2000
#99,214
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 169
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.06
Very Rare Last name
Burrett
A variant spelling of the English occupational surname for a maker of coarse woolen cloth.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Burrett. That puts it at #139,228 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Burrett surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
Burrett appeared in the 2010 Census surname file but was not included in the published 2020 file. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames with at least 100 recorded bearers, so this usually means the name fell below that threshold.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#139,228
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Burrett in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 139228th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Burrett, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Black (17.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Burrett
The surname Burrett is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is thought to derive from the Old English word "burh," meaning a fortified town or a borough, and the suffix "-ett," indicating a diminutive form, suggesting a connection to someone from a small town or settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Burhett," potentially referring to an individual from a small fortified settlement or a borough.
During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the name varied, with forms such as "Burret," "Burrett," and "Burrit" being used interchangeably. This variation in spelling was common at the time due to the lack of standardized orthography and the influence of local dialects.
The Burrett surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers was Sir John Burrett (c. 1280-1349), a prominent English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was known for his bravery and military prowess in battles against the French.
Another notable figure was William Burrett (1570-1641), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Acton in Middlesex. He was renowned for his translations of classical texts and his contributions to the study of theology and philosophy.
In the 17th century, Thomas Burrett (1635-1697) was a renowned English physician and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the field of botany and was a Fellow of the Royal Society, the prestigious scientific academy in England.
Moving forward, Elizabeth Burrett (1784-1862) was a prominent English philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for education and social welfare initiatives in her community.
More recently, Sir Eric Burrett (1922-2010) was a distinguished British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Ambassador to several countries, including Spain and the Soviet Union, during his illustrious career.
While the Burrett surname may not be as widely recognized as some other English surnames, its history spans centuries and encompasses individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich tapestry of English heritage and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Burrett
Among Census respondents with the surname Burrett, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Black (17.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Burrett 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Burrett surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.2%
- Black or African American17.5%
- Unknown or suppressed3.3%
Timeline
Historical Census data for Burrett
Burrett appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#139,228
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-49 bearers (-29.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 40,014 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #99,214 | 169 | 0.06 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #139,228 | 120 | 0.04 | -49 bearers (-29.0%) | Down 40,014 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Burrett surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20002010
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #99,214 | #139,228 | -40.3% |
| Count | 169 | 120 | -29.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.04 | -33.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Burrett bearers went from 169 to 120 (-29.0% change). The surname moved down 40,014 positions in the national ranking, going from #99,214 to #139,228.
FAQ
Burrett surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Burrett?
Name Census estimates that about 137 living Americans carry the surname Burrett. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,501,856 residents.
How common is Burrett?
Burrett ranks #139,228 in the 2010 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2010 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Burrett. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (137), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Burrett.
Has Burrett become more or less common over time?
Between 2000 and 2010, the surname Burrett went from 169 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 49 (-29.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #99,214 to #139,228.
What does the Census say about the background of Burrett?
Among Census respondents with the surname Burrett, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Black (17.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Burrett in the 2010 Census, accounting for 79.2%.
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Burrett appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2010 file are White (79.2%), Black (17.5%).
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Not necessarily. Burrett appears here with 2010 Census data, while the latest surname file loaded on Name Census is 2020. When a surname drops below the Census publication threshold, older rows can still be kept for historical reference even if the name no longer appears in the newest file.
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Burrett mean?
A variant spelling of the English occupational surname for a maker of coarse woolen cloth. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Burrett (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Burrett?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.