This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Burness family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Burness Family History

Burness Surname Meaning

Scottish: variant of Burns.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Burness family from?

You can see how Burness families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Burness family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Burness families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 66 Burness families living in London. This was about 32% of all the recorded Burness's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Burness families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Burness surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Burness ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Hand Factory Worker Airc and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Burness. 34% of Burness men worked as a General Hand Factory Worker Airc and 81% of Burness women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Burness were Shop Assistant (beer Wine spirit Merchant) and Private Means.

View Census Data for Burness | 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 Hand Factory Worker Airc
    34%
  • Wood Machinist
    34%
  • Shop Assistant (beer Wine spirit Merchant)
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Office Cleaner
    4%
  • Private Means
    4%

What Burness family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Burness. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Burness census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Burness

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Burness. 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 Burness immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Burness. For the veterans among your Burness ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Burness military records

You've only scratched the surface of Burness family history

Discover More

What is the average Burness lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Burness life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2002, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Burness in 1959 was 59, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Burness

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Burness 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 Burness family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial