The Old English word burh refers to a ‘fort’ The word tun means an ‘enclosure’ or ‘settlement’. It can also mean a settlement belonging to a fort.

This English word is a very common place name in central and northern England.
Various spellings include: Burtone, Bourton, Bortune or Borton.

In the United States, Burton families live in the eastern half of the United States, as well as Texas and California. In England, most Burtons are in Lancashire and Yorkshire counties.
In Scotland the largest population are in Lanarkshire and Midlothian counties.

Burton families were mostly farmers in 1880s.

Famous: Richard Burton (actor from Wales), Tim W. Burton (film director, film producer, writer and artist), Charles E. Burton ( Irish astronomer), Richard Francis Burton (19th century English explorer, translator, writer, soldier), Lance Burton (stage illusionist), Clarence Burton (silent film actor) and LaVar Burton, Jr. (film and TV actor).