Burns (surname)
The surname Burns has several origins. In some cases, it derived from the Middle English or Scots burn, and originated as a topographic name for an individual who lived by a stream. In other cases the surname is a variant form of the surname Burnhouse, which originated as a habitational name, derived from a place name made up of the word elements burn and house.[1] In other cases the surname Burns originated as a nickname meaning "burn house".[2] In other cases, the surname Burns is an Anglicised form of the Irish Ó Broin,[1] which means "descendant of Bran".[3] In some cases the surname Burns is an Americanized form of the Jewish surname Bernstein,[1] which is derived from the German bernstein ("amber").[4]
An early form of the surname when derived from the place name Burnhouse is "Burnis", recorded in 1526. An early form of the surname when derived from a nickname meaning "burn house" is "Brenhus", recorded in 1286 and 1275.[5]
List of notable persons with the surname Burns
[edit]A
[edit]- Aaron Burns (born 1985), American film producer and actor
- Adrian Burns (born 1971), Australian rules footballer
- Agnes Burns (1762–1834), Scottish social figure
- A. K. Burns (born 1975), American artist
- Alan Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Albert Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alayna Burns (born 1980), Australian cyclist
- Alec Burns (1907–2003), English track and field athlete
- Alec Burns (cricketer) (born 1948), Trinidadian cricketer
- Alex Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alistair Burns (born 1964), English curler
- Allan Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Allen Burns (1870–1925), Australian rules footballer
- Andréa Burns (born 1971), American actress and singer
- Andrew Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Andy Burns (born 1990), American baseball player
- Angela Burns, British politician and businesswoman
- Anna Burns (born 1962), Northern Irish author
- Anne Burns (1915–2001), British engineer and pilot
- Anne Burns (linguist), Welsh-Australian linguist
- Anthony Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Antoine Burns (born 1979), American football player
- Archibald Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Archibaldo Burns (1914–2011), Mexican film director and writer
- Arnold Burns (1930–2013), American lawyer
- Arthur Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Artie Burns (born 1995), American football player
B
[edit]- Barnabas Burns (1817–1883), American politician and soldier
- Barnet Burns (1805–1860), English sailor
- Barry Burns, Scottish musician
- Bart Burns (1918–2007), American actor
- Beatrice Burns (1906–1988), American political figure
- Ben Burns (1913–2000), American publisher
- Benedict Delisle Burns (1915–2001), British neurophysiologist
- Berta Burns (1893–1972), New Zealand journalist and activist
- Beth Burns (born 1957), American basketball coach
- Beverly Burns (born 1949), American aviator
- Bill Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Billy Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Billy Joe Burns (born 1989), Northern Irish footballer
- Bob Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bobby Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Braidon Burns (born 1996), Australian rugby league footballer
- Breehn Burns, American screenwriter
- Brenda Burns (born 1950), American politician
- Brendon Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Brent Burns (born 1985), Canadian hockey player
- Brian Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Britt Burns (born 1959), American baseball player
- Brooke Burns (born 1978), American model and actor
- Bruce Burns (born 1952), American politician
- Bryant Burns (1929–2007), Australian politician
- Burnie Burns (born 1973), American writer and filmmaker
- Burton Burns (born 1952), American football coach
C
[edit]- Carol Burns (1947–2015), Australian actor
- Carol J. Burns, American chemist
- Carolyn Burns (born 1942), New Zealand ecologist
- Casey Burns (born 1975), American illustrator
- Catherine Burns (1945–2019), American actress
- Catherine Lloyd Burns (born 1961), American actress and writer
- C. B. Burns (1879–1968), American baseball player
- C. Delisle Burns (1879–1942), English writer
- Cha Burns (1957–2007), Scottish guitarist
- Charles Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Chris Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Christian Burns (born 1974), British musician
- Christian Burns (basketball) (born 1985), Italian-American basketball player
- Christine Burns (born 1954), British political activist
- Clarence H. Burns (1918–2003), American politician
- Clinton Sumner Burns (1871–1924), American civil engineer
- Colin Burns (born 1982), American soccer player
- Conrad Burns (1935–2016), American politician
- Cory Burns (born 1987), American baseball player
- Creighton Burns (1925–2008), Australian journalist
- Curry Burns (born 1981), American football player
D
[edit]- Dan Burns (born 1988), American lacrosse player
- Darin Burns (born 1964), Canadian football player
- Darren Burns (rugby league) (born 1974), Australian rugby league footballer
- Dave Burns (football manager), Dutch-British football coach
- Dave Burns (sportscaster) (born 1963), American sportscaster
- David Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dawson Burns (1828–1909), English minister
- DeChon Burns (born 1970), American football coach
- Declan Burns (born 1956), Irish canoeist
- Denis Burns (born 1952), Irish hurling manager
- Dennis Burns (1898–1968), American baseball player
- Deondre Burns (born 1997), American basketball player
- DeWayne Burns (born 1972), American politician
- Diann Burns (born 1958), American news anchor
- Dick Burns (1863–1937), American baseball player
- D. J. Burns (born 2000), American basketball player
- Dominic Burns (born 1983), English film director
- Donald Burns (1921–1987), New Zealand cricket umpire
- Donnie Burns (born 1959), British dancer
- Draelon Burns (born 1985), American basketball player
- Duncan Burns, British wrestler
E
[edit]- Éamonn Burns (born 1972), Irish Gaelic footballer
- Éamonn Burns (Down Gaelic footballer) (1963–2019), Irish Gaelic footballer and manager
- Ed Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Eddie Burns (1916–2004), Australian rugby league footballer
- Edmund Burns (1892–1980), American actor
- Edward Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Eileen Burns (born 1989), Irish cyclist
- Eleanor Burns (born 1945), American quilter
- Elinor Burns (1887–1978), British suffragist
- Elizabeth Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ellen Bree Burns (1923–2019), American judge
- E. L. M. Burns (1897–1985), Canadian Army officer and diplomat
- Emelia Burns (born 1982), Australian actress
- Emile Burns (1889–1972), British author and economist
- Emmett C. Burns Jr. (1940-2022), American politician
- Eric Burns (born 1945), American media critic
- Erin Burns (born 1988), Australian cricketer
- Eugene Burns (??–1958), American war correspondent
- Eveline M. Burns (1900–1985), British-American economist
- Evers Burns (born 1971), American basketball player
F
[edit]- Farmer Burns (baseball) (1876–??), American baseball player
- F. C. Burns (1890–1915), American football player and businessman
- Findley Burns Jr. (1917–2003), American ambassador
- Frances E. Burns (1866-1937), American social leader and business executive
- Francis Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Frank Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Frankie Burns (1889–1961), American boxer
- Fred Burns (tennis) (1889–1971), American tennis player
- Fred Burns (actor) (1878–1955), American actor
- Freddie Burns (born 1990), English rugby union footballer
- Frederick William Burns (1860–1923), American sports announcer
G
[edit]- Gene Burns (1940–2013), American radio host
- George Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gerald Burns (1940–1997), American poet
- Gerard M. Burns (born 1961), Scottish painter
- Gilbert Burns (born 1986), Brazilian mixed martial artist
- Gilbert Burns (farmer) (1760–1827), Scottish farmer
- Gill Burns (born 1964), English rugby union footballer
- Glenn Burns (born 1952), American meteorologist
- Gordon Burns (born 1942), Northern Irish broadcaster
- Gordon Burns (footballer) (born 1978), Scottish footballer
- Graeme Burns (born 1971), Scottish rugby union footballer and coach
- Graham Burns (born 1966), British canoeist
- Greg Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gregory Burns (born 1957), American athlete
H
[edit]- Harold Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Harriet Burns (1928–2008), American artist
- Harry Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Helen Burns (1916–2018), English actress
- Henry Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Herbert Burns (born 1988), Brazilian mixed martial artist
- Howard Burns (born 1939), British professor
- Hugh Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
I
[edit]- Ian Burns (footballer) (1939–2015), Scottish footballer
- Ian Burns (snooker player) (born 1985), English snooker player
- Inez Brown Burns (1886–1976), American socialite
- Irene Burns, American television producer
- Isaac Burns (1869–1946), British trade unionist
- Isabella Burns (1771–1858), Scottish publisher
- Islay Burns (1817–1872), Scottish theologian
J
[edit]- Jabez Burns (1805–1876), English philosopher
- Jack Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jackie Burns (born 1980), American actress
- Jackson Burns (1956–2016), American stunt performer
- Jacob Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jacqueline Burns (born 1997), Northern Irish footballer
- Jaira Burns (born 1997), American singer-songwriter
- Jake Burns (born 1958), Irish musician
- Jake Burns (rugby union) (born 1941), New Zealand rugby union footballer
- James Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jarlath Burns (born 1968), Irish Gaelic footballer
- Jason Burns (American football) (born 1972), American football player
- Jean Burns (1919–2019), Australian aviator
- Jennifer Burns, American politician
- Jerry Burns (1927–2021), American football player and coach
- Jessie Burns, Canadian musician
- J. Frederick Burns, American politician
- J. H. Burns (1921–2012), Scottish historian
- Jim Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- J. Irving Burns (1843–1925), American lawyer and politician
- Jock Burns (1894–1963), Scottish footballer
- Joel Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- John Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jon G. Burns (born 1952), American politician
- Jordan Burns (born 1997), American basketball player
- Jordyn Burns (born 1992), American ice hockey player
- Joseph Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Josh Burns (born 1978), American mixed martial artist
- Josh Burns (politician) (born 1987), Australian politician
- Joy S. Burns, American corporate executive
- J. Stewart Burns (born 1969), American television writer
K
[edit]- Karen Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Karl Burns (born 1958), British musician
- Karla Burns (1954–2021), American soprano
- Kat Burns, Canadian musician
- Kay Burns, Canadian artist
- Keith Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kennedy Francis Burns (1842–1895), Canadian businessman and politician
- Kenneth Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kevin Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kida Burns (born 2002), American hip-hop dancer
- Kieran Burns (born 1992), Scottish footballer
- Killian Burns (born 1975), Irish Gaelic footballer
- Kit Burns (1831–1870), American sportsman
- Kodi Burns (born 1988), American football coach
- Krysta Burns (born 1996), Canadian curler
L
[edit]- Lamont Burns (born 1974), American former footballer
- Larry Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Laura Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lauren Burns (born 1974), Australian taekwondo practitioner
- Lauri Burns, American writer and philanthropist
- Lawton Burns (born 1951), American business theorist
- Lenny Burns, British singer
- Leon Burns (1942–1984), American professional footballer
- Leopoldina Burns (1855–1942), American missionary
- Les Burns (1920–2015), Australian rules footballer
- Liam Burns (born 1978), Northern Irish footballer
- Liam Burns (NUS president) (born 1984), British union leader
- Lilly Burns, American television producer
- Lindsay Burns (born 1965), American rower
- Lindy Burns, Australian radio presenter
- Lizzie Burns (1827–1878), Irish political figure
- Lloyd Burns (born 1984), Welsh rugby union footballer
- Loree Griffin Burns, American author
- Louis Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Louisa Burns (1869–1958), American physician
- Louise Burns (born 1985), Canadian singer-songwriter
- Lucy Burns (1879–1966), American suffragist
- Luke F. Burns (1881–1956), American lawyer and politician
M
[edit]- Malcolm Burns (1910–1986), New Zealand agriculturalist
- M. Anthony Burns (born 1942), American businessman
- Marc Burns (born 1983), Trinidadian athlete
- Margaret Burns (1769–1792), Scottish prostitute
- Marge Burns (1925–2009), American professional golfer
- Margo Burns, American historian
- Marilyn Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Marion Burns (1907–1993), American actress
- Marjorie Burns (born 1940), English literary scholar
- Mark Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Marsha Burns (born 1945), American photographer
- Martha Burns (born 1957), Canadian actress
- Martin Burns (1861–1937), American wrestler
- Marvin Burns (1928–1990), American water polo player
- Mary Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Matthew James Burns (born 1985), Scottish record producer
- Max Burns (born 1948), American politician
- Megan Burns (born 1986), English musician and actor
- Michael Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- M. Michele Burns (born 1958), American businesswoman
- Morgan Burns (born 1993), American football player
- M. W. Burns (born 1958), American sound artist
N
[edit]- Nathan Burns (born 1988), Australian footballer
- Neal Burns (1892–1969), American actor
- Neil Burns (born 1965), English cricketer
- Neil Burns (footballer) (born 1945), Scottish footballer
- Nellie Marie Burns (1850–1897), American actor and poet
- Nica Burns (born 1954), British theatre producer
- Nicholas Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Norm Burns (1918–1995), Canadian ice hockey player
O
[edit]- Olive Ann Burns (1924–1990), American writer
- Otto L. Burns (1868–1941), American politician
- Otway Burns (1775–1850), American privateer
- Owen Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Oyster Burns (1864–1928), American baseball player
P
[edit]- Paddy Burns (1881–1943), New Zealand rugby union footballer
- Patrick Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Patti Burns (1952–2001), American journalist
- Paul Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Pauline Powell Burns (1872–1912), American pianist and artist
- Pete Burns (1959–2016), English musician
- Peter Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
R
[edit]- Ralph Burns (1922–2001), American pianist
- Randal Burns, American computer scientist
- Randy Burns (born 1948), American singer-songwriter
- Raymond Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rebecca Burns, American journalist
- Red Burns (1925–2013), Canadian-American academic
- Regan Burns (born 1968), American actor
- Rex Burns (born 1935), American author
- Ric Burns (born 1955), American documentary filmmaker and writer
- Richard Burns (1971–2005), English rally driver
- Ricky Burns (born 1983), Scottish boxer
- R. Nicholas Burns (born 1956), American politician
- Rob Burns (born 1953), New Zealand bass player
- Robert Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ronald Burns (athlete) (1903–1985), Indian sprinter
- Ronnie Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rory Burns (born 1990), English cricketer
- Roy Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ryan Burns (born 1992), Northern Irish footballer
S
[edit]- Sam Burns (born 1996), American golfer
- Samuel Burns (born 1982), American rower
- Sarah Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Scott Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sean Burns (footballer) (born 1991), Scottish footballer
- Shernyl Burns (born 1991), West Indian cricketer
- Sheryl Burns, New Zealand netball player
- Silas Reese Burns (1855–1940), American architect
- Síle Burns (born 1985), Irish camogie player
- Simon Burns (born 1952), British politician
- Stephan W. Burns (1954–1990), American actor
- Stephanie Burns (born 1955), American chemist
- Stephen Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Steve Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Stewart Burns (born 1899), Scottish golfer
- Sylvia Burns (born 1955), South African lawn bowler
T
[edit]- Tanner Burns (born 1998), American baseball player
- Tara Burns (fl. 1990s–2020s), Irish judge
- Ted Burns (1889–1972), Australian rules footballer
- Terry Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Thea Burns, American art conservator
- Theobald M. Burns (1862–1926), Canadian merchant and politician
- Thomas Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tim Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tito Burns (1921–2010), British musician
- Todd Burns (born 1963), American baseball player
- Tommy Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tony Burns (born 1944), English footballer
- Tosher Burns (1902–1984), Irish footballer
- T. P. Burns (1924–2018), Irish jockey
- Travis Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Trevor Burns (born 2001), American soccer player
U
[edit]- Ursula Burns (born 1958), American businesswoman
V
[edit]- Veronica Burns (1914–1998), Irish museum curator
- Vincent Burns (1981–2024), American football player
W
[edit]- Waller Thomas Burns (1858–1917), American judge
- Walter Noble Burns (1866–1932), American author
- Wes Burns (born 1994), Welsh footballer
- W. Haydon Burns (1912–1987), American politician
- W. Haywood Burns (1940–1996), American lawyer and activist
- Wilfred Burns (born 1990), British composer
- Wilfred Burns (town planner) (1923–1984), British town planner
- William Burns (disambiguation), multiple people
- Willie Burns (1916–1966), American baseball player
- Willis B. Burns (1851–1915), American businessman and politician
Z
[edit]- Zachary Burns (born 1996), American rower
Fictional characters
[edit]- Mr. Burns, a character in the television series The Simpsons
- Eunice Burns, a character in the film What's Up, Doc?
- Sir Isambard Burns, a character in Raymond Postgate's novel Verdict of Twelve
See also
[edit]- Berns (surname), a page with people with the given surname "Berns"
- Governor Burns (disambiguation), a disambiguation page with Governors surnamed "Burns"
- Lord Burns (disambiguation), a disambiguation page with Lords surnamed "Burns"
- Senator Burns (disambiguation), a disambiguation page with Senators surnamed "Burns"
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Oxford Dictionary of Family Names: Burns, Answers.com, retrieved 28 January 2013. This webpage is a partial transcription of Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, 2006.
- ^ Reaney, Percy Hilde (1995), Wilson, Richard Middlewood (ed.), A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, pp. 63, 75, ISBN 0-19-863146-4.
- ^ Oxford Dictionary of Family Names: Byrne, Answers.com, retrieved 28 January 2013. This webpage is a partial transcription of Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, 2006.
- ^ Oxford Dictionary of Family Names: Bernstein, Answers.com, retrieved 28 January 2013. This webpage is a partial transcription of Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, 2006.
- ^ Reaney, Percy Hilde (1995), Wilson, Richard Middlewood (ed.), A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 75, ISBN 0-19-863146-4.