NameCensus.

UK surname

Bidgood

An English toponymic surname referring to someone from a place called Bidgood.

In the 1881 census there were 592 people recorded with the Bidgood surname, ranking it #5,906 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 516, ranked #9,778, down from #5,906 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Clifton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Bath and North East Somerset and Swale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bidgood is 772 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.8%.

1881 census count

592

Ranked #5,906

Modern count

516

2016, ranked #9,778

Peak year

1911

772 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bidgood had 592 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,906 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 516 in 2016, ranked #9,778.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 772 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bidgood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bidgood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bidgood 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 454 #5,427
1861 historical 376 #6,792
1881 historical 592 #5,906
1891 historical 619 #6,244
1901 historical 750 #5,941
1911 historical 772 #5,620
1997 modern 600 #8,140
1998 modern 627 #8,132
1999 modern 626 #8,196
2000 modern 621 #8,225
2001 modern 619 #8,092
2002 modern 618 #8,282
2003 modern 594 #8,391
2004 modern 583 #8,521
2005 modern 560 #8,679
2006 modern 558 #8,723
2007 modern 554 #8,854
2008 modern 561 #8,822
2009 modern 578 #8,825
2010 modern 575 #9,052
2011 modern 568 #9,043
2012 modern 540 #9,312
2013 modern 532 #9,587
2014 modern 525 #9,745
2015 modern 525 #9,669
2016 modern 516 #9,778

Geography

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Where Bidgoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Clifton, London parishes, Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish and Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Bath and North East Somerset, Swale, West Somerset and Cornwall. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Clifton Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish Devon
5 Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 014 Powys
2 Bath and North East Somerset 001 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Swale 004 Swale
4 West Somerset 005 West Somerset
5 Cornwall 054 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bidgood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bidgood

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Bidgood 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

Bidgood 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

Bidgood falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bidgood

The surname Bidgood is of English origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bydel" and "guda," meaning "beadle" and "good," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a respected or admired beadle, an official responsible for maintaining order in a church or parish.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bidgood can be found in the parish records of Willesborough, Kent, in 1574, where a Thomas Bidgood is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Wiltshire in 1665, indicating its presence in that region.

In the late 17th century, a notable figure named Richard Bidgood (1647-1714) was born in Somerset. He was a prominent Quaker minister and author, known for his religious writings and his advocacy for religious freedom.

During the 18th century, the Bidgood name was particularly concentrated in the counties of Devon and Somerset. William Bidgood (1737-1801), a farmer from Devon, was recorded as having fought in the American Revolutionary War on the side of the British.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, the Bidgood family spread to various parts of England. One notable individual from this period was John Bidgood (1827-1896), a successful businessman and entrepreneur from Bristol, who founded the Bidgood & Co. brewery.

Another significant figure was Charles Bidgood (1854-1927), a renowned artist and illustrator from Staffordshire. He was known for his intricate and surreal paintings, often featuring fantastical landscapes and dreamlike scenes.

Throughout its history, the Bidgood surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Bidgood Farm in Devon and Bidgood's Cross in Somerset. These place names likely originated from early Bidgood families who settled in those areas.

While the Bidgood surname may not be among the most common in the English-speaking world, its roots can be traced back several centuries, and it has produced notable figures in various fields, from religion and business to art and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bidgood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bidgood 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 223 Bidgoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.49x.

County Total Index
Devon 223 18.49x
Somerset 72 7.72x
Middlesex 70 1.21x
Gloucestershire 43 3.78x
Surrey 40 1.42x
Kent 29 1.47x
Glamorgan 26 2.58x
Essex 15 1.31x
Hampshire 15 1.26x
Durham 14 0.81x
Cornwall 13 1.98x
Yorkshire 13 0.23x
Dorset 6 1.58x
Wiltshire 5 0.98x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.38x
Derbyshire 2 0.22x
Monmouthshire 2 0.48x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x
Oxfordshire 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 1.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tiverton in Devon leads with 52 Bidgoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 250.24x.

Place Total Index
Tiverton 52 250.24x
Clifton 23 40.03x
Kenton 23 605.26x
Woolwich 22 30.12x
Bedminster 20 22.82x
Halberton 19 676.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 18 19.37x
Camberwell 16 4.32x
Bridgewater 14 55.29x
West Ham 14 5.54x
Islington London 12 2.14x
St Pancras London 12 2.57x
Wolborough 11 72.13x
Eglwysilan 9 51.40x
Kyo 9 110.97x
Uny Lelant 9 253.52x
Barnes 8 67.00x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 21.11x
Bradninch 7 205.88x
Cardiff St Mary 7 12.60x
Dulverton 7 256.41x
Portsea 7 3.01x
St Giles In Fields London 7 24.62x
Willand 7 1044.78x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 11.22x
Bromley London 6 4.71x
Cullompton 6 113.85x
Dawlish 6 66.67x
Kensington London 6 1.86x
Roath 6 13.09x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 5.15x
St Marylebone London 6 1.94x
Stoke Damerel 6 7.11x
Swanage 6 127.93x
Cornwood 5 217.39x
East Stonehouse 5 21.04x
Ermington 5 113.90x
Exeter Alphington 5 226.24x
Minster In Sheppey 5 15.27x
Sampford Courtenay 5 277.78x
Sedgefield 5 81.43x
West Teignmouth 5 54.17x
Alton Priors 4 1025.64x
Axbridge 4 444.44x
Bristol St George 4 7.61x
Cameley 4 380.95x
Hanwell 4 38.95x
Lambeth 4 0.79x
Liskeard 4 36.43x
Norton In Malton 4 57.47x
Sampford Peverell 4 312.50x
Taunton St James 4 29.41x
Westbury On Trym 4 10.39x
Aberdare 3 4.33x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.19x
Binsted 3 66.23x
Buckland Monachorum 3 116.28x
Burton Joyce 3 225.56x
Devonport 3 21.65x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 2.57x
Exeter St George The 3 225.56x
Exeter St Thomas The 3 24.39x
Farrington Gurney 3 280.37x
Hackney London 3 0.92x
Haselbury Plucknett 3 256.41x
Instow 3 230.77x
Topsham 3 52.72x
Walcot 3 6.04x
Bermondsey 2 1.16x
Bishops Hull 2 66.45x
Bristol St Michael 2 20.53x
Croydon 2 1.28x
Derby St Werburgh 2 3.82x
Ealing 2 3.86x
Exeter St David 2 19.42x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 7.24x
Ryde 2 7.84x
Virginstow 2 833.33x
Wembdon 2 72.46x
Westminster St Margaret 2 7.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 29
Sarah 22
Ellen 12
Emily 12
Emma 12
Ann 10
Jane 10
Eliza 9
Lucy 9
Annie 8
Bessie 8
Charlotte 8
Louisa 7
Florence 6
Maria 6
Alice 5
Caroline 5
Jessie 5
Fanny 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Rose 3
Amelia 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Gertrude 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
Anna 1
Bessy 1
Blanche 1
C.A. 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.F. 1
Elizth.R. 1
Etho.A. 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Leonora 1
Zipporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
John 27
George 26
Charles 17
Henry 17
Thomas 16
James 12
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
Walter 8
Robert 7
Albert 5
Nicholas 5
Richard 5
Samuel 5
Abraham 4
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Lewis 4
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Edgar 2
Fred 2
Joseph 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Pryor 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Caroline 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Emmanuel 1
F.W. 1
Fred.C. 1
Fredrick 1
Humphrey 1
Jacob 1
Levi 1
Silas 1
Tom 1
Wm.J.A. 1

FAQ

Bidgood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bidgood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 592 people were recorded with the Bidgood surname. That placed it at #5,906 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bidgood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 516 in 2016. That gives Bidgood a modern rank of #9,778.

What does the Bidgood surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone from a place called Bidgood.

What does the Bidgood map show?

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