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Burton Family History

Burton Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from a placename that is very common in central and northern England.

The derivation in most cases is from Old English burh ‘fort’ (see Burke) + tūn ‘enclosure settlement’.

French (northeastern): regional variant of Berton.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Burton family from?

You can see how Burton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Burton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Burton families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,689 Burton families living in Yorkshire. This was about 14% of all the recorded Burton's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Burton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Burton surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Burton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Burton. 7% of Burton men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Burton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Burton were Retired and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Burton | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Farmer
    2%
  • Bricklayer
    2%
  • Retired
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Burton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 941,000 census records available for the last name Burton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Burton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Burton

Passenger Lists

There are 74,000 immigration records available for the last name Burton. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Burton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 127,000 military records available for the last name Burton. For the veterans among your Burton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Burton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Burton family history

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What is the average Burton lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Burton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Burton in 1940 was 62, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Burton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Burton ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Burton family tree

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