The name Burneston derives from either the
Old Norse personal name
Bryning or the
Old English bryneing meaning 'place cleared by burning', and the Old English
tūn meaning 'settlement'. The village is recorded in the
Domesday Book as "Brennigston" and at the time was the property of Merleswein the Sheriff. The King passed ownership to
Count Alan of Brittany, who made Robert of Moutiers the local landlord. In 1591 the lordship was granted to Sir Richard Theakston by the Queen. It subsequently passed through the Pierse family of Bedale in 1639, the Wastell family in 1682, to eventually reside in 1830 with
Matthew Montagu, 4th Baron Rokeby. The old Roman road of
Dere Street ran near the village and now follows the route of the A1(M). ==Governance==