Show ContentsBurlison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the name Burlison date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Burlison family lived in the village of Burleston in Dorset.

Early Origins of the Burlison family

The surname Burlison was first found in Dorset, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Burlison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burlison research. Another 207 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1500, 1633 and 1645 are included under the topic Early Burlison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burlison Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Burlison are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Burlison include: Burleson, Burleston, Burlison, Burlyson, Burlson and many more.

Early Notables of the Burlison family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Matthew Burlison, a prominent 17th century property owner in London

Burlison Ranking

In the United States, the name Burlison is the 14,109th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


New Zealand Burlison migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Burlison Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Burlison, aged 34, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Shamrock" in 1856

Contemporary Notables of the name Burlison (post 1700) +

  • Dale Burlison DeArmond (1914-2006), American printmaker, and book illustrator


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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