93x
Surrey 520 1.54x
Sussex 459 3.92x
Hampshire 453 3.19x
Fife 428 10.42x
Somerset 407 3.64x
Kent 388 1.64x
Cornwall 386 4.91x
Lanarkshire 331 1.48x
Devon 263 1.82x
Wiltshire 214 3.49x
Yorkshire 164 0.24x
Northamptonshire 146 2.24x
Lancashire 131 0.16x
Midlothian 125 1.34x
Durham 105 0.51x
Berkshire 89 1.71x
Gloucestershire 88 0.65x
Stirlingshire 85 3.32x
Warwickshire 81 0.46x
Lincolnshire 74 0.67x
Glamorgan 72 0.60x
Northumberland 72 0.70x
Suffolk 72 0.85x
Staffordshire 68 0.29x
Essex 65 0.47x
Buckinghamshire 62 1.48x
Norfolk 45 0.42x
Renfrewshire 45 0.84x
Channel Islands 39 1.90x
Cheshire 33 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 27 0.29x
Monmouthshire 24 0.48x
Leicestershire 20 0.26x
Aberdeenshire 19 0.30x
Derbyshire 18 0.17x
Ayrshire 16 0.31x
Bedfordshire 16 0.45x
Angus 13 0.20x
Worcestershire 13 0.14x
Royal Navy 12 1.45x
Cumberland 11 0.18x
Dunbartonshire 10 0.54x
Argyllshire 9 0.47x
Hertfordshire 9 0.19x
Perthshire 9 0.29x
Oxfordshire 8 0.19x
Radnorshire 7 1.25x
East Lothian 5 0.54x
Flintshire 5 0.27x
West Lothian 5 0.48x
Brecknockshire 3 0.22x
Selkirkshire 3 0.48x
Shropshire 3 0.05x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.07x
Herefordshire 2 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.15x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.02x
Orkney 1 0.13x
Ross-shire 1 0.05x
Westmorland 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunfermline in Fife leads with 146 Burts recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.12x.

Place Total Index
Dunfermline 146 23.12x
Lambeth 126 2.08x
Islington London 119 1.77x
Dysart 83 30.01x
Stoke Damerel 80 7.92x
Barony 68 1.20x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 65 1.74x
St Pancras London 61 1.09x
Wemyss 61 35.11x
Beath 58 44.69x
Bedminster 57 5.43x
Plymouth St Andrew 57 5.12x
St Marylebone London 57 1.54x
Hackney London 55 1.41x
Battersea 52 2.04x
Govan 50 0.90x
Portsea 47 1.69x
Falkirk 46 7.68x
St Columb Minor 45 68.23x
Hurstpierpoint 44 67.60x
Old Monkland 44 4.94x
Christchurch 43 13.95x
Birmingham 41 0.70x
Camberwell 39 0.88x
Winfrith Newburgh 38 166.52x
Cambusnethan 37 7.42x
Kensington London 37 0.96x
Brighton 36 1.53x
Long Sutton 36 173.08x
Westminster St John 35 4.14x
Iwerne Courtnay 34 110.89x
Southampton St Mary 34 3.80x
Carisbrooke 33 16.72x
Swanage 33 58.71x
Brading 32 16.93x
Tiverton 31 12.46x
Wittersham 31 146.85x
Roath 29 5.29x
Sonning 29 50.44x
St Helier 29 4.33x
Farthingstone 28 381.47x
Fordington 28 28.55x
Newlyn 28 83.51x
Poole St James 27 15.78x
Sandhurst 27 96.91x
Bethnal Green London 26 0.86x
Hastings St Mary In The 26 10.42x
New Monkland 26 3.92x
St George Hanover Square 26 2.13x
Hastings All Sts 25 22.68x
Clerkenwell London 24 1.47x
Cuckfield 24 20.31x
East Stonehouse 24 8.44x
Kirkcaldy 23 11.29x
North Burton 23 178.29x
Paddington London 23 0.90x
Shoreditch London 23 0.76x
Croydon 22 1.17x
Hastings St Mary 22 7.56x
Woolwich 22 2.52x
Berwick St John 21 229.76x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 21 1.64x
Carnwath 21 15.14x
Cranbrook 21 20.95x
Greens Norton 21 101.40x
Mile End Old Town London 21 1.42x
Millbrook 21 5.86x
St Blazey 21 30.45x
Alverstoke 20 3.89x
Broadwater 20 7.45x
Fowey 20 55.51x
Hammersmith London 20 1.17x
Montacute 20 97.70x
Reigate Foreign 20 5.46x
Slamannan 20 14.27x
Trentham 20 10.04x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 19 1.58x
Broadway 19 105.15x
Tottenham 19 1.72x
Yeovil 19 8.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 347
Elizabeth 225
Sarah 190
Jane 133
Annie 110
Emma 107
Ann 100
Eliza 97
Ellen 88
Emily 88
Alice 85
Maria 60
Harriet 50
Caroline 47
Charlotte 45
Florence 45
Edith 44
Louisa 44
Martha 44
Fanny 42
Hannah 37
Kate 34
Margaret 32
Lucy 31
Susan 29
Amelia 24
Catherine 24
Ada 23
Agnes 22
Bessie 22
Rose 22
Clara 21
Harriett 20
Matilda 19
Anne 18
Esther 18
Jessie 18
Julia 17
Sophia 16
Frances 15
Minnie 14
Elizth. 13
Grace 13
Beatrice 12
Gertrude 12
Isabella 12
Rebecca 12
Amy 10
Eleanor 10
Selina 10

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 368
John 329
George 241
James 185
Thomas 180
Henry 158
Charles 136
Robert 77
Joseph 73
Frederick 71
Alfred 67
Albert 54
Edward 53
Richard 51
Walter 50
Harry 48
Arthur 47
Samuel 42
Edwin 36
Frank 35
Ernest 29
Francis 22
David 18
Fredrick 16
Wm. 14
Geo. 13
Herbert 13
Andrew 12
Chas. 12
Fred 12
Isaac 12
Benjamin 11
Peter 11
Tom 11
Jesse 10
Abraham 9
Fredk. 8
Edmund 7
Mark 6
Thos. 6
Willm. 6
Daniel 5
Frederic 5
Harold 5
Leonard 5
Percy 5
Reginald 5
Stephen 5
Sydney 5
Sidney 4

Top occupations

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 Burt households.

FAQ

Burt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,085 people were recorded with the Burt surname. That placed it at #601 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,131 in 2016. That gives Burt a modern rank of #716.

What does the Burt surname mean?

Derived from the Old English words for "fort" or "stronghold," indicating someone who lived near or worked at such a place.

What does the Burt map show?

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