Surname Burtonwood - Meaning and Origin
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Burtonwood: What does the surname Burtonwood mean?
The last name Burtonwood is believed to derive from a place name, coming from a combination of the Old English 'burh', meaning a fortified place, and 'tun', meaning an enclosure, settlement, or farm, followed by 'wudu', meaning a wood or wooded area. The original name therefore translates to 'wood of the fortified farm or settlement'.
Burtonwood is believed to have first appeared in records in the 12th century, referring to a location near the village of Burtonwood in the West Lancashire district of England. The area surrounding this small village still retains many of its historical landmarks, such as the castle which is thought to date back to the 12th century.
While the Burtonwood name is uncommon, it is not unique, with other families in the UK having adopted the name independently of the village of Burtonwood in Lancashire. The name has also been known to migrate to other parts of the world, with records showing different Burtonwood families living in places such as Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Australia.
For those bearing the Burtonwood name it is likely a reminder of their ancestral links to a specific place in the West Lancashire district, and a remembrance of the history of England.
Order DNA origin analysisBurtonwood: Where does the name Burtonwood come from?
Burtonwood is a common surname located primarily in the United Kingdom today. It has been known to exist as far back as 1327, when it was spelled Byrtunwode. In the early 1600s, it began to spread across the UK, most notably in Lancashire and Nottinghamshire. It was particularly popular among the farming communities, although over the years it has spread further.
Today, there is a Burtonwood village in Cheshire, England and the surname can be found across the country. According to Census data from 2018, there were 1,771 people in the UK using the surname Burtonwood. Most of these people were based in the northwest region, largely around Lancashire.
In addition to the UK, there is also a Burtonwood in Wisconsin and a Burtonwood Air Force Base in Tennessee, USA. It is possible that some descendants of these locales may in fact be related to those in the UK. It is also likely that the surname Burtonwood has variations in spelling, much like many any surname, which likely accounts for the spread of the Burtonwood name across the United Kingdom and beyond.
Variations of the surname Burtonwood
The Burtonwood family name has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames, which all have the same origin.
Burtonwood: this is the most common spelling of the surname. It is typically an English name, derived from a combination of the words ‘burton’ (an Old English term meaning ‘town’) and ‘wood’ (the same word for a ‘forest’).
Birtonwood: this is a variant spelling of Burtonwood, found in different regions of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Burtwood: another spelling variation of Burtonwood, this one is more common in the United States of America.
Bortonwood: this is a rare spelling of the name that is sometimes encountered.
Bartonwood: this is the most rare variant of Burtonwood, and is only found in a very small number of places.
Burtonwood-Smith: this is a hyphenated form of the surname, combining Burtonwood with Smith, another common British surname.
Smith-Burtonwood: this is a hyphenated name with the surnames reversed; this is even rarer than Burtonwood-Smith.
Burston: this is a unrelated surname, derived from the personal name ‘Byrsige’, which was an Old English name.
Burstonwood: this is a combination of the surnames Burston and Burtonwood, which both have the same meaning. It is rare but can sometimes be encountered in some regions.
The origins of the Burtonwood family name are varied and complex, and the many spelling variations of the surname simply reflect the many strands of its history.
Famous people with the name Burtonwood
- Tim Burtonwood: Tim Burtonwood is a British television presenter, producer and actor best known for presenting the ITV show Bargain Hunt.
- Petey Burtonwood: Petey Burtonwood is an American actor most known for the role of Logan Summers in the Netflix original series, Stranger Things.
- Justine Burtonwood: Justine Burtonwood is an American actress and producer who has appeared in films such as Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and Save the Last Dance 2.
- Jimmy Burtonwood: Jimmy Burtonwood is an American handball player who has represented the United States at the Olympics and World Championships.
- John Burtonwood: John Burtonwood is a British theatre director and actor best known for directing productions at the National Theatre and Royal Court Theatre in London.
- Vince Burtonwood: Vince Burtonwood is an American voice actor and director most known for his work in the video game franchise Fallout.
- Amy Burtonwood: Amy Burtonwood is an English actress best known for her role in the British television series EastEnders.
- Lucy Burtonwood: Lucy Burtonwood is a British journalist and presenter best known for her appearances on BBC Radio 4.