NameCensus.

UK surname

Bodey

A surname of Norman origin meaning "plump" or "chubby".

In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Bodey surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 160, ranked #22,694, up from #25,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Liverpool and Canterbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bodey is 178 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 180.7%.

1881 census count

57

Ranked #25,575

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

1999

178 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bodey had 57 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 105 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Bodey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bodey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bodey 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 49 #24,448
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 57 #25,575
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 95 #23,462
1911 historical 105 #22,064
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 163 #20,582
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 174 #19,829
2001 modern 166 #20,129
2002 modern 172 #20,108
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 168 #20,300
2005 modern 158 #21,052
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 177 #20,874
2012 modern 168 #21,516
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 164 #22,325
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Bodeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, St Philip and Jacob and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Liverpool, Canterbury, Bristol and Rochford. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Bedminster Somerset
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 025 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
3 Canterbury 003 Canterbury
4 Bristol 013 Bristol, City of
5 Rochford 009 Rochford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bodey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bodey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Bodey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bodey 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bodey 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

Bodey is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bodey

The surname Bodey is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Dorset, in the southwestern region of England. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "boda," which means "messenger" or "herald."

One of the earliest known records of the Bodey surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, an exceptional survey commissioned by William the Conqueror. This ancient manuscript documents a person named Boda residing in the village of Sturminster Newton, located in Dorset.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Bode, Bodey, and Bodie, reflecting the variations in spelling prevalent at the time. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the interpretations of scribes who recorded the name.

Interestingly, the Bodey surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the late 16th century, William Bodey (1548-1622) was a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London. He played a significant role in the establishment of trade relations with the Ottoman Empire.

Another remarkable figure was Sir Josias Bodey (1615-1692), a member of the English gentry and a Member of Parliament for the borough of Taunton during the reign of Charles II. He was known for his active involvement in local politics and his advocacy for the rights of the landed gentry.

In the literary realm, the Bodey surname gained recognition through the works of the English poet and playwright John Bodey (1737-1805). His most notable contribution was the satirical play "The Cozeners," which critiqued the social and political climate of his time.

The Bodey name also found prominence in the realm of law and justice. Sir Edward Bodey (1798-1875) was a distinguished English judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas from 1858 to 1865.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of the renowned scientist and inventor, Robert Bodey (1832-1917). He was instrumental in the development of early electrical technologies and held numerous patents for his innovative designs in the field of electromagnetism.

While these are just a few examples, the Bodey surname has left an indelible mark on various aspects of English history, ranging from commerce and politics to literature and science.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bodey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bodey 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. Gloucestershire leads with 15 Bodeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.76x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 15 13.76x
Lancashire 12 1.82x
Devon 10 8.64x
Cornwall 7 11.12x
Middlesex 6 1.08x
Surrey 2 0.74x
Angus 1 1.94x
Kent 1 0.53x
Somerset 1 1.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.53x
Wiltshire 1 2.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 12 Bodeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 116.85x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 116.85x
Liverpool 8 19.97x
Tiverton 8 402.01x
Lanreath 7 6363.64x
Toxteth Park 3 13.43x
Harrow 2 235.29x
Lambeth 2 4.13x
St Botolph Aldgate London 2 175.44x
Bradford On Avon 1 63.69x
Bristol St Augustine 1 56.82x
Churcham 1 1000.00x
Clifton 1 18.15x
Darlaston 1 38.61x
Dundee 1 5.20x
Hammersmith London 1 7.30x
Heanton Punchardon 1 1250.00x
Hutton 1 1428.57x
Scotforth 1 232.56x
Sevenoaks 1 64.94x
St Luke London 1 11.21x
Tormoham 1 20.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Elizabeth 2
Jane 2
Sarah 2
Alica 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Clare 1
Dorothy 1
Ena 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Johanna 1
Louisa 1
Margaretta 1
Margretta 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 3
John 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Dick 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Mathias 1
Ralph 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Timothy 1
William 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bodey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bodey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Bodey surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bodey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Bodey a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Bodey surname mean?

A surname of Norman origin meaning "plump" or "chubby".

What does the Bodey map show?

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