NameCensus.

UK surname

Boda

A surname denoting someone from a place called Boda.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Boda surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 113, ranked #28,691, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redbridge, South Gloucestershire and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boda is 116 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 841.7%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

2015

116 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boda had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Boda surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boda surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boda 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 27 #35,016
1998 modern 34 #34,433
1999 modern 38 #34,142
2000 modern 39 #34,066
2001 modern 38 #34,004
2002 modern 54 #32,927
2003 modern 58 #32,619
2004 modern 55 #33,154
2005 modern 58 #33,094
2006 modern 64 #32,839
2007 modern 75 #32,079
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 87 #31,489
2010 modern 85 #32,185
2011 modern 88 #31,801
2012 modern 93 #31,409
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 113 #28,691

Geography

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Where Bodas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redbridge, South Gloucestershire, Bolton, Coventry and Hounslow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redbridge 032 Redbridge
2 South Gloucestershire 026 South Gloucestershire
3 Bolton 011 Bolton
4 Coventry 009 Coventry
5 Hounslow 018 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boda

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boda

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Boda surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Boda household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Boda is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boda is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boda falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boda is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Boda, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Boda

The surname BODA is believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the regions of present-day Pakistan and northern India. It is thought to have first emerged around the 12th or 13th century CE, during the period of the Delhi Sultanate.

One of the earliest known references to the name BODA can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts, where it was often used as a title or honorific, derived from the Sanskrit word "bodha," meaning "enlightenment" or "wisdom." It is possible that the surname was initially adopted by scholars, philosophers, or members of the Brahmin caste.

In the 14th century, there are records of a prominent Hindu scholar and poet named Boda Keshavadasa (1275-1345), who hailed from the city of Multan, now in modern-day Pakistan. His works, written in the Braj Bhasha language, were widely celebrated and contributed to the spread of the name across the region.

As the centuries passed, the BODA surname gradually spread beyond the Indian subcontinent, carried by traders, travelers, and migrants. In the 16th century, there are mentions of a Persian merchant named Boda Sahib (1510-1580) who established a thriving trade network between Persia and the Mughal Empire.

During the British colonial period in India, the BODA surname also found its way to other parts of the world. One notable figure was Boda Singh (1835-1911), a Sikh soldier who served with distinction in the British Indian Army and received the Indian Order of Merit for his bravery.

Another prominent individual with the BODA surname was Boda Prasad (1892-1969), an Indian freedom fighter and political activist who played a significant role in the struggle for independence from British rule. He was imprisoned multiple times for his involvement in the non-violent resistance movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.

In more recent times, the BODA surname has continued to be found in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant South Asian communities. However, the focus of this report is on the historical origins and notable individuals from earlier eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boda families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boda 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 8 Bodas recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.05x.

County Total Index
Surrey 8 14.05x
Essex 1 4.33x
Glamorgan 1 4.91x
Somerset 1 5.32x
Warwickshire 1 3.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 8 Bodas recorded in 1881 and an index of 186.05x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 8 186.05x
Birmingham 1 10.18x
Lullington 1 10000.00x
South Shoebury 1 1111.11x
Swansea 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Gertrude 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
Albert 1
Fredrick 1
Michal 1

Top occupations

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 Boda households.

FAQ

Boda surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boda surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Boda surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boda surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Boda a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Boda surname mean?

A surname denoting someone from a place called Boda.

What does the Boda map show?

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