It's very much a last name to me. Around here it's pretty common, and prominent. There's a Chevy dealership called IG Burton, and I believe an appliance center called Burton Brothers.
I kind of like the name Bert (that spelling) as a friendly, uncle-ish kind of name. But also because of Sesame Street.
Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you criticize him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes!
Steve Martin