A Scottish name, Burnett, comes from the Scottish clan of Burnett. The name is originally from Old French term of ‘burnete’ which meant brown, including the act of dying wool cloth brown. It has also become an English surname. Variations in spelling Burnett include Burnet, Burnat and Burnatt. In northern England, around Yorkshire and Lancashire counties is where primarily the Burnett families live. Across Scotland the Burnett surname is found, but mostly in Aberdeenshire, Angus and Midlothian counties. The states across the southern and northeastern region of the United States have many Burnett families. Most are in Arkansas, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama, California, Texas. Kentucky and Illinois. Famous: Carol Burnett (comedian actress and performer), Max Burnett (movie and TV producer, writer and director), Rob Burnett (professional football player), Stephen Grover Burnett (pioneer settler of Indiana), Richie Burnett (champion dart player from Wales), Murray Burnett (playwright), Henry Lawrence Burnett (Civil War Union brigadier general) and Erin Isabelle Burnett (news reporter for television).