Burkitt

Pronunciation: /ˈbɜː.kɪt/

Origin: English

Meaning: Burkitt is a surname of English origin. It derives from the Old English personal name "Burghild", composed of the elements "burg", meaning "fortress" or "castle", and "hild", meaning "battle". Over time, this personal name evolved into the surname Burkitt.

Distribution: The surname Burkitt is most commonly found in England, particularly in the eastern counties such as Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.

Notable People:

  • Denis Parsons Burkitt (1911-1993): A British surgeon and medical researcher known for his discovery of Burkitt's lymphoma, a type of cancer that bears his name. He made significant contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases.
  • Martin Burkitt (b. 1983): A well-known British actor and comedian, famous for his roles in various television shows and films.

Coat of Arms: The Burkitt family crest features a shield with a red background, several gold crosses, and a chevron with three escallops.

Variants: Variants of the surname Burkitt include Burkett and Burkett.

References:

  • Reaney, P.H., and Wilson, R.M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 2005.
  • Cottle, B.H. The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Penguin Books, 1967.

There are approximately 1,048 people named Burkitt in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,107th most common surname in Britain. Around 16 in a million people in Britain are named Burkitt.

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Alan
  • Andrew
  • David
  • Ian
  • James
  • John
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Richard
  • Robert

Female

  • Ann
  • Christine
  • Claire
  • Elizabeth
  • Emma
  • Hilary
  • Jennifer
  • Julie
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Patricia
  • Sarah
  • Vanessa

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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