Burnett Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Burnett last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Burnett last name
Meaning of the Burnett last name: brown-haired, of brown complexion. Burnett is a Scottish and English surname from an old word meaning "brown", a nickname for someone with brown hair or skin, or a seller of brown cloth. The last name is common in Aberdeenshire and across the American South. A curious detail of this family name meaning: the Burnetts of Leys lived at Crathes Castle for over 350 years, and an ivory horn said to be a gift from Robert the Bruce still hangs there.
Arms associated with the Burnett name
Scottish heraldry favours bold figures such as lions, stars and hands, and coats of arms associated with the Burnett surname follow that strong, clear style.
Get your full Burnett family history
This is only a glimpse of the Burnett story. The full Burnett history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Burnett coat of arms. Get the full Burnett report.
Burnett name FAQ
What does the Burnett name mean?
Brown-haired, of brown complexion. Common variants include Burnet, Burnard, Burnette.
Where does the Burnett surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States and England.
Is there a Burnett coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Burnett coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); National Trust for Scotland, Crathes Castle, Garden and Estate: property history..