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

Burt, 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 Burt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burt in America

Burt is the 1331st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burt surname appeared 26,475 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Burt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burt 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 Burt

The surname BURT originated in England and traces back to the Old English language. It is derived from the Old English word "burht," which means a fortified place or town. The surname was likely first adopted as a descriptive name for someone who lived in or near a fortified settlement or borough.

BURT is also believed to be related to the Old English word "beorht," meaning bright or shining. This suggests the name may have been used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone with a bright complexion or a radiant personality.

The BURT surname is found in early English records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists several individuals with the name or variations such as Burt, Burte, and Burto. This indicates the name was well-established in England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname BURT was Robert Burt, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1197. Another early bearer of the name was William Burt, who was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

The BURT surname has also been associated with various place names in England, including Burton, meaning "fortified farm" or "fortified enclosure," and Buerton, meaning "bright farmstead." These place names may have influenced the development of the surname in certain regions.

Notable individuals with the surname BURT throughout history include:

1. William Burt (1776-1858), an American surveyor and inventor who developed the solar compass and other surveying instruments.

2. Nathaniel Burt (1825-1874), an American author and editor who wrote several books on spiritualism and the occult.

3. Marie Burt (1923-2010), an American actress best known for her role in the television series "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

4. Cyril Burt (1883-1971), a British educational psychologist known for his work on intelligence testing and the nature-nurture debate.

5. Sir Alister Burt (1925-2008), a British diplomat and former Governor of Bermuda.

The BURT surname has a rich history rooted in Old English and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including surveyors, authors, actors, psychologists, and diplomats.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burt

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

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

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

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