NameCensus.

UK surname

Biddlecombe

In the 1881 census there were 505 people recorded with the Biddlecombe surname, ranking it #6,730 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 724, ranked #7,505, down from #6,730 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eling, Southampton St Mary and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Test Valley, South Somerset and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Biddlecombe is 804 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.4%.

1881 census count

505

Ranked #6,730

Modern count

724

2016, ranked #7,505

Peak year

1911

804 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Biddlecombe had 505 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,730 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 724 in 2016, ranked #7,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 804 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Biddlecombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Biddlecombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Biddlecombe 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 242 #9,001
1861 historical 407 #6,306
1881 historical 505 #6,730
1891 historical 598 #6,402
1901 historical 740 #5,999
1911 historical 804 #5,459
1997 modern 756 #6,844
1998 modern 788 #6,838
1999 modern 793 #6,852
2000 modern 772 #6,962
2001 modern 766 #6,876
2002 modern 762 #7,023
2003 modern 746 #7,049
2004 modern 754 #6,995
2005 modern 740 #7,035
2006 modern 714 #7,249
2007 modern 710 #7,342
2008 modern 725 #7,288
2009 modern 721 #7,460
2010 modern 726 #7,568
2011 modern 743 #7,365
2012 modern 720 #7,452
2013 modern 746 #7,380
2014 modern 750 #7,378
2015 modern 736 #7,429
2016 modern 724 #7,505

Geography

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Where Biddlecombes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eling, Southampton St Mary, Portsmouth, Portsea, Wellow, West and Muchelney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Test Valley, South Somerset, Forest of Dean and New Forest. 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 Eling Hampshire
2 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Wellow, West Hampshire
5 Muchelney Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Test Valley 013 Test Valley
2 Test Valley 012 Test Valley
3 South Somerset 002 South Somerset
4 Forest of Dean 001 Forest of Dean
5 New Forest 001 New Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Biddlecombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Biddlecombe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Biddlecombe, 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 Biddlecombe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Biddlecombe 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, Biddlecombe 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

Biddlecombe is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Biddlecombe 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 Biddlecombe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Biddlecombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Biddlecombe 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. Hampshire leads with 198 Biddlecombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.19x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 198 19.19x
Middlesex 83 1.65x
Wiltshire 54 12.13x
Somerset 43 5.31x
Dorset 24 7.26x
Surrey 18 0.73x
Kent 12 0.70x
Pembrokeshire 11 6.88x
Devon 10 0.95x
Channel Islands 9 6.03x
Lancashire 8 0.13x
Cornwall 7 1.23x
Gloucestershire 6 0.61x
Suffolk 6 0.98x
Shropshire 5 1.15x
Essex 3 0.30x
Norfolk 3 0.39x
Sussex 3 0.35x
Glamorgan 2 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.29x
Oxfordshire 2 0.64x
Berkshire 1 0.26x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Durham 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 1.67x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southampton St Mary in Hampshire leads with 38 Biddlecombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.57x.

Place Total Index
Southampton St Mary 38 58.57x
Eling 33 315.79x
Islington London 30 6.15x
West Wellow 27 2727.27x
St Pancras London 21 5.18x
North Stoneham 12 512.82x
Allington 11 372.88x
Bramshaw 11 839.69x
Muchelney 11 2500.00x
Beaulieu 10 625.00x
Portsea 10 4.95x
Romsey Extra 10 162.87x
Landford 9 2000.00x
Millbrook 9 34.64x
South Stoneham 8 35.75x
Aldershot 7 20.25x
Bermondsey 7 4.67x
Broadway 7 534.35x
Chelsea London 7 4.62x
Middlezoy 7 707.07x
Shapwick 7 921.05x
St Saviour 7 84.95x
St Stephen 7 346.53x
Bedminster 6 7.88x
Godshill 6 252.10x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 34.92x
Pembroke St Mary 6 29.13x
Southampton All Sts 6 33.90x
Breamore 5 510.20x
Fisherton Anger 5 60.68x
Godstone 5 113.90x
Llanstadwell 5 95.60x
Northwood 5 34.04x
Romsey Infra 5 142.86x
Shoreditch London 5 2.29x
Silverton 5 229.36x
St George Hanover Square 5 5.64x
Broughton In Salford 4 7.32x
Plumstead 4 6.99x
Salisbury St Thomas 4 113.31x
Toxteth Park 4 1.98x
Trowbridge 4 20.33x
Westbury 4 177.78x
Bridgewater 3 13.64x
Dartmouth Townstall 3 70.26x
Gillingham 3 8.47x
Great Yarmouth 3 4.68x
Hursley 3 125.52x
Lockerley 3 291.26x
Stapleton 3 16.02x
Boldre 2 54.05x
Carisbrooke 2 13.97x
Charminster 2 76.05x
Downton 2 34.31x
East Retford 2 33.96x
Greenwich 2 2.50x
Hampstead London 2 2.55x
High Ham 2 103.63x
Hythe St Leonard 2 32.95x
Kensington London 2 0.71x
Nunton With Bodenham 2 392.16x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 2 54.20x
Paddington London 2 1.08x
Portsmouth 2 8.42x
St Marylebone London 2 0.74x
St Peter Port 2 7.25x
Swansea Town 2 2.78x
Wadhurst 2 35.91x
Wembdon 2 83.33x
West Thurrock 2 60.61x
Yarmouth 2 147.06x
Blandford Forum 1 15.34x
Britford 1 34.01x
Fulham London 1 1.37x
Hackney London 1 0.35x
Keele 1 55.25x
Mottisfont 1 111.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.95x
South Shields 1 7.50x
St Lawrence 1 232.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 31
Mary 31
Alice 15
Eliza 14
Sarah 12
Ann 10
Emma 8
Ellen 7
Emily 7
Ada 5
Anna 5
Annie 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Jane 5
Kate 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Elizth. 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Susan 4
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Betsey 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Phoebe 2
Sophia 2
Amy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlott 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Eveline 1
Evylin 1
Harriette 1
Henrietta 1
Katherine 1
Levene 1
Lois 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
Charles 19
George 18
Thomas 18
John 17
Henry 15
Walter 15
James 14
Alfred 7
Edwin 5
Joseph 5
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Thos. 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Francis 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Henery 2
Isaac 2
Philip 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Vincent 2
Bertie 1
Caleb 1
Cha. 1
Clement 1
Dan 1
Durran 1
Edwd. 1
Emily 1
Frankley 1
G.J. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.T. 1
Harvey 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Millward 1
Percy 1
Robt. 1
Stuart 1

FAQ

Biddlecombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Biddlecombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 505 people were recorded with the Biddlecombe surname. That placed it at #6,730 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Biddlecombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 724 in 2016. That gives Biddlecombe a modern rank of #7,505.

What does the Biddlecombe map show?

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