NameCensus.

UK surname

Bode

A German and Dutch surname derived from a nickname meaning "messenger" or "herald."

In the 1881 census there were 145 people recorded with the Bode surname, ranking it #15,838 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 311, ranked #14,376, up from #15,838 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Willesden and Leek. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bode is 329 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.5%.

1881 census count

145

Ranked #15,838

Modern count

311

2016, ranked #14,376

Peak year

2010

329 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bode had 145 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,838 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 311 in 2016, ranked #14,376.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 194 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bode surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bode surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bode 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 145 #15,838
1891 historical 152 #18,163
1901 historical 194 #15,425
1911 historical 188 #15,550
1997 modern 264 #14,734
1998 modern 270 #14,913
1999 modern 281 #14,578
2000 modern 281 #14,567
2001 modern 278 #14,444
2002 modern 285 #14,483
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 281 #14,489
2005 modern 287 #14,216
2006 modern 288 #14,267
2007 modern 288 #14,428
2008 modern 289 #14,502
2009 modern 300 #14,420
2010 modern 329 #13,818
2011 modern 322 #13,907
2012 modern 305 #14,357
2013 modern 308 #14,482
2014 modern 317 #14,269
2015 modern 307 #14,504
2016 modern 311 #14,376

Geography

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Where Bodes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Willesden, Leek, Dinton with Ford, Upton, Aston Mollins, and Moreton) and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands and Allerdale. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Leek Staffordshire
4 Dinton with Ford, Upton, Aston Mollins, and Moreton) Buckinghamshire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 001 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Allerdale 004 Allerdale
4 Allerdale 011 Allerdale
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bode

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bode

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Bode is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bode 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

Bode falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bode

The surname Bode is of German origin, derived from the Old German word "bode" or "boden," meaning "messenger" or "envoy." It is believed to have first emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century, when it was used as an occupational surname for individuals who worked as messengers or couriers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bode can be found in the Bode Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery located in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, which was founded in the late 12th century. This suggests that the name was already in use during this period and may have been associated with individuals living or working in proximity to the abbey.

In the 14th century, the name Bode appeared in various historical records, such as the Bode Register, a compilation of land and tax records from the region of Braunschweig in Lower Saxony, Germany. This register provides valuable insights into the geographical distribution and prevalence of the surname during that time.

One notable individual bearing the surname Bode was Johann Elert Bode (1747-1826), a renowned German astronomer and mathematician. He is best known for his contributions to the field of astronomy, including the discovery of the Bode's law, which describes the patterns in the distances of planets from the Sun.

Another prominent figure was Johann Joachim Christoph Bode (1730-1793), a German theologian and philosopher who played a significant role in the Enlightenment movement. His works, such as "An Attempt at the Allegorical Interpretation of the Doctrine of Reason," gained widespread recognition and influenced the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 19th century, the surname Bode was carried by Wilhelm Bode (1862-1922), a German sculptor and medalist known for his works in Berlin and other German cities. His sculptures and medallions adorned several prominent buildings and public spaces, leaving a lasting impact on the artistic landscape of the era.

The name Bode has also been associated with several notable places, such as the Bode Valley in the Harz Mountains of Germany, which likely derived its name from the surname or the Old German word "bode." Additionally, the Bode River, a tributary of the Saale River in Saxony-Anhalt, may have connections to the surname's geographical origins.

Throughout history, the surname Bode has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scientists, theologians, artists, and others who have left their mark in their respective fields. While its roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name has endured and continues to be a part of German cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bode families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bode 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. Warwickshire leads with 38 Bodes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.65x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 38 10.65x
Middlesex 28 1.98x
Staffordshire 24 5.03x
Lancashire 10 0.60x
Buckinghamshire 6 7.02x
Derbyshire 6 2.71x
Berkshire 5 4.71x
Oxfordshire 4 4.58x
Surrey 4 0.58x
Kent 3 0.62x
Lincolnshire 3 1.33x
Sussex 3 1.26x
Worcestershire 3 1.62x
Cheshire 1 0.32x
Durham 1 0.24x
Fife 1 1.19x
Lanarkshire 1 0.22x
Midlothian 1 0.53x
Nairnshire 1 23.15x
Pembrokeshire 1 2.22x
Somerset 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 19 Bodes recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.35x.

Place Total Index
Aston 19 19.35x
Birmingham 18 15.14x
Bilston 10 108.11x
Titteworth 8 1095.89x
Dronfield 6 211.27x
Kensington London 6 7.63x
Manchester 6 7.95x
Dinton 5 1470.59x
St George In East London 5 37.59x
Burton Upon Trent 4 35.81x
Stoke Newington London 4 36.30x
Alderminster 3 1250.00x
Greatford 3 2727.27x
Oxford St Giles 3 71.94x
Sundridge 3 375.00x
Thatcham 3 182.93x
Bow London 2 11.11x
Brighton 2 4.16x
Chiswick 2 25.87x
Lambeth 2 1.62x
Liverpool 2 1.96x
Reading St Giles 2 19.21x
St George Hanover Square 2 8.03x
Wednesfield 2 28.45x
Benfieldside 1 36.10x
Broadwater 1 18.28x
Bromley London 1 3.21x
Cambusnethan 1 9.84x
Cheetham 1 7.99x
Cowley 1 36.63x
Croydon 1 2.61x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.31x
Forgan 1 62.50x
Godalming 1 23.04x
Islington London 1 0.73x
Leamington 1 42.37x
Mile End Old Town London 1 3.32x
Milford Haven 1 270.27x
Nairn 1 38.17x
Salford 1 2.03x
St Pancras London 1 0.88x
Stockport 1 6.22x
Stony Stratford East 1 285.71x
Tottenham 1 4.44x
Wells St Andrew 1 500.00x
Westminster St John 1 5.81x
Willesden 1 7.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Sophia 6
Mary 5
Alice 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Henrietta 2
Jane 2
Angelina 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
C.D. 1
Cecil 1
E. 1
Elise 1
Eliza 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ethel 1
Eugenia 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Ida 1
John 1
Lilla 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
M.S. 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Nellie 1
Oliva 1
Pollie 1
Rebecca 1
Sophie 1
Tilly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 6
Joseph 5
Frederick 4
George 4
Henry 4
James 4
Charles 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Adolphe 2
Alfred 2
Thomas 2
A.W. 1
Albert 1
Ch. 1
Egbert 1
Ferdinand 1
Francis 1
Gerald 1
Harold 1
Henrich 1
Hermann 1
Hienrich 1
Isaac 1
Richard 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Bode surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bode surname in 1881?

In 1881, 145 people were recorded with the Bode surname. That placed it at #15,838 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bode surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 311 in 2016. That gives Bode a modern rank of #14,376.

What does the Bode surname mean?

A German and Dutch surname derived from a nickname meaning "messenger" or "herald."

What does the Bode map show?

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