The Burmeister surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,543 people carried this name — #7,338 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 64,900 people counted. That is up 1% from 4,483 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Burmeister surname

Said to come from Low German roots cognate with Bauer + Meister.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Burmeister» (German), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a name of office: ‘the mayor’.

His entry covers Burmeister and Burmester.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 149 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

58 people named Burmeister live in Switzerland.

They live in 11 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 11
St. Gallen 11
Schwyz 6
Bern 5
Fribourg 4
Thurgau 4
Vaud 4
Schaffhausen 4

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 20 people named Burmeister live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in City of Buenos Aires.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

City of Buenos Aires 10
Buenos Aires Province 10

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In the Nordic population registers

133 people named Burmeister are counted in Sweden and Finland.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 87
Finland (2026) 46

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

In print

Burmeister in American newspapers,
1916–1922.

Newspaper page from Great Falls Tribune carrying the name Burmeister
Great Falls Tribune 1922-06-03
Newspaper page from Scranton Wochenblatt carrying the name Burmeister
Scranton Wochenblatt 1916-07-13
Newspaper page from Deutscher Herold carrying the name Burmeister
Deutscher Herold 1917-02-15

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 13,778 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Burmeister in Australian newspapers,
1850s–1960s.

3,709 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Burmeister. The most, 1,321, date from the 1910s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in South Australia, at 4.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 1,994
Victoria 663
New South Wales 434
Western Australia 434
Queensland 145
Tasmania 29
Northern Territory 5
ACT (Canberra) 2

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Burmeister.

Who carried it

People named Burmeister,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Anton Burmeister d. 1670 · cantor
  • Joachim Burmeister d. 1914 · soldier
  • Friedrich Burmeister d. 1918 · soldier
  • Friedrich Burmeister d. 1914 · soldier
  • Heinrich Burmeister d. 1915 · soldier
  • Christopher Burmeister 1550–1671 · military personnel

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Burmeister,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,339 records

1,339 records of the Burmeister name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 902
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 156
  • Other U.S. records 281
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Charles R. Burmeister

    Born 1916 in Iowa. Enlisted 1941 at Camp Grant, Illinois; painter from Rock Island, Illinois. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1944, buried at Rock Island National Cemetery, Illinois.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Anna Burmeister

    Arrived at New York in 1893 aboard the Scandia from Hamburg and Havre, aged 24; servant. From Hamburg, Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Duane J. Burmeister

    Born 1930; from Linn County, Iowa. U.S. Army, tank leader; killed in action 1953 in North Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,339 records for Burmeister in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Germany1,322 records

1,322 records of the Burmeister name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 1,319
  • German emigration and citizenship files 3
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Jonny Burmeister

    Born 1899; from Hamburg. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 19 September 1918; then reported taken prisoner in the list of 3 December 1918 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 212).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Gustav Bernhard Burmeister

    Emigrated to America in 1857.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)
  3. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Emilie Wilhelmine Burmeister

    Emigrated to the United States in 1872.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,322 records for Burmeister in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0).

Netherlands117 records

117 records of the Burmeister name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 69
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 45
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hendrik Jacob Burmeister

    Married in 1911 in Sloten; office clerk. Died 1962 in Ermelo, aged 78.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hans Christiaan Burmeister

    Married in 1889 in Haarlem. Died 1898 in Haarlem, aged 56.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Gerhardus Johannes Burmeister

    Married in 1919 in Utrecht. Died 1961 in Amersfoort, aged 74.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 117 records for Burmeister in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia98 records

98 records of the Burmeister name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 61
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 26
  • Other Australian records 11
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wm Burmeister

    Arrived in Victoria in 1886 aboard the Sorata, aged 24; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wilhelm Burmeister

    Arrived in Queensland in 1866 aboard the Beausite, aged 26.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Henry A. Burmeister

    Gentleman of Essendon, Victoria; died 1943.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 98 records for Burmeister in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Norway11 records

11 records of the Burmeister name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Nils Burmeister

    Census of 1910: Bjørkelund (gaard), Tysfjord; retired farmer, born 1837 in Lødingen.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Fr. Burmeister

    Census of 1910: Villa Ulfsaas, Aker; merchant, born 1858 in Chra.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 2 of 11 records for Burmeister in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Canada4 records

4 records of the Burmeister name in Canada
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 2
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 2
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Ludwig Raymond Burmeister

    Died 1907; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Walter Burmeister

    Buried in 1974 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 2 of 4 records for Burmeister in Canada.

Counts: City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

France4 records

4 records of the Burmeister name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Emma Berta Burmeister

    Born 1905 in Germany; died 1997 in Montélimar (Drôme).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Muina Tepaaitemarama Burmeister

    Born 1912 in Uturoa; died 1970 in Nouvelle-Zélande.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Burmeister in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

New Zealand3 records

3 records of the Burmeister name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Charles Alfred Burmeister

    Died 1947, aged 77; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Zillah Burmeister

    Died 1994, aged 84; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Burmeister in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Finland1 record

1 record of the Burmeister name in Finland Finland's war dead, 1939–1945
  1. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Jan Henrik Burmeister

    Born 1913 in Espoo; master builder. Died in 1944 during Finland's wars of 1939–1945; buried in Espoo.

    Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Burmeister.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Burmeister is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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