The Burt surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 26,475 people carried this name — #1,331 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 11,100 people counted. That is up 3% from 25,649 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Burt surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Burt’ — the first of the origins he gives.

An early record he cites: Thomas de Burt, Norfolk, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 150 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 36 people named Burt.

9 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 4 départements, most often Moselle.

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

Where they were born

Born outside France 9
Moselle 21
Bas-Rhin 4
Meurthe-et-Moselle 1
Paris 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Burt was found among the farmers of 4 counties.

It was most frequent in Dorset: 25 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 400. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Dorset 25
Wiltshire 18
Sussex 14
Lincolnshire 7

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Burt was recorded 25 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 962nd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 54. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

172 families named Burt, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,036 people lived in those households, 6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 6 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 86
North Carolina 18
Vermont 16
New York 13
New Hampshire 8
Virginia 8
Pennsylvania 7
Connecticut 6
South Carolina 5
Maryland 4
Rhode Island 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 232 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Burt in American newspapers,
1899.

Newspaper page from Among The Clouds carrying the name Burt
Among The Clouds 1899-07-14
Newspaper page from Among The Clouds carrying the name Burt
Among The Clouds 1899-07-14
Newspaper page from Among The Clouds carrying the name Burt
Among The Clouds 1899-07-14

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 10,748 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Burt in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

85,362 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Burt. The most, 13,238, date from the 1900s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Western Australia, at 4.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Western Australia 31,064
New South Wales 24,656
Victoria 11,993
Queensland 6,927
South Australia 6,841
Tasmania 3,278
ACT (Canberra) 418
Northern Territory 76

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

Who carried it

People named Burt,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Burt d. 1781 · politician
  • Edmund Burt d. 1755 · engineer
  • Elizabeth Burt d. 1808
  • Fanny Burt d. 1816
  • Sarah Adelaide Burt d. 1922
  • Pauline Burt d. 2010

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

In the public record

People named Burt,
in the records of 8 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 States2,641 records

2,641 records of the Burt name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 964
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 511
  • Other U.S. records 1,166
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Claude E. Burt

    Born 1908 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1943 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota; porter. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1973, buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota.

    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 Dimitro Burt

    Arrived at New York in 1907 aboard the Batavia from Hamburg, aged 18; farm laborer. From Kopyirynce, Galisia, Austria; bound for St. Louis. Born in Kopirynce, Galicia.

    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 Myron H. Burt

    Born 1930; from Brown County, Kansas. U.S. Army, field artillery chief; killed in action 1951 in North Korea.

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

Showing 3 of 2,641 records for Burt in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · 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).

Australia1,842 records

1,842 records of the Burt name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 884
  • Tasmanian Names Index 484
  • Other Australian records 474
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Mary Burt

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Gilbert Henderson, sailing from London in 1839. Native of Helston, Cornwall. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1845. Married 1845 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 33.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Burt

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Bardaster, sailing from Portsmouth in 1835. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1844.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Charles George Burt

    Died 1909 in General Hospital, Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1910.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,842 records for Burt in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada178 records

178 records of the Burt name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 99
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 23
  • Other Canadian records 56
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Maggie Burt

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Polynesian, landing at Quebec, bound for Lake Rosseau, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Thomas William Jonathan Burt

    Buried in 1977 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 56.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Beryl Burt

    Died 1941 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 178 records for Burt in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom93 records

93 records of the Burt name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 53
  • Stirling Council burial records 23
  • Other British records 17
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Janet Burt

    Buried in 1943 at Kilmadock Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 67.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Burt

    Buried in 1851 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 50.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Andrew Burt

    Died 1914. Named in the roll of honour of the pupils and staff of Dunfermline High School (1920).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 93 records for Burt in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand73 records

73 records of the Burt name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 62
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 7
  • Other New Zealand records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Miretta Burt

    Died 1910, aged 32; buried at Linwood 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 Charles Neil Burt

    Buried in 1971 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 81.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Eileen Esme Burt

    Died 1985, aged 61; buried at Picton Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 73 records for Burt in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District 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).

Netherlands23 records

23 records of the Burt name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 12
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 7
  • Dutch population registers 4
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Kooba Burt

    Married in 1825 in Amsterdam; cleaner.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Harrij Cottingham Burt

    Died 1872 in Rotterdam, aged 28.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Johannis Burt

    Baptised in 1708 in Vianen.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 23 records for Burt 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); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France13 records

13 records of the Burt 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 Othon Andre Alphonse Burt

    Born 1902 in Hochfelden; died 1975 in Haguenau (Bas-Rhin).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Anita Jeanne Sarah Burt

    Born 1897 in Paris; died 1992 in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 13 records for Burt 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).

Germany5 records

5 records of the Burt name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Anton Burt

    From Ennetach, Saulgau. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 18 November 1914 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 240).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Josef Burt

    From Dettingen, Hohenzollern. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 16 November 1918.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Burt in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Burt.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Burt 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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