NameCensus.

UK surname

Bicknell

Derived from a place name meaning "bee-keeper's hill" in Old English, referring to someone living near such a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 1,191 people recorded with the Bicknell surname, ranking it #3,384 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,230, ranked #2,912, up from #3,384 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Yeovil, London parishes and Chiddingfold, Haslemere. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Chichester and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bicknell is 2,439 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.2%.

1881 census count

1,191

Ranked #3,384

Modern count

2,230

2016, ranked #2,912

Peak year

1998

2,439 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bicknell had 1,191 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,384 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,230 in 2016, ranked #2,912.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,958 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bicknell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bicknell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bicknell 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 797 #3,352
1861 historical 669 #4,009
1881 historical 1,191 #3,384
1891 historical 1,225 #3,514
1901 historical 1,681 #3,069
1911 historical 1,958 #2,536
1997 modern 2,354 #2,650
1998 modern 2,439 #2,665
1999 modern 2,432 #2,697
2000 modern 2,412 #2,700
2001 modern 2,343 #2,715
2002 modern 2,386 #2,726
2003 modern 2,330 #2,726
2004 modern 2,294 #2,757
2005 modern 2,236 #2,790
2006 modern 2,217 #2,822
2007 modern 2,230 #2,820
2008 modern 2,245 #2,830
2009 modern 2,296 #2,839
2010 modern 2,317 #2,876
2011 modern 2,301 #2,856
2012 modern 2,243 #2,875
2013 modern 2,291 #2,867
2014 modern 2,265 #2,909
2015 modern 2,231 #2,913
2016 modern 2,230 #2,912

Geography

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Where Bicknells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Yeovil, London parishes, Chiddingfold, Haslemere and Southam. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Chichester and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 Yeovil Somerset
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Chiddingfold, Haslemere Surrey
5 Southam Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 017 Waverley
2 Chichester 001 Chichester
3 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Waverley 005 Waverley
5 Waverley 016 Waverley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bicknell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bicknell

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Bicknell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bicknell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bicknell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bicknell is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bicknell falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bicknell 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 Bicknell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bicknell

The surname Bicknell is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bic" meaning "a brook or stream" and "cnoll" meaning "a small hill or mound". This suggests that the name likely originated from a topographical feature, potentially referring to someone who lived near a small hill with a stream.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Bicknell appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1186, where it is spelled as "Bichenhill". This record indicates that the name was already in use during the late 12th century in the county of Gloucestershire.

The Bicknell surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it is recorded as "Bykenhulle". This variation in spelling highlights the evolution of the name over time and the regional differences in pronunciation and documentation.

In the 16th century, the Bicknell family had a notable presence in the village of Bicknor, located in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. This place name is likely derived from the same Old English roots as the surname, further solidifying the connection between the name and the geographical features of the area.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bicknell was John Bicknell, who was born in 1540 in Siston, Gloucestershire. Another notable figure was Thomas Bicknell, a Puritan minister born in 1575 in Farnham, Surrey, who later emigrated to New England in the early 17th century.

In the 17th century, the Bicknell family had established a strong presence in the county of Kent. Zachary Bicknell, born in 1628 in Mayfield, East Sussex, was a prominent figure in the family during this period.

In the 18th century, James Bicknell (1737-1789), a British artist and engraver, gained recognition for his landscapes and portraits. He was born in London and is considered one of the most accomplished engravers of his time.

Another notable figure was Benjamin Bicknell (1781-1850), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several important projects, including the renovation of the Guildhall in London.

Throughout its history, the Bicknell surname has been associated with various professions and achievements, from ministers and artists to architects and surveyors, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who have carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bicknell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bicknell 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. Surrey leads with 224 Bicknells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.95x.

County Total Index
Surrey 224 3.95x
Warwickshire 179 6.09x
Middlesex 158 1.36x
Hampshire 115 4.82x
Somerset 113 6.03x
Sussex 91 4.63x
Devon 87 3.59x
Kent 34 0.86x
Dorset 30 3.92x
Lancashire 27 0.20x
Gloucestershire 22 0.96x
Nottinghamshire 18 1.15x
Caernarfonshire 12 2.55x
Worcestershire 12 0.79x
Monmouthshire 10 1.19x
Essex 9 0.39x
Staffordshire 9 0.23x
Bedfordshire 7 1.16x
Berkshire 7 0.80x
Durham 7 0.20x
Cornwall 6 0.46x
Hertfordshire 6 0.75x
Oxfordshire 4 0.56x
Royal Navy 3 2.16x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.14x
Northumberland 1 0.06x
Shropshire 1 0.10x
Suffolk 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Selborne in Hampshire leads with 55 Bicknells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1131.69x.

Place Total Index
Selborne 55 1131.69x
Southam 45 630.25x
Aston 29 3.59x
Haslemere 28 626.40x
Lambeth 24 2.36x
Bulkington 22 346.46x
Birmingham 21 2.15x
Hammersmith London 21 7.32x
Islington London 20 1.77x
Battersea 19 4.43x
Bermondsey 19 5.48x
Lurgashall 19 650.68x
Godalming 16 44.78x
Mudford 16 1052.63x
Portsea 16 3.42x
South Bersted 16 95.81x
Yeovil 16 42.01x
Newton Abbot St Mary 15 73.75x
Pitminster 15 272.23x
Fernhurst 14 321.84x
Martock 14 114.85x
Sandford 14 236.09x
Hinton St George 13 477.94x
Bangor 12 26.42x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 21.61x
St Pancras London 12 1.28x
Crediton 11 47.89x
Farnham 11 24.93x
Nether Compton 11 714.29x
St George Hanover Square 11 5.36x
Camberwell 10 1.34x
Newington 10 2.32x
Nottingham St Peter 10 57.14x
Sowe 10 189.04x
St Woollos 10 10.64x
Liverpool 9 1.07x
West Ham 9 1.77x
Alverstoke 8 9.26x
Brighton 8 2.02x
Coventry St Michael 8 8.48x
Cubbington 8 204.08x
Fareham 8 27.88x
Frensham 8 96.04x
Kingston On Thames 8 5.87x
Leamington Priors 8 11.07x
Leek Wootten 8 496.89x
Long Sutton 8 229.23x
Mitcham 8 22.30x
Oving 8 120.66x
Reigate Foreign 8 13.02x
Woolwich 8 5.45x
Elsted 7 843.37x
Guildford St Mary 7 100.29x
Hackney London 7 1.07x
Hinton St Mary 7 593.22x
Kensington London 7 1.08x
Lenton 7 18.93x
Paddington London 7 1.63x
Sherborne 7 31.10x
St Anne Soho London 7 10.52x
Thursley 7 171.99x
Bedford St Paul 6 14.51x
Bristol St Thomas 6 230.77x
Chipping Barnet 6 42.74x
Clapham 6 4.12x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.18x
Dorking 6 15.74x
Ealing 6 5.76x
Exeter St David 6 28.97x
Eynsford 6 88.11x
Northfield 6 20.79x
Reading St Mary 6 8.57x
Rogate 6 152.28x
St Columb Minor 6 54.20x
St Marylebone London 6 0.96x
Sutton At Hone 6 72.82x
Tormoham 6 5.85x
Withycombe Rawleigh 6 47.51x
Wiveliscombe 6 57.42x
Leamington 5 25.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 81
John 61
George 53
James 35
Thomas 34
Henry 30
Arthur 23
Charles 22
Alfred 18
Edward 15
Richard 15
Albert 11
Frederick 11
Joseph 9
Harry 7
Walter 7
Herbert 6
Robert 6
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
Frank 4
Isaac 4
Samuel 4
Fredrick 3
Mark 3
Archibald 2
Benjamin 2
Charlie 2
Chas. 2
Edgar 2
Edwd. 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Job 2
Leonard 2
Raymond 2
Reuben 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Cecil 1
Denham 1
Dennis 1
Donald 1
Earnest 1
Ephraim 1
Hubert 1
Jethro 1
Yorke 1

FAQ

Bicknell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bicknell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,191 people were recorded with the Bicknell surname. That placed it at #3,384 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bicknell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,230 in 2016. That gives Bicknell a modern rank of #2,912.

What does the Bicknell surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "bee-keeper's hill" in Old English, referring to someone living near such a hill.

What does the Bicknell map show?

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