NameCensus.

UK surname

Burtoft

A locational surname originating from a place likely named "Burtoft" in England.

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Burtoft surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 135, ranked #25,505, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Chesterfield and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Barnsley and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burtoft is 153 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

1998

153 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burtoft had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 114 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Burtoft surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burtoft surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burtoft 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 56 #29,638
1901 historical 105 #22,179
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 136 #23,296
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 131 #23,942
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 133 #25,729
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Burtofts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Wath-on-Dearn and Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Barnsley, Wakefield and Rotherham. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Chesterfield Derbyshire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wath-on-Dearn Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 005 Doncaster
2 Barnsley 027 Barnsley
3 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
4 Wakefield 041 Wakefield
5 Rotherham 004 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burtoft

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burtoft

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Burtoft surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Burtoft household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Burtoft is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burtoft is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burtoft falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burtoft 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 Burtoft, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Burtoft

The surname Burtoft has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from an Old English place name, believed to be a combination of the words "burh" meaning a fortified town or manor, and "toft" referring to a homestead or piece of land. The earliest known spelling variation of the name was "Burtoft" itself, appearing in records from the late 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Burtoft name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, where a John de Burtoft is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated in the county of Lincolnshire, potentially from a now-lost or obscure settlement bearing a similar name.

In the 14th century, records show a William Burtoft residing in the parish of Skidbrook, Lincolnshire, in 1379. This provides further evidence of the name's strong ties to the region during the medieval era.

Moving into the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the Burtoft name was Robert Burtoft, born around 1420 in Lincolnshire. He was a prominent landowner and held significant influence in the local community.

During the Tudor period, the Burtoft family continued to maintain a presence in Lincolnshire. In 1521, a John Burtoft was listed as a taxpayer in the village of Waddington, further solidifying the name's association with the county.

Jumping ahead to the 17th century, a remarkable individual named Thomas Burtoft (1594-1672) emerged from Lincolnshire. He was a renowned scholar and theologian, serving as a fellow at Lincoln College, Oxford, and later becoming the rector of Stepney Parish in London. His contributions to religious discourse and education during that era were significant.

Throughout the following centuries, the Burtoft name appeared sporadically in various records across England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. Notable individuals included Richard Burtoft (1734-1801), a successful merchant from Yorkshire, and William Burtoft (1804-1878), a prominent farmer and landowner in Nottinghamshire.

While the Burtoft surname may not be as widespread as some others, its rich history and strong ties to specific regions of England make it a fascinating example of the interplay between place names, occupations, and family lineages that shaped many English surnames over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burtoft families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burtoft 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. Yorkshire leads with 34 Burtofts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.82x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 34 7.82x
Lancashire 9 1.73x
Derbyshire 1 1.46x
Hertfordshire 1 3.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hoyland Nether in Yorkshire leads with 18 Burtofts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1682.24x.

Place Total Index
Hoyland Nether 18 1682.24x
Ecclesfield 11 344.83x
Openshaw 5 204.92x
Droylsden 4 235.29x
Sherburn 2 555.56x
Barnsley 1 22.32x
Bramley In Bramley 1 60.24x
Broxbourne 1 166.67x
Chesterfield 1 38.76x
South Milford 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Emma 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Floranc 1
Frances 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Miriam 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 3
Rupert 2
Amos 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Dennis 1
Donald 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Georg 1
Hamer 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Job 1
John 1
Lawder 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Olonzo 1
Vincent 1

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 Burtoft households.

FAQ

Burtoft surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burtoft surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Burtoft surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burtoft surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Burtoft a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Burtoft surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place likely named "Burtoft" in England.

What does the Burtoft map show?

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