Burnett County was named for Thomas P. Burnett, an early Wisconsin legislator (Wis. Hist. Colls., ii, p. 325; Gannett, Place Names, p. 55). Although of Virginia birth, Burnett (1800-46) emigrated to Kentucky when a child, and was there educated, practicing law at Paris in that state. In 1829 he was appointed sub-Indian agent at Prairie du Chien, and thereafter made that place his home until 1837, when he removed to Cassville. After five years service in the Indian department he again took up the practice of law, and was influential in Wisconsin Territorial legislation.

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[Source: Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Derivation of County Names" in Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1909, pages 219-231.]