NameCensus.

UK surname

Bickford

Derived from a place name meaning "bee cottage ford" in Old English, referring to a ford near a beekeeping cottage.

In the 1881 census there were 555 people recorded with the Bickford surname, ranking it #6,219 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 455, ranked #10,716, down from #6,219 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Harberton and St Martin, St Mary, Trescoe, Bryher, Sampson, St Agnes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Cardiff and South Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bickford is 693 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.0%.

1881 census count

555

Ranked #6,219

Modern count

455

2016, ranked #10,716

Peak year

1911

693 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bickford had 555 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,219 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 455 in 2016, ranked #10,716.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 693 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bickford surname distribution map

The map shows where the Bickford surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Bickford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bickford over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 368 #6,459
1861 historical 413 #6,216
1881 historical 555 #6,219
1891 historical 598 #6,402
1901 historical 653 #6,621
1911 historical 693 #6,131
1997 modern 465 #9,817
1998 modern 502 #9,562
1999 modern 501 #9,648
2000 modern 502 #9,605
2001 modern 482 #9,717
2002 modern 506 #9,545
2003 modern 489 #9,646
2004 modern 478 #9,823
2005 modern 469 #9,892
2006 modern 464 #10,007
2007 modern 470 #10,012
2008 modern 467 #10,146
2009 modern 472 #10,286
2010 modern 476 #10,434
2011 modern 476 #10,333
2012 modern 457 #10,548
2013 modern 463 #10,602
2014 modern 461 #10,694
2015 modern 457 #10,695
2016 modern 455 #10,716

Geography

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Where Bickfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Harberton, St Martin, St Mary, Trescoe, Bryher, Sampson, St Agnes, Bickington and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Cardiff, South Staffordshire and Torbay. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 Harberton Devon
3 St Martin, St Mary, Trescoe, Bryher, Sampson, St Agnes Cornwall
4 Bickington Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 012 Sevenoaks
2 Cardiff 023 Cardiff
3 South Staffordshire 001 South Staffordshire
4 South Staffordshire 006 South Staffordshire
5 Torbay 014 Torbay

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bickford

These lists show first names that appear often with the Bickford surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bickford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bickford, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Bickford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bickford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bickford is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bickford is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bickford falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bickford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bickford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bickford

The surname Bickford has its origins in England, and it is believed to have emerged in the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bic" meaning "beak" or "peak," and "ford," which refers to a shallow river crossing or a ford.

The name likely originated in areas where there were prominent landscape features resembling a beak or peak near a ford, such as in Devon or Cornwall. Some early spellings of the name included Bickford, Bickforde, and Bykford.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Bickford surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Devon from the year 1230, where a Walter de Bickford is listed. In the 13th century, the Bickford family held lands and properties in the parish of Bickford-Dolton in Devon.

In the 14th century, the Bickford family gained prominence, and several members were mentioned in historical records. Sir Roger Bickford (c. 1320-1384) was a notable figure who served as a member of Parliament for Devon in 1361 and 1372.

During the 16th century, the Bickfords were well-established landowners in Devon, with several branches of the family possessing manors and estates. One notable individual from this period was Sir Hugh Bickford (c. 1520-1592), who served as a Member of Parliament for Devon in 1572.

Another prominent figure with the Bickford surname was John Bickford (1644-1718), an English theologian and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Christian Hebraist" and "The Primitive Doctrine of the Protestant Church."

In the 18th century, Reverend Richard Bickford (1700-1769) was a notable Anglican clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Totnes and the Rector of Stoke Fleming in Devon.

Across the Atlantic, in the American colonies, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Bickford surname was that of John Bickford (c. 1635-1704), who settled in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1650s and was a founder of the town of Sandwich, New Hampshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bickford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bickford surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 241 Bickfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.12x.

County Total Index
Devon 241 21.12x
Cornwall 115 18.53x
Staffordshire 34 1.84x
Middlesex 33 0.60x
Hampshire 27 2.40x
Northumberland 13 1.59x
Pembrokeshire 12 6.89x
Cheshire 10 0.83x
Glamorgan 10 1.05x
Dorset 9 2.50x
Lancashire 9 0.14x
Gloucestershire 8 0.74x
Kent 6 0.32x
Royal Navy 6 9.18x
Somerset 6 0.68x
Surrey 6 0.22x
Essex 5 0.46x
Northamptonshire 4 0.78x
Derbyshire 3 0.35x
Durham 1 0.06x
Isle of Man 1 0.98x
Monmouthshire 1 0.25x
Renfrewshire 1 0.24x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 30 Bickfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.13x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 30 34.13x
Portsea 27 12.26x
Harberton 23 884.62x
Scilly Islands St Mary 22 909.09x
Stoke Damerel 15 18.78x
St Germans 14 323.33x
Tormoham 13 26.93x
Bickington 12 2666.67x
Plymouth Charles The 12 23.87x
Calstock 11 90.39x
Pembroke St Mary 11 49.02x
Llandaff 10 31.49x
Maker 10 174.52x
Modbury 10 343.64x
St Just In Roseland 10 367.65x
Lapley 9 642.86x
St George Hanover Square 9 9.32x
Ashburton 8 146.52x
Bradley 8 860.22x
Halwell 8 640.00x
Highweek 8 196.56x
Stonehouse East 8 138.17x
Ashington Sheepwash 7 4117.65x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.94x
Brixham 7 52.95x
Bromley London 7 5.80x
Paignton 7 80.65x
St Ive 7 175.88x
Tavistock 7 53.85x
Ugborough 7 253.62x
Blackawton 6 301.51x
Bothal Demesne 6 153.85x
Clifton 6 11.04x
Combeinteignhead 6 740.74x
Poole St James 6 44.38x
Scilly Islands Bryher 6 3157.89x
Week St Mary 6 612.24x
Wolverhampton 6 4.22x
Brewood Featherstone 5 1351.35x
Littleham 5 59.95x
Nantwich 5 35.56x
Royal Navy 5 8.95x
South Milton 5 757.58x
Altarnun 4 185.19x
Burnley 4 7.30x
Dodbrooke 4 176.21x
East Portlemouth 4 689.66x
Exeter St Lawrence 4 465.12x
Runcorn 4 14.34x
Wellingborough 4 15.43x
West Ham 4 1.67x
Beaminster 3 75.00x
Everton 3 1.45x
Ilkeston 3 12.47x
Kensington London 3 0.98x
Kingsbridge 3 104.53x
Lanivet 3 155.44x
Malborough 3 66.08x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 3 128.21x
Richmond 3 8.02x
Saredon 3 588.24x
St Erme 3 315.79x
Stratton 3 89.02x
Taunton St James 3 23.31x
Bedminster 2 2.41x
Camborne 2 7.82x
Charleton 2 194.17x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.39x
East Allington 2 204.08x
East Stonehouse 2 8.90x
East Teignmouth 2 42.83x
Hackney London 2 0.65x
Jacobstow 2 250.00x
Marhamchurch 2 198.02x
North Huish 2 294.12x
Poplar London 2 1.93x
Scilly Islands St Martin 2 606.06x
Tettenhall 2 17.68x
Whitstone 2 259.74x
Plymstock 1 16.72x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bickford surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 40
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 18
Jane 13
Alice 10
Emma 9
Emily 8
Annie 7
Clara 6
Ann 5
Charlotte 5
Eliza 5
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Susan 5
Catherine 4
Hannah 4
Matilda 4
Rhoda 4
Sophia 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Emmaline 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Maud 3
Avis 2
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
Betsy 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Grace 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Louise 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Phoebe 2
Susannah 2
Arabella 1
Carry 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebth. 1
Helena 1
Hilda 1
Honor 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bickford surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 48
John 43
Thomas 19
James 14
Charles 11
George 11
Henry 9
Nicholas 7
Richard 7
Samuel 7
Wm. 6
Edward 5
Robert 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Andrew 2
Arscott 2
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Henery 2
Humphrey 2
Musgrave 2
Philip 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Albertus 1
Bertram 1
Chas. 1
Earnest 1
Edley 1
Edmand 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Ezekiel 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Frycott 1
Jno. 1
Josh.Grant 1
Kenneth 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Llewellyn 1
Norman 1
Peter 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Bickford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bickford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 555 people were recorded with the Bickford surname. That placed it at #6,219 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bickford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 455 in 2016. That gives Bickford a modern rank of #10,716.

What does the Bickford surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "bee cottage ford" in Old English, referring to a ford near a beekeeping cottage.

What does the Bickford map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bickford bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.