Sherburne is an English surname, a variant of Sherburn. The name originates as a locational surname for someone who hailed from any of the various places called Sherborne or Sherburn in England. These place names derive from Old English scir 'bright' and burna 'spring, fountain, stream', referring to a bright or clear stream.
Etymology
The spelling 'Sherburne' represents a regular variant, formed by adding a final 'e' common in early modern English. The element '-burne' is an archaic spelling of 'burn' (a small stream), and 'sher-' comes from 'shire' (or directly from 'scir'), indicating a bright or clear characteristic. Comparable placenames include Sherborne in Dorset and Sherburn in Durham.
Distribution
According to the 2010 United States Census, Sherburne is the 15,615th most common surname in the US, belonging to 1,871 individuals and most prevalent among white people. Related forms include Sherborne and Sherburn.
- Meaning: 'bright stream'
- Origin: English locational surname
- Type: Variant of Sherburn
- Usage regions: England, United States
Sources: Wiktionary — Sherburne