Find out how popular the last name Burnitt is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Burnitt.

Burnitt, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Burnitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burnitt in America

Burnitt is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burnitt surname appeared 121 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Burnitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burnitt to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Burnitt

The surname Burnitt is of English origin, emerging in the late 12th century primarily in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "burna" meaning a small stream or brook, and "hytt" meaning a small dwelling or hut. The combination of these words suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

In its earliest recorded forms, the surname appeared as "Burnehyt", "Burnehytt", and "Burnehytte" in various medieval records and documents. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1194, where a certain "Willelmus de Burnehytt" is mentioned.

The Burnitt surname is also associated with various place names in northern England, such as Burnitt Fields in Lancashire and Burnitt Hurst in Yorkshire. These place names likely originated from the same Old English roots as the surname itself.

Notable individuals bearing the Burnitt surname throughout history include:

1. Robert Burnitt (c. 1560-1635), an English merchant and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Americas and the Arctic regions.

2. Elizabeth Burnitt (1625-1712), a Quaker preacher and author from Yorkshire, known for her religious writings and advocacy for women's rights.

3. John Burnitt (1714-1784), a British soldier who served in the French and Indian War and later became a prominent landowner in Virginia.

4. William Burnitt (1780-1861), an English engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in steam engine design and textile machinery.

5. Mary Burnitt (1832-1904), a British philanthropist and social reformer who worked to improve education and living conditions for the working class in Manchester.

While the Burnitt surname may have evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in northern England, where it likely referred to the dwellings of those who lived near small streams or brooks.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burnitt

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Burnitt.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Burnitt was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Burnitt has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Burnitt was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Burnitt, please contact us.

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