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

Burrs, 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 Burrs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burrs in America

Burrs is the 62903rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burrs surname appeared 318 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 Burrs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burrs 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 Burrs

The surname Burrs is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'burr', which referred to a small knob or bump on a plant or tree. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who lived near a bramble patch or a place where burdock plants grew.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where it appears as 'Burre'. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a Richard le Burr in Oxfordshire. It's possible that the name was originally a reference to a place name, as there are several locations in England with names derived from 'burr', such as Burridge and Burrowbridge.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, including Burre, Bure, and Burres, reflecting the evolving spellings of the time. One notable early bearer of the name was John Burrs, a landowner in Somerset mentioned in the Feet of Fines records of 1284.

The Burrs surname is also associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 15th century, William Burrs (c.1420-1489) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol. Later, in the 17th century, Nathaniel Burrs (1598-1672) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

Another notable figure was Sir John Burrs (1736-1810), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He was knighted for his service in 1799.

In the 19th century, William Burrs (1813-1891) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal School of Mines and the Royal College of Chemistry.

The Burrs surname has also been found in various parts of the United States, likely due to immigration from England. One notable American bearer of the name was Jeremiah Burrs (1771-1829), a lawyer and politician from Connecticut who served as a United States Senator.

Overall, the surname Burrs has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with connections to both rural and urban areas. Its origins as a descriptive nickname and its evolution over centuries make it a distinctive and enduring surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burrs

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

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 Burrs 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 Burrs 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 Burrs was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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