BURTON
Burton is an English surname of locational origin, deriving from the Old English elements burh (or burg) meaning “fortress” or “town” and tun meaning “enclosure” or “settlement”. Consequently the name is commonly interpreted as “the settlement by a fort” or “the fortified town”. The appellation therefore originally denoted a person who hailed from any one of the numerous places called Burton throughout the British Isles, particularly in the midland and northern counties of England.
The earliest documentary evidence of the place‑name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where various Burton locations are recorded as Burtone, Bortune or Bortone. These entries already exhibit the same semantic composition of burh + tun. The surname itself first surfaces in the mid‑12th century; a notable early instance is the entry of Gerard de Burton in the Warwickshire Pipe Rolls of 1178. An even earlier spelling, Burhtun, is found in the Yorkshire Charters dated circa 1150, during the reign of King Stephen (1135‑1154).
While the majority of Burton settlements share the meaning “settlement by a fort”, some local variations exist. In Somerset the name is interpreted as “the settlement on the River Bredy” (or “Bride”), whereas in Sussex it translates as “Budeca’s settlement”. The surname has subsequently diversified in orthography, appearing as Borton and Bourton in later records.
The Burton family name has been borne by notable historical figures, including the 19th‑century explorer and orientalist Richard Burton (1821‑1890), whose lineage held lands in Shropshire from the fifteenth century. Today the surname is widespread across English‑speaking countries, reflecting its medieval locational origins and the subsequent migration of bearers from the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Burton surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jane
- Julie
- Karen
- Linda
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Bardon
- Barten
- Bartens
- Barto
- Barton
- Bartons
- Bartram
- Bartrum
- Bartten
- Bartton
- Baughten
- Baughton
- Bautton
- Bawton
- Bearton
- Beerten
- Beerton
- Bereton
- Berreton
- Berthon
- Bertin
- Bertins
- Berto
- Berton
- Beurton
- Bhurton
- Bierton
- Birten
- Birton
- Birtten
- Birtton
- Boarton
- Borton
- Bouriton
- Bourten
- Bourton
- Braton
- Brattan
- Brauton
- Brayton
- Breton
- Briden
- Brittan
- Britten
- Brittin
- Brton
- Bruton
- Brydon
- Burden
- Burdin
- Burdon
- Bureton
- Burlton
- Burnton
- Buron
- Burston
- Burt
- Burtan
- Burten
- Burthom
- Burthon
- Burtin
- Burtom
- Burtone
- Burtons
- Burtony
- Burtoo
- Burtow
- Burtton
- Burtun
- Butron
- Button
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Burton in...
Braille
⠃⠥⠗⠞⠕⠝
Morse
-.....-.-.-----.
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Burton are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Shortbread.
There are approximately 50,781 people named Burton in the UK. That makes it the 138th most common surname in Britain. Around 780 in a million people in Britain are named Burton.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Burton
- Jameela Alia Burton-Jamil - Actress and radio presenter
- Richard Burton - Welsh actor (1925 to 1984)
- Tim Burton - American filmmaker
- Richard Francis Burton - Explorer, geographer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, ling (1821 to 1890)
- Amanda Burton - Actress from Northern Ireland.
- Sally Burton - Author and theatre producer
- LeVar Burton - American actor
- Robert Burton - Scholar (1577 to 1640)
- Beryl Burton - Racing cyclist (1937 to 1996)
- Deon Burton - Football player
- Donald Burton - Actor (1934 to 2007)
- Decimus Burton - Architect (1800 to 1882)
- Sarah Burton - Fashion designer
- Trevor Burton - Musician
- John Burton - Actor
- Denise Burton - Bicycle racer
- Jessie Burton - Author and actress
- Humphrey Burton - Television presenter
- Charles R. Burton - Explorer (1942 to 2002)
- Mark Burton - Screenwriter
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.