NameCensus.

UK surname

Burwood

A habitational surname originating from a place called Burwood or a wood/forest near a fort.

In the 1881 census there were 387 people recorded with the Burwood surname, ranking it #8,152 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 550, ranked #9,280, down from #8,152 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burwood is 685 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.1%.

1881 census count

387

Ranked #8,152

Modern count

550

2016, ranked #9,280

Peak year

1999

685 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burwood had 387 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,152 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 550 in 2016, ranked #9,280.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 583 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Burwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burwood 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 245 #8,920
1861 historical 274 #9,111
1881 historical 387 #8,152
1891 historical 410 #8,694
1901 historical 524 #7,783
1911 historical 583 #6,986
1997 modern 656 #7,617
1998 modern 668 #7,753
1999 modern 685 #7,639
2000 modern 664 #7,808
2001 modern 659 #7,714
2002 modern 660 #7,857
2003 modern 647 #7,852
2004 modern 622 #8,126
2005 modern 615 #8,113
2006 modern 592 #8,368
2007 modern 602 #8,331
2008 modern 597 #8,452
2009 modern 616 #8,428
2010 modern 605 #8,738
2011 modern 600 #8,696
2012 modern 548 #9,194
2013 modern 561 #9,177
2014 modern 568 #9,147
2015 modern 555 #9,243
2016 modern 550 #9,280

Geography

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Where Burwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, Lambeth and Great Yarmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 Great Yarmouth Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 004 Waveney
2 Waveney 002 Waveney
3 Waveney 005 Waveney
4 Waveney 003 Waveney
5 Waveney 009 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burwood

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Burwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Burwood household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Burwood is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burwood 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

Burwood falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Burwood

The surname Burwood is of English origin, likely dating back to the medieval period. It is a topographical name, derived from Old English elements "burh" meaning fort or fortified place and "wudu" meaning wood. The name likely originated in geographical regions where such woodlands or fortified areas were prominent, such as counties of southern England.

Early records suggest that Burwood may have roots in areas like Surrey and Kent. Ancient spellings of the name varied, including "Borwode" and "Borwood." These variations highlight the linguistic evolution that surnames often underwent during the Middle Ages.

The surname appears in historical texts from around the 13th century. For example, a Geoffrey de Borwode was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Surrey in 1296. This reference indicates the presence and usage of the name in official documents, lending credence to its medieval inception.

Another early reference includes John de Borwode, cited in 1327 in the Subsidy Rolls of Kent. These taxation records help to verify Burwood as an established surname associated with specific locations in England by the early 14th century.

Prominent bearers of the name include Richard Burwood, an influential 17th-century landowner from Surrey. Born in 1605, Richard played a significant role in local politics and land distribution until his death in 1672. His contributions to regional development are well-documented in parish registers and estate records.

In historical literature, a notable figure is Reverend Thomas Burwood, born in 1732 and a distinguished cleric of his time. Serving various parishes in the early 19th century, Reverend Burwood's theological works and sermons were influential in shaping religious discourse until his death in 1806.

Another significant individual is William Burwood, a Victorian-era industrialist born in 1834. His innovations in textile manufacturing marked important advancements during the Industrial Revolution. William managed several mills in Manchester and contributed to the industrial economy before his demise in 1892.

Military history records Captain Edward Burwood, born in 1851, a decorated officer in the British Army. Serving in various colonial campaigns, Captain Burwood's career spanned across continents, ending with his retirement in 1903 and subsequent death in 1912. His valor and leadership are preserved in military archives and personal correspondences.

In the field of arts, Elizabeth Burwood, born in 1887, an esteemed painter, brought the name into cultural prominence. Her works, characterized by pastoral themes and natural landscapes, garnered her critical acclaim in early 20th-century art circles. Elizabeth's legacy persisted past her death in 1949, influencing generations of landscape artists.

The surname Burwood embodies a rich tapestry of historical significance, cultivation in the English countryside, and contributions by its bearers over centuries in various realms such as politics, religion, industry, military, and arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burwood 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. Suffolk leads with 134 Burwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.34x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 134 28.34x
Middlesex 67 1.73x
Norfolk 58 9.72x
Surrey 29 1.53x
Warwickshire 17 1.74x
Essex 15 1.96x
Staffordshire 12 0.92x
Sussex 12 1.83x
Dorset 11 4.32x
Channel Islands 10 8.69x
Durham 6 0.52x
Worcestershire 6 1.18x
Cornwall 5 1.14x
Hampshire 5 0.63x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.76x
Kent 3 0.23x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Devon 1 0.12x
Lancashire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lowestoft in Suffolk leads with 76 Burwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 340.20x.

Place Total Index
Lowestoft 76 340.20x
Great Yarmouth 45 91.00x
Aldeburgh 24 857.14x
Lambeth 17 5.02x
St George In East London 17 46.55x
Orford 14 921.05x
Birmingham 12 3.68x
Brighton 12 9.09x
Burton Bradstock 11 873.02x
St Peter Port 10 46.99x
West Ham 9 5.32x
Poplar London 8 10.92x
Handsworth 7 21.67x
Ipswich St Margaret 7 43.61x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 12.00x
Wapping London 6 202.70x
Aston 5 1.85x
Clerkenwell London 5 5.46x
Ealing 5 14.41x
Falmouth 5 32.13x
Hackney London 5 2.30x
Harborne 5 11.90x
Kidderminster Borough 5 16.85x
Paddington London 5 3.50x
Trunch 5 833.33x
Bermondsey 4 3.46x
Braintree 4 58.14x
Edmonton 4 12.79x
Hammersmith London 4 4.18x
Heigham 4 12.48x
Kirkley 4 101.01x
Mansfield 4 22.09x
Portsmouth 4 21.83x
Bawdsey 3 526.32x
Camberwell 3 1.21x
Greenwich 2 3.24x
Halesworth 2 59.70x
Kensington London 2 0.93x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.42x
Rotherhithe 2 4.17x
Walpole St Peter 2 132.45x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 0.99x
Bromley London 1 1.17x
Cantley 1 277.78x
Croydon 1 0.95x
Devonport 1 10.76x
Egham 1 8.61x
Friern Barnet 1 11.70x
Goole 1 15.50x
Great Dunmow 1 25.06x
Haslemere 1 67.11x
Holy Trinity 1 1.08x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 7.55x
Islington London 1 0.27x
Kelsale 1 76.34x
Leyton Low 1 6.42x
Minster In Sheppey 1 4.56x
Peasenhall 1 86.96x
Portsea 1 0.64x
Saxmundham 1 57.14x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.46x
Walpole St Andrew 1 107.53x
Worcester St Helen 1 61.73x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
Edward 16
James 15
George 14
Henry 12
Thomas 10
Robert 8
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Benjamin 4
Francis 4
John 4
Richard 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
David 2
Fredwick 2
Isaac 2
Ralph 2
Willm. 2
Abel 1
Basil 1
Belshazzar 1
Benselle 1
Charlton 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
G. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Lenard 1
Oliver 1
Oswald 1
Wm.J. 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Burwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 387 people were recorded with the Burwood surname. That placed it at #8,152 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 550 in 2016. That gives Burwood a modern rank of #9,280.

What does the Burwood surname mean?

A habitational surname originating from a place called Burwood or a wood/forest near a fort.

What does the Burwood map show?

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