The surname of Burns comes from "Burnhouse" a dwelling near a burn or a stream. Although "burn" is a common word in Scotland for a stream, the word originated in Old English. The singular form "Burn" is found in Dumfries and Galloway in the 13th and 14th century.
The poet Robert Burns' father came from Kincardineshire on the east coast of Scotland and spelt his name Burness. Robert and his brother adopted the spelling "Burns" a form which first appeared in written records only in the 17th century.
The illustration of Robert Burns above is from a commemmorative Scottish Banknote.
Burns is regarded as a sept of clan Campbell.
Burns was the 60th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.
