NameCensus.

UK surname

Bish

An English occupational surname referring to a person who sold goods or wares at a stall or shop.

In the 1881 census there were 384 people recorded with the Bish surname, ranking it #8,195 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 534, ranked #9,515, down from #8,195 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Horsted Keynes and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Tonbridge and Malling and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bish is 602 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.1%.

1881 census count

384

Ranked #8,195

Modern count

534

2016, ranked #9,515

Peak year

1911

602 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bish had 384 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,195 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016, ranked #9,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 602 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bish 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 293 #8,589
1881 historical 384 #8,195
1891 historical 424 #8,446
1901 historical 553 #7,500
1911 historical 602 #6,820
1997 modern 575 #8,388
1998 modern 577 #8,597
1999 modern 587 #8,569
2000 modern 574 #8,662
2001 modern 565 #8,627
2002 modern 585 #8,589
2003 modern 545 #8,902
2004 modern 538 #9,003
2005 modern 522 #9,159
2006 modern 511 #9,331
2007 modern 505 #9,496
2008 modern 502 #9,601
2009 modern 525 #9,501
2010 modern 515 #9,821
2011 modern 507 #9,854
2012 modern 536 #9,361
2013 modern 556 #9,249
2014 modern 556 #9,298
2015 modern 550 #9,308
2016 modern 534 #9,515

Geography

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Where Bishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Horsted Keynes, Brighton and Reigate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Tonbridge and Malling, Brighton and Hove, Arun and Redbridge. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Horsted Keynes Sussex
3 Brighton Sussex
4 Reigate Surrey
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 005 Huntingdonshire
2 Tonbridge and Malling 006 Tonbridge and Malling
3 Brighton and Hove 012 Brighton and Hove
4 Arun 005 Arun
5 Redbridge 001 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bish

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Bish is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bish is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bish 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 Bish 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 Bish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bish

The surname BISH has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "biscop," which means "bishop." This suggests that the name likely originated as a occupational surname, referring to someone who worked in a religious capacity or had some connection to a bishop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BISH can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Biscop, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname BISH.

In the 13th century, records show a notable figure named Richard le Bish, who was a landowner in Oxfordshire. This spelling variation, "le Bish," was common during this period and indicated that Richard came from a place or held lands associated with the name.

During the 16th century, the name BISH appeared in various historical records, including parish registers and court documents. One prominent individual from this time was John Bish, born in 1534, who was a successful merchant and landowner in the county of Somerset.

In the 17th century, the BISH surname gained further prominence with the birth of Thomas Bish (1638-1712), a renowned philosopher and theologian who studied at Oxford University and later became a respected author and academic.

Another notable figure with the BISH surname was Sir Edward Bish (1790-1856), a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. His distinguished military career and political involvement brought recognition to the BISH name during the 19th century.

Other historical figures bearing the BISH surname include the artist William Bish (1820-1898), known for his landscape paintings, and the explorer and naturalist Jane Bish (1846-1912), who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the British colonies.

While the surname BISH may not be as widely known as some other English surnames, its history can be traced back to the medieval period, and it has been associated with notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bish 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. Sussex leads with 102 Bishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.07x.

County Total Index
Sussex 102 16.07x
Surrey 95 5.18x
Nottinghamshire 51 10.05x
Middlesex 39 1.04x
Kent 31 2.41x
Essex 17 2.29x
Yorkshire 10 0.27x
Hertfordshire 7 2.70x
Lincolnshire 7 1.16x
Carmarthenshire 6 3.78x
Hampshire 6 0.78x
Gloucestershire 4 0.54x
Lancashire 3 0.07x
Monmouthshire 3 1.10x
Royal Navy 2 4.46x
Bedfordshire 1 0.51x
Berkshire 1 0.35x
Durham 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reigate Foreign in Surrey leads with 30 Bishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 150.98x.

Place Total Index
Reigate Foreign 30 150.98x
Brighton 21 16.40x
Ditchling 21 1213.87x
Nottingham St Mary 21 16.00x
Horsted Keynes 14 945.95x
Hackney London 13 6.16x
Islington London 13 3.56x
West Ham 13 7.92x
Croydon 10 9.82x
Lambeth 10 3.05x
Woodborough 10 869.57x
Bermondsey 9 8.03x
Bletchingley 9 376.57x
Gunthorpe 9 2142.86x
Lenton 8 66.95x
Charlwood 7 397.73x
Corby 7 693.07x
Clayton 6 251.05x
Cuckfield 6 93.60x
Hemel Hempstead 6 51.33x
Horton In Bradford 6 10.30x
Kidwelly 6 185.19x
Mile End Old Town London 6 7.49x
Wateringbury 6 357.14x
Godstone 5 151.98x
Westmeston 5 1190.48x
Bristol St George 4 11.71x
Crowhurst 4 727.27x
Deal 4 36.50x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.04x
Edenbridge 4 158.73x
Goring 4 588.24x
Hoath 4 909.09x
Leyton Low 4 26.47x
Blackburn 3 2.52x
Camberwell 3 1.25x
Farnborough 3 36.99x
Hurstpierpoint 3 84.99x
Lewes All Sts 3 118.58x
Lewes St John Southover 3 70.42x
Northwood 3 27.30x
Bedwellty 2 4.16x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.25x
Eastbourne 2 6.85x
Hunslet 2 3.44x
Newick 2 142.86x
Oxted 2 90.50x
Royal Navy 2 5.21x
St Marylebone London 2 0.99x
Tonbridge 2 4.32x
Withyam 2 73.53x
Worth 2 43.38x
Ardingly 1 49.51x
Ashford 1 7.99x
Balcombe 1 88.50x
Basford 1 4.28x
Blean 1 112.36x
Bradford 1 1.11x
Brasted 1 59.88x
Caythorpe 1 263.16x
Cudham 1 75.76x
East Malling 1 32.57x
Hertford St John 1 25.84x
Horsham 1 8.11x
Hove 1 3.59x
Lewes St Ann 1 46.30x
Lewes St John 1 140.85x
Lewisham 1 1.46x
Luton 1 2.96x
New Windsor 1 10.53x
Newport 1 7.70x
Sevenoaks 1 9.60x
Slaugham 1 48.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.32x
Southwark St Saviour 1 5.17x
St Pancras London 1 0.33x
St Sepulchre London 1 18.15x
Standard Hill 1 82.64x
Tandridge 1 126.58x
York All Sts North 1 54.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 15
Ann 12
Emily 12
Eliza 8
Elizabeth 8
Annie 7
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Louisa 6
Martha 5
Jane 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Frances 3
Rosa 3
Amy 2
Anna 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Nellie 2
Rose 2
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Dorcas 1
Fanny 1
Helene 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Mahala 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Milly 1
Minnie 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
George 17
John 17
Thomas 15
Henry 13
Charles 9
Edward 7
James 7
Albert 6
Ernest 6
Harry 6
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Alfred 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Jesse 2
Jonathan 2
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Abram 1
Andrew 1
Antionio 1
Augest 1
Bartw. 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Geo. 1
Gervase 1
Gideon 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jarvis 1
Jessie 1
Jimmy 1
Lot 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Stanford 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 384 people were recorded with the Bish surname. That placed it at #8,195 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016. That gives Bish a modern rank of #9,515.

What does the Bish surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who sold goods or wares at a stall or shop.

What does the Bish map show?

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