Burns

Meaning

A person who lived near a stream or small river.

Etymology

Derived from the Scots word 'burn' meaning stream or brook, indicating a topographic origin. The surname became common throughout Scotland as families were identified by geographical features near their settlements.

About the Burns Surname

Burns is a common Scottish surname made famous by poet Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet who wrote 'Auld Lang Syne.' The name reflects the Scottish landscape and the importance of waterways in settlement patterns.

Distribution

Found throughout Scotland with particularly high concentrations in the southwest, and significant diaspora in North America and Australia.

People with the Burns Surname