Burnison
From a surname of English origin derived from a place name, meaning "settlement by the small stream".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 343 Americans carry the last name Burnison. That puts it at #68,770 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 999,284 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Burnison surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
343
1 in 999,284
Census rank
#68,770
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
286
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 286 bearers of the surname Burnison in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 68770th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Burnison, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Burnison
The surname Burnison is of English origin, originating from the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "burna" meaning a stream or small river, and "tun" meaning a village or settlement. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a small stream or river.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a William de Burneton is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially been associated with a specific place name, perhaps a village or hamlet called Burneton or something similar.
The Burnison surname appeared in various historical records throughout the centuries, such as parish registers, tax records, and court documents. In the 16th century, the name was occasionally spelled as Burniston or Burneston, reflecting the regional dialect variations.
Notable individuals with the Burnison surname include John Burnison (1609-1684), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works. Another notable figure was William Burnison (1726-1794), a landowner and businessman from Yorkshire, who was involved in the wool trade.
In the 19th century, Thomas Burnison (1815-1892) was a prominent farmer and local politician in Lancashire, serving as a councilor for several years. Mary Burnison (1848-1921), born in Yorkshire, was a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights, founding several schools in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the United States can be traced back to James Burnison (1792-1870), who immigrated from England to Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. He later moved westward and became a successful farmer in Ohio.
These are just a few examples of individuals who carried the Burnison surname throughout history, reflecting its English origins and the potential association with place names related to streams or rivers in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Burnison
Among Census respondents with the surname Burnison, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Burnison bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Burnison surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.8%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
- Unknown or suppressed1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Burnison surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #78,838 | #68,770 | 12.8% |
| Count | 225 | 286 | 27.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.10 | 25.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Burnison bearers went from 225 to 286 (+27.1% change). The surname moved up 10,068 positions in the national ranking, going from #78,838 to #68,770.
FAQ
Burnison surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Burnison?
The surname Burnison holds position #68,770 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 343 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Burnison surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Burnison, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.