UK surname
A surname derived from the word "bobbin", referring to an occupation related to spinning or weaving.
In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Bobbins surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 40, ranked #35,434, down from #25,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Willesden and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bobbins is 108 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 32.2%.
1881 census count
59
Ranked #25,281
Modern count
40
2016, ranked #35,434
Peak year
1891
108 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bobbins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bobbins surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 53 | #23,739 |
| 1861 | historical | 78 | #23,836 |
| 1881 | historical | 59 | #25,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 108 | #22,828 |
| 1901 | historical | 72 | #26,162 |
| 1911 | historical | 53 | #27,508 |
| 1997 | modern | 37 | #33,964 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 28 | #34,936 |
| 2002 | modern | 33 | #34,717 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 32 | #35,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 37 | #35,074 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 42 | #35,283 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 40 | #35,439 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 41 | #35,383 |
| 2016 | modern | 40 | #35,434 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Willesden, King's Lynn St Margaret, Salisbury St Thomas and Burnham Thorpe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | King's Lynn St Margaret | Norfolk |
| 4 | Salisbury St Thomas | Wiltshire |
| 5 | Burnham Thorpe | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bobbins surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bobbins, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bobbins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bobbins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bobbins is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bobbins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bobbins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bobbins is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bobbin," which referred to a small cylindrical object used in weaving and textile production.
The name likely originated in areas with a strong textile industry, such as Lancashire, Yorkshire, or the West Midlands. It may have been an occupational surname, given to individuals who worked with bobbins or in the textile trade.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, where a William Bobyn is listed. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have evolved from "Bobyn" to "Bobbins" over time.
In the 16th century, records show a John Bobbins residing in the parish of St. Giles in London in 1568. Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Bobbins, who was born in Warwickshire around 1580.
During the 17th century, the name appears in various historical documents, including the Parish Registers of Ecclesfield in Yorkshire, where a William Bobbins was baptized in 1612.
One notable individual with the surname Bobbins was Sir Robert Bobbins (1642-1718), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Ludlow in Shropshire.
Another prominent figure was James Bobbins (1776-1850), a British industrialist and entrepreneur from Lancashire who played a significant role in the development of the cotton industry during the Industrial Revolution.
In the 19th century, the name Bobbins appears in various census records and parish registers throughout England. For example, the 1841 Census of England and Wales lists a John Bobbins, a weaver from Oldham, Lancashire, born around 1801.
Emily Bobbins (1865-1945), a renowned English author and poet, is another individual who carried the surname Bobbins. She was born in Gloucestershire and is known for her nature-inspired works and contributions to children's literature.
The surname Bobbins has a rich history rooted in the textile industry of medieval and early modern England. While it may not be as common today, it remains a part of the country's cultural heritage and a testament to the importance of craftsmanship and industrial development in shaping family names.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bobbins surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 22 Bobbins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 22 | 24.86x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 1.90x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 2.26x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 2.54x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.53x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 6.46x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.52x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.08x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk leads with 18 Bobbins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25714.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Burnham Thorpe | 18 | 25714.29x |
| Lower Booths | 9 | 737.70x |
| St George Hanover Square | 8 | 78.90x |
| Higher Booths | 3 | 243.90x |
| Holdenhurst | 3 | 97.09x |
| Sevenoaks | 3 | 188.68x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 11.53x |
| Fring | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Aldbury | 1 | 555.56x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.07x |
| Dersingham | 1 | 500.00x |
| Flitcham Cum Appleton | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 7.05x |
| Holgate | 1 | 909.09x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.41x |
| Long Ashton | 1 | 217.39x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 4.73x |
| Rhuddlan | 1 | 73.53x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bobbins surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bobbins surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bobbins households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Weaver Cotton | 5 |
| Ag Lab | 4 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| (None) | 1 |
| Cotton Drawer | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant General | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farms 3 Acres Land | 1 |
| Fish Dealer | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Gunner R M A | 1 |
| Hospital Nurse | 1 |
| Householder | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom) | 1 |
| In Pensioner | 1 |
| Jewel Case Maker (Leather Goods) | 1 |
| Labourer At Calico Print Wks | 1 |
| Lady Maid | 1 |
| Nurse (SMS) | 1 |
| Office Boy | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Under Nurse | 1 |
| Vermin Killer | 1 |
| White Smith | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Bobbins surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 40 in 2016. That gives Bobbins a modern rank of #35,434.
A surname derived from the word "bobbin", referring to an occupation related to spinning or weaving.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bobbins bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.