NameCensus.

UK surname

Bickham

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead by a stream" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 179 people recorded with the Bickham surname, ranking it #13,787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 240, ranked #17,278, down from #13,787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Kingsteignton and Wilmslow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Fenland and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bickham is 257 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.1%.

1881 census count

179

Ranked #13,787

Modern count

240

2016, ranked #17,278

Peak year

2013

257 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bickham had 179 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016, ranked #17,278.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 251 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Bickham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bickham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bickham 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 165 #12,053
1861 historical 154 #14,963
1881 historical 179 #13,787
1891 historical 241 #13,089
1901 historical 199 #15,173
1911 historical 251 #12,870
1997 modern 234 #15,939
1998 modern 243 #15,993
1999 modern 244 #16,052
2000 modern 249 #15,787
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 244 #16,085
2003 modern 243 #15,911
2004 modern 238 #16,242
2005 modern 230 #16,583
2006 modern 227 #16,842
2007 modern 222 #17,288
2008 modern 224 #17,337
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 245 #17,013
2011 modern 239 #17,138
2012 modern 251 #16,467
2013 modern 257 #16,466
2014 modern 256 #16,643
2015 modern 252 #16,705
2016 modern 240 #17,278

Geography

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Where Bickhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Kingsteignton, Wilmslow, Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish and Walcott, Charlcome. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Fenland, Teignbridge and Taunton Deane. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Kingsteignton Devon
3 Wilmslow Cheshire
4 Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish Devon
5 Walcott, Charlcome Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
2 Fenland 011 Fenland
3 Teignbridge 019 Teignbridge
4 Taunton Deane 013 Taunton Deane
5 Cornwall 051 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bickham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bickham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bickham, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Bickham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bickham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bickham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Bickham is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bickham falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bickham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bickham

The surname Bickham has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bic" meaning brook or stream, and "ham" meaning homestead or settlement, indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a brook or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bickham can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1195, where it is spelled "Bicham." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire (1273), where it is spelled "Bickham." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that period, as they were often based on local pronunciations and dialects.

The Bickham surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Bickham in Devon and Bickham in Somerset. These place names likely served as the basis for the surname, as it was common for people to take on the name of the place where they lived or originated from.

One notable individual with the surname Bickham was George Bickham (1684-1758), an English writing master and engraver who published several influential works on calligraphy and penmanship. His publications, such as "The Universal Penman" (1733) and "The British Monarchy" (1743), were widely acclaimed and contributed to the development of writing styles in the 18th century.

Another noteworthy figure was John Bickham (1626-1667), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of University College, Oxford from 1648 until his death. He was known for his scholarly contributions and his role in the governance of the college during a turbulent period in English history.

In the 19th century, James Bickham (1808-1888), a British architect, left his mark on the architectural landscape of London. He designed several notable buildings, including the York and Albany Hotel (1835) and the Brixton Prison (1819-1821), showcasing his expertise in both residential and institutional architecture.

Additionally, the Bickham surname has been associated with John Bickham Gascoyne (1759-1826), an English politician and Member of Parliament who served as the High Sheriff of Somerset in 1802.

Throughout its history, the Bickham surname has maintained a presence in various regions of England, particularly in the southwest, where it is believed to have originated. While not a commonplace surname, it has been carried by individuals who have contributed to various fields, including calligraphy, academia, architecture, and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bickham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bickham 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. Somerset leads with 57 Bickhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.28x.

County Total Index
Somerset 57 20.28x
Middlesex 39 2.23x
Devon 33 9.08x
Cheshire 25 6.49x
Hampshire 7 1.96x
Lancashire 6 0.29x
Cornwall 3 1.52x
Surrey 3 0.35x
Berkshire 2 1.53x
Gloucestershire 2 0.58x
Derbyshire 1 0.37x
Kent 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Taunton St James in Somerset leads with 17 Bickhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 414.63x.

Place Total Index
Taunton St James 17 414.63x
Islington London 12 7.09x
Shoreditch London 11 14.53x
Nether Alderley 10 2941.18x
Chorley In Macclesfield 8 683.76x
St George Martyr London 8 225.99x
Staplegrove 8 2352.94x
Kingston 7 1250.00x
Ryde 7 91.03x
Plymouth Charles The 6 37.48x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 21.43x
Bowdon 5 326.80x
Broomfield 5 2000.00x
Swainswick 5 1315.79x
Walcot 5 33.40x
Bicknoller 4 2000.00x
Bishops Tawton 4 353.98x
Dawlish 4 147.60x
North Tawton 4 357.14x
Wellington 4 104.99x
Chudleigh 3 258.62x
Paddington London 3 4.67x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 24.04x
Norwood 2 50.13x
Old Windsor 2 131.58x
Taunton St Mary 2 38.76x
Warleggan 2 1428.57x
Westminster St John 2 9.41x
Withington 2 29.99x
Bermondsey 1 1.92x
Buxton 1 43.29x
Chatham 1 6.10x
Cirencester 1 21.55x
Dunham Massey 1 84.75x
Exeter St Mary Steps 1 121.95x
Exminster 1 76.34x
Hale 1 75.19x
Kingsteignton 1 99.01x
Lambeth 1 0.66x
Lanlivery 1 120.48x
Liverpool 1 0.79x
Manchester 1 1.07x
Penge 1 8.97x
Salford 1 1.64x
Sowton 1 416.67x
Stretford 1 8.77x
Tetbury 1 51.55x
Westminster St Margaret 1 11.88x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
James 11
George 7
John 7
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Spencer 2
Thomas 2
Alfd.Henry 1
Chars.Thoms. 1
Chas. 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Sarah 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Bickham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bickham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 179 people were recorded with the Bickham surname. That placed it at #13,787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bickham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016. That gives Bickham a modern rank of #17,278.

What does the Bickham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead by a stream" in Old English.

What does the Bickham map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bickham 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.