Origin and Meaning of Burnett

From the brook or stream

Origin: English - Derived from the Old French word 'burnete', meaning 'brown'. It also has elements relating to geographical features, specifically 'burn', which means stream in Scottish.

• Burnett was initially used as a surname before it became popular as a first name, especially in English-speaking regions.
• The name is often associated with Scottish heritage, reflecting the geographical features of the land.
• Notable bearers of the surname Burnett include the famous American writer and playwright, Lillian Hellman Burnett.
• While not extremely common as a first name, Burnett has seen a steady rise in recent years, especially as unique and vintage names gain popularity.
• Related variations include Burnett's commonly used diminutive forms like Burnie and other spelling variations such as Burnet.