Show ContentsBurnette History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Burnette family

The surname Burnette was first found in Berwickshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Faringdon where they held a manor and estates in that shire. The earliest record was of Robert Burnett in 1128. Later, an Alexander Burnard or Burnett went north with King Robert I and acquired lands in the forest of Drum. He was also granted the barony of Tulliboyll in Kincardine. Roger Burnard, his successor, had four sons, Goufrid, Ralph, Walter, and Richard. Crathes Castle is the family seat; it dates from 1553, and contains some extraordinary 16th century painted ceilings.

Early History of the Burnette family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burnette research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1208, 1615, 1643, 1663, 1664, 1669, 1674, 1679, 1684, 1688, 1715, 1720, 1728, 1729 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Burnette History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burnette Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Burnett, Burnet, Burnatt, Burnat and others.

Early Notables of the Burnette family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Alexander Burnard of the barony of Tulliboyll. Alexander Burnet (1615-1684), a Scottish clergyman, Bishop of Aberdeen (1663-1664), Archbishop of Glasgow...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Burnette Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burnette Ranking

In the United States, the name Burnette is the 1,723rd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Burnette family to Ireland

Some of the Burnette family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Burnette family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Jo and Nicholas Burnett who settled in Virginia in 1635; followed by Samuel in 1648; and Abigail in 1698; John Burnett settled in Barbados in 1685; the Burnetts also settled in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and California.


Contemporary Notables of the name Burnette (post 1700) +

  • Wallace Harper Burnette (1929-2003), American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Athletics from 1956-1958
  • Dorsey Burnette (1932-1979), American rockabilly singer, father of Billy Burnette
  • Dorsey William "Billy" Burnette III (b. 1953), American guitarist, singer and songwriter, member of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1995
  • Justin Burnette (b. 1980), American five-time Young Artist Award nominated child actor
  • Olivia Burnette (b. 1977), American actress
  • Reginald Burnette (b. 1968), American former linebacker in the National Football League
  • John Joseph "Johnny" Burnette (1934-1964), American rockabilly musician
  • Rocky Burnette (b. 1953), American rock and roll singer and musician, son of Johnny Burnette
  • James McCollum Burnette, American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, 1946-47 2
  • Harvey L. Burnette, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Cheraw, South Carolina, 1941-57 2
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Burnette Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virescit vulnere virtus
Motto Translation: Courage grows stronger at the wound.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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