NameCensus.

UK surname

Boatwright

An occupational surname referring to a person who builds or repairs boats.

In the 1881 census there were 188 people recorded with the Boatwright surname, ranking it #13,379 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 251, ranked #16,744, down from #13,379 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Marylebone and St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, Southend-on-Sea and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boatwright is 287 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.5%.

1881 census count

188

Ranked #13,379

Modern count

251

2016, ranked #16,744

Peak year

1999

287 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boatwright had 188 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,379 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016, ranked #16,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boatwright surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boatwright surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boatwright 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 130 #14,314
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 188 #13,379
1891 historical 206 #14,597
1901 historical 230 #13,851
1911 historical 253 #12,776
1997 modern 260 #14,880
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 287 #14,374
2000 modern 270 #14,943
2001 modern 269 #14,776
2002 modern 251 #15,770
2003 modern 259 #15,254
2004 modern 254 #15,540
2005 modern 248 #15,721
2006 modern 246 #15,907
2007 modern 254 #15,736
2008 modern 242 #16,432
2009 modern 265 #15,756
2010 modern 268 #15,978
2011 modern 259 #16,237
2012 modern 264 #15,904
2013 modern 271 #15,875
2014 modern 266 #16,213
2015 modern 259 #16,409
2016 modern 251 #16,744

Geography

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Where Boatwrights are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Marylebone, St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, Southend-on-Sea, Cheshire East, Basildon and Herefordshire. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a Norfolk
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 002 Craven
2 Southend-on-Sea 017 Southend-on-Sea
3 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East
4 Basildon 022 Basildon
5 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boatwright

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boatwright

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Boatwright is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Boatwright is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Boatwright

The surname Boatwright is an occupational name that originated in England during the medieval period. It derived from the Old English words "bat" meaning boat and "wyrhta" meaning worker or maker, referring to a person who built or repaired boats for a living.

This surname first appeared in records from the 13th century, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Richard le Batwyrhte in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273. The name was also found in various forms such as Batewright, Batewyght, and Botewright during this time.

In the 14th century, the name Boatwright appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1348, where a John Botewright was mentioned. The Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 also recorded a Thomas Batewright.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Boatwright, who was born around 1520 in Harwich, Essex, England. He worked as a shipwright and was involved in the construction of several vessels for the English navy.

Another notable figure was William Boatwright, born in 1625 in Whitby, Yorkshire. He was a successful merchant and shipowner who played a role in the expansion of English trade in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Boatwright family established themselves in Virginia, United States, with the arrival of John Boatwright in 1735. He settled in Henrico County and became a prominent landowner.

One of the most famous individuals with this surname was John Thomas Boatwright (1835-1918), an influential Baptist minister and educator from Virginia. He served as the president of Richmond College (now the University of Richmond) from 1888 to 1899.

Another notable figure was Charles Boatwright (1849-1935), a Confederate veteran and lawyer from Virginia. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and played a significant role in the state's political affairs during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the 20th century, Fredric Huntington Boatwright (1868-1951), an American educator and historian, made significant contributions to the field of education. He served as the president of the University of Richmond from 1899 to 1946, leading the institution through a period of growth and development.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boatwright families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boatwright 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. Middlesex leads with 63 Boatwrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.44x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 63 3.44x
Norfolk 54 19.15x
Surrey 20 2.24x
Suffolk 16 7.16x
Kent 14 2.24x
Hertfordshire 11 8.70x
Cambridgeshire 3 2.58x
Cheshire 2 0.49x
Essex 2 0.55x
Gloucestershire 1 0.28x
Hampshire 1 0.27x
Lincolnshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norwich St Edmund in Norfolk leads with 16 Boatwrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 3478.26x.

Place Total Index
Norwich St Edmund 16 3478.26x
St Pancras London 14 9.49x
South Mimms 13 517.93x
Margate St John Baptist 9 78.53x
Great Yarmouth 8 34.25x
Hertford St John 8 425.53x
Addington 7 1666.67x
Poplar London 7 20.23x
Southwood 7 23333.33x
Kensington London 6 5.89x
Thorpe Next Norwich 6 200.67x
Willesden 6 34.70x
Culpho 5 12500.00x
Lambeth 5 3.13x
St Marylebone London 5 5.11x
Bow London 4 17.14x
Islington London 4 2.25x
Lowestoft 4 37.91x
Norwich St Giles 4 444.44x
Bushey 3 99.67x
Newington 3 4.43x
Norwich St Peter Hungate 3 1250.00x
St Andrewthe Less 3 22.61x
Beccles 2 55.71x
Bungay St Mary 2 180.18x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.14x
Norwich St Margaret 2 454.55x
Norwich St Paul 2 118.34x
Sprowston 2 161.29x
Wandsworth 2 11.33x
Ashford 1 16.42x
Beddington 1 28.90x
Bungay Holy Trinity 1 86.96x
Camberwell 1 0.85x
Chartham 1 64.10x
Chiswick 1 9.98x
Corringham 1 370.37x
Croydon 1 2.02x
Ditchingham 1 149.25x
East Dereham 1 28.09x
Hackney London 1 0.97x
Hampstead London 1 3.50x
Harwick St Nicholas 1 175.44x
Heigham 1 6.61x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 15.97x
Lound 1 357.14x
Monks Coppenhall 1 6.55x
Newton By Chester 1 588.24x
Norwich St Clement 1 30.58x
Portsmouth 1 11.56x
Sevenoaks 1 19.72x
St Sepulchre London 1 37.31x
Sutton St Mary 1 36.10x
Westbury On Trym 1 8.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Emily 9
Sarah 7
Emma 5
Harriet 5
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Elizabeth 4
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Anna 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Cecilia 1
D. 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Georgeanna 1
Hannah 1
Infant 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Lois 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Margrat 1
Marie 1
Minnie 1
Miriam 1
Rachel 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 10
John 9
James 8
Walter 6
Charles 5
Thomas 5
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Henry 3
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Ambrose 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Emmanuel 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
W. 1

FAQ

Boatwright surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boatwright surname in 1881?

In 1881, 188 people were recorded with the Boatwright surname. That placed it at #13,379 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boatwright surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016. That gives Boatwright a modern rank of #16,744.

What does the Boatwright surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who builds or repairs boats.

What does the Boatwright map show?

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