NameCensus.

UK surname

Bignold

In the 1881 census there were 139 people recorded with the Bignold surname, ranking it #16,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, down from #16,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland and Tooting Graveney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Arun and Hillingdon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bignold is 173 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.0%.

1881 census count

139

Ranked #16,228

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

1911

173 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bignold had 139 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 173 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Bignold surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bignold surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bignold 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 97 #17,484
1861 historical 157 #14,732
1881 historical 139 #16,228
1891 historical 172 #16,663
1901 historical 161 #17,324
1911 historical 173 #16,361
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 148 #21,841
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 133 #23,585
2003 modern 139 #22,734
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 130 #23,848
2006 modern 129 #24,165
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 123 #25,505
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

Back to top

Where Bignolds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland, Tooting Graveney, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braintree, Arun, Hillingdon, Swindon and Basildon. 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 Dorking Surrey
2 Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland Buckinghamshire
3 Tooting Graveney London (South Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 010 Braintree
2 Arun 016 Arun
3 Hillingdon 024 Hillingdon
4 Swindon 020 Swindon
5 Basildon 001 Basildon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bignold

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bignold

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Bignold surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bignold household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bignold 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

Bignold is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bignold falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bignold families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bignold 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 55 Bignolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.27x.

County Total Index
Surrey 55 8.27x
Norfolk 20 9.53x
Middlesex 19 1.39x
Kent 12 2.58x
Essex 7 2.60x
Suffolk 7 4.21x
Hertfordshire 6 6.37x
Staffordshire 5 1.08x
Buckinghamshire 3 3.63x
Gloucestershire 2 0.75x
Hampshire 1 0.36x
Royal Navy 1 6.15x
Sussex 1 0.43x
Yorkshire 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. Dorking in Surrey leads with 10 Bignolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 223.71x.

Place Total Index
Dorking 10 223.71x
Tooting Graveney 10 540.54x
Bromley 9 126.76x
Lakenham 8 268.46x
Shere 8 1000.00x
Walton Le Soken 7 1093.75x
Mile End Old Town London 6 20.65x
Stoke 6 191.08x
Streatham 6 59.23x
Wigginton 6 1818.18x
Camberwell 5 5.73x
Fulham London 5 25.25x
Castle Church 4 144.40x
Croydon 4 10.83x
Kirkley 4 287.77x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 4 380.95x
Shalford 4 540.54x
Hammersmith London 3 8.92x
Lowestoft 3 38.17x
Norwich St Stephen 3 155.44x
Wooburn 3 263.16x
Bristol St James In 2 50.76x
Chertsey 2 46.51x
Hethersett 2 377.36x
Kensington London 2 2.63x
Rochester St Margaret 2 40.73x
Brighton 1 2.15x
Folkestone 1 11.06x
Mulbarton 1 416.67x
Norwich St Mary In Marsh 1 416.67x
Old Alresford 1 434.78x
Penistone 1 95.24x
Poplar London 1 3.88x
Royal Navy 1 7.19x
Tasburgh 1 476.19x
Teddington London 1 32.36x
West Bromwich 1 3.79x
Westminster St James 1 7.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Alice 5
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Elizabeth 3
Anne 2
Cecilia 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Matilda 2
Sarah 2
Violet 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Beksiala 1
C.Lucy 1
Charlotte 1
Claria 1
Constance 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hellen 1
Hester 1
Katharine 1
Kezia 1
Lizzie 1
Lousa 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maud 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Rosetta 1
Rosey 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Chas. 3
Frank 3
Henry 3
James 3
Samuel 3
William 3
George 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Basil 1
Charles 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Gerald 1
Harrold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jabez 1
Lewis 1
Morris 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Saul 1
Thos. 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Bignold surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bignold surname in 1881?

In 1881, 139 people were recorded with the Bignold surname. That placed it at #16,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bignold surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Bignold a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Bignold map show?

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