NameCensus.

UK surname

Boden

Derived from a place name meaning "hill" or "valley" in Old English, or from a German habitational name.

In the 1881 census there were 2,424 people recorded with the Boden surname, ranking it #1,833 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,873, ranked #1,744, up from #1,833 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Matlock, Broseley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boden is 3,937 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.8%.

1881 census count

2,424

Ranked #1,833

Modern count

3,873

2016, ranked #1,744

Peak year

2014

3,937 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boden had 2,424 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,833 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,873 in 2016, ranked #1,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,405 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Boden 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 1,620 #1,775
1861 historical 1,514 #1,865
1881 historical 2,424 #1,833
1891 historical 2,410 #1,949
1901 historical 3,044 #1,840
1911 historical 3,405 #1,538
1997 modern 3,616 #1,790
1998 modern 3,872 #1,740
1999 modern 3,881 #1,757
2000 modern 3,823 #1,764
2001 modern 3,738 #1,764
2002 modern 3,840 #1,767
2003 modern 3,773 #1,763
2004 modern 3,747 #1,767
2005 modern 3,724 #1,757
2006 modern 3,734 #1,755
2007 modern 3,779 #1,748
2008 modern 3,794 #1,747
2009 modern 3,838 #1,768
2010 modern 3,894 #1,785
2011 modern 3,920 #1,747
2012 modern 3,862 #1,739
2013 modern 3,930 #1,744
2014 modern 3,937 #1,745
2015 modern 3,881 #1,751
2016 modern 3,873 #1,744

Geography

Back to top

Where Bodens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Matlock, Broseley, London parishes, Manchester and Madeley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire. 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 Matlock Derbyshire
2 Broseley Shropshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Madeley Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 004 Derbyshire Dales
2 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
3 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales
4 Telford and Wrekin 022 Telford and Wrekin
5 Shropshire 025 Shropshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Boden

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Boden

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Boden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boden is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boden falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boden 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Boden

The surname Boden is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "boden," meaning a dwelling or a residence. The name first appeared in regions like Derbyshire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire, where it was used to identify individuals who lived in a particular dwelling or settlement.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bodeham," referring to a place name in Cheshire. This suggests that the name was initially used as a locational surname, indicating the place of origin or residence of the bearer.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled as "de Boden" and "de Bodene." This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spelling was not yet established.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Boden was William de Boden, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Derbyshire in 1330. Another notable bearer of the name was John Boden, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name was found in various areas of England, including Lancashire, where the Boden family held estates in the township of Burnley. One notable member of this family was Richard Boden (1554-1624), a wealthy landowner and Justice of the Peace.

The name Boden has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. For example, Andrew Boden (1645-1701) was a prominent English physician and author, known for his work on medical topics. Another individual of note was James Boden (1758-1841), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Other notable individuals with the surname Boden include:

1. John Boden (1815-1892), an English architect and surveyor. 2. Daniel Boden (1830-1903), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. 3. Frank Boden (1879-1960), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. 4. Herbert Boden (1887-1952), a British artist and painter known for his landscape and coastal scenes. 5. Michael Boden (born 1923), a British philosopher and cognitive scientist, known for her work on artificial intelligence and creativity.

While the surname Boden has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "boden," reflecting the connection between the name and the concept of a dwelling or residence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Boden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boden 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. Lancashire leads with 382 Bodens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.36x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 382 1.36x
Derbyshire 362 9.77x
Cheshire 287 5.49x
Staffordshire 282 3.53x
Yorkshire 208 0.89x
Shropshire 203 9.92x
Warwickshire 154 2.58x
Middlesex 118 0.50x
Worcestershire 75 2.43x
Surrey 64 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 35 1.10x
Lanarkshire 29 0.38x
Kent 27 0.33x
Hampshire 22 0.45x
Devon 15 0.30x
Leicestershire 13 0.50x
Norfolk 13 0.36x
Northamptonshire 12 0.54x
Cumberland 11 0.54x
Denbighshire 9 1.01x
Renfrewshire 9 0.49x
Ayrshire 8 0.45x
Hertfordshire 8 0.49x
Durham 7 0.10x
Glamorgan 7 0.17x
Dunbartonshire 6 0.94x
Herefordshire 6 0.62x
Monmouthshire 6 0.35x
Montgomeryshire 6 1.11x
Wigtownshire 5 1.59x
Gloucestershire 4 0.09x
Angus 3 0.14x
Berkshire 3 0.17x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.88x
Midlothian 3 0.09x
Sussex 3 0.08x
Wiltshire 3 0.14x
Anglesey 2 0.48x
Argyllshire 2 0.30x
Lincolnshire 2 0.05x
Merionethshire 2 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.07x
Channel Islands 1 0.14x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Flintshire 1 0.16x
Radnorshire 1 0.52x
Royal Navy 1 0.35x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Matlock in Derbyshire leads with 85 Bodens recorded in 1881 and an index of 170.79x.

Place Total Index
Matlock 85 170.79x
Aston 83 5.05x
Madeley 70 93.33x
Birmingham 62 3.12x
Kingswinford 58 19.99x
Cromford 43 493.12x
Broseley 41 112.79x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 41 88.13x
Sheffield 37 4.95x
Over 36 67.78x
West Bromwich 31 6.78x
Derby St Werburgh 30 14.02x
Chorlton On Medlock 29 6.50x
Derby St Peter 28 23.72x
Wharton 28 98.38x
Oldbury 27 17.75x
Oldham 26 2.87x
Stoke Upon Trent 25 2.95x
Castle Northwich 23 133.02x
Leeds 21 1.59x
Toxteth Park 21 2.21x
South Stoneham 20 19.00x
Barony 19 0.98x
Chadderton 19 13.83x
Tipton 19 7.76x
Cleobury Mortimer 18 139.64x
Darley 18 120.16x
Deptford St Paul 18 2.89x
Halton 18 154.37x
Walsall Foreign 18 4.36x
Gorton 17 6.44x
Southwark St George Martyr 17 3.57x
Cotton 16 301.89x
Salford 15 1.82x
Ardwick 14 5.52x
Brightside Bierlow 14 3.04x
Manchester 14 1.11x
Ecclesall Bierlow 13 2.72x
Gomersal 13 11.87x
Poplar London 13 2.91x
Snelston 13 501.93x
Wolstanton 13 5.36x
Benthall 12 329.67x
Bilston 12 7.75x
Liverpool 12 0.70x
Shoreditch London 12 1.17x
Stockport 12 4.46x
Wigan 12 3.06x
Wincham 12 124.48x
Birkenhead 11 2.64x
Camberwell 11 0.73x
Church 11 27.73x
Dudley 11 2.93x
Islington London 11 0.48x
Kirkdale 11 2.33x
Parwich 11 288.71x
Peterborough 11 6.82x
Rotherham 11 8.32x
Skegby 11 56.27x
St George In East London 11 4.94x
West Derby 11 1.34x
York St Maurice 11 24.90x
Batley 10 4.49x
Chapel En Le Frith 10 29.55x
Frodsham Lordship 10 113.12x
Hackney London 10 0.75x
Hapton 10 56.95x
Hartford 10 84.60x
Lambeth 10 0.48x
Lenton 10 13.30x
Rumworth 10 24.91x
Runcorn 10 8.30x
Tong 10 243.31x
Beswick 9 12.53x
Holy Trinity 9 1.59x
Mile End Old Town London 9 1.79x
Moss Side 9 6.09x
Newbold Dunston 9 25.55x
Trentham 9 13.24x
Wrexham Regis 9 13.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 186
Sarah 89
Elizabeth 81
Ann 51
Jane 41
Annie 35
Emma 33
Hannah 33
Alice 29
Ellen 28
Martha 28
Harriet 24
Eliza 23
Margaret 22
Emily 21
Ada 17
Catherine 16
Clara 16
Fanny 16
Louisa 14
Florence 13
Lucy 13
Matilda 12
Edith 11
Maria 10
Anne 9
Charlotte 9
Harriett 9
Kate 9
Agnes 8
Caroline 8
Lydia 8
Rebecca 8
Esther 7
Frances 7
Jessie 7
Rose 7
Amelia 6
Amy 6
Gertrude 6
Betsy 5
Selina 5
Adelaide 4
Bertha 4
Eliz. 4
Ethel 4
Julia 4
Laura 4
May 4
Minnie 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 161
William 141
Thomas 101
George 93
Samuel 54
James 52
Charles 47
Joseph 44
Edward 41
Henry 41
Arthur 27
Alfred 25
Richard 23
Harry 19
Robert 19
Walter 18
Benjamin 13
Albert 12
Francis 11
Anthony 10
Abel 9
Frank 9
Fred 9
Edwin 8
Ernest 8
Peter 8
Daniel 7
Frederick 7
Herbert 7
Isaac 7
Enoch 6
Thos. 6
Owen 5
Fredrick 4
Geo. 4
Matthew 4
Wm. 4
Anthoney 3
Ebenezer 3
Jesse 3
Joe 3
Jonathan 3
Leonard 3
Patrick 3
Sidney 3
Adam 2
Christopher 2
Clement 2
David 2
Mathew 2

FAQ

Boden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,424 people were recorded with the Boden surname. That placed it at #1,833 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,873 in 2016. That gives Boden a modern rank of #1,744.

What does the Boden surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "hill" or "valley" in Old English, or from a German habitational name.

What does the Boden map show?

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