NameCensus.

UK surname

Bodger

A surname for someone who worked as a repairer or tinkerer.

In the 1881 census there were 430 people recorded with the Bodger surname, ranking it #7,569 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 225, ranked #18,105, down from #7,569 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Poole St James and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Wrexham and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bodger is 543 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.7%.

1881 census count

430

Ranked #7,569

Modern count

225

2016, ranked #18,105

Peak year

1911

543 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bodger had 430 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,569 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016, ranked #18,105.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 543 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bodger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bodger surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bodger 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 306 #7,524
1861 historical 361 #7,076
1881 historical 430 #7,569
1891 historical 511 #7,296
1901 historical 538 #7,640
1911 historical 543 #7,365
1997 modern 308 #13,297
1998 modern 318 #13,362
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 288 #14,312
2001 modern 280 #14,364
2002 modern 295 #14,146
2003 modern 285 #14,295
2004 modern 275 #14,717
2005 modern 255 #15,437
2006 modern 263 #15,215
2007 modern 254 #15,736
2008 modern 246 #16,247
2009 modern 243 #16,742
2010 modern 236 #17,427
2011 modern 236 #17,279
2012 modern 232 #17,401
2013 modern 237 #17,423
2014 modern 231 #17,813
2015 modern 230 #17,795
2016 modern 225 #18,105

Geography

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Where Bodgers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Poole St James, London parishes, Heathfield and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Wrexham, Swansea and Bradford. 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 Poole St James Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Heathfield Somerset
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 004 Fenland
2 Wrexham 018 Wrexham
3 Fenland 001 Fenland
4 Swansea 024 Swansea
5 Bradford 002 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bodger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bodger

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bodger 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

Bodger 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

Bodger falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bodger

The surname Bodger originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 13th century. The name is believed to derive from the Old English word "bodian," meaning "to deliver a message" or "to announce." This suggests that the original bearers of this surname may have been town criers or messengers.

Bodger is closely related to the occupational surname Bodger, which referred to individuals who made small wooden items, such as bowls, boxes, or tool handles, using a lathe or a turning machine. This occupation was particularly prevalent in the woodlands of the Chiltern Hills region, spanning parts of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bodger can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a certain William le Bodger, suggesting that the name was already established by that time.

In the 14th century, the Bodger surname appears in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, which lists a Robert Bodger, and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, mentioning a John Bodgere.

During the 16th century, the Bodger surname gained further prominence, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One such person was Thomas Bodger, a merchant and alderman from Bristol, who lived from 1532 to 1599. Another was John Bodger, a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in Tenterden, Kent, in 1556 during the reign of Queen Mary I.

In the 17th century, the Bodger surname continued to be widespread across various regions of England. One notable figure from this period was Sir Nicholas Bodger, a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Launceston, Cornwall, who lived from 1610 to 1679.

Moving into the 18th century, the Bodger name appeared in various parish records and historical documents. One individual of note was Samuel Bodger, a celebrated clockmaker from London who lived from 1720 to 1789 and is known for his intricate and highly sought-after timepieces.

Throughout the 19th century, the Bodger surname remained well-represented across England, with many individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields. One such person was William Bodger, a renowned architect from Gloucestershire who designed several notable buildings, including the picturesque St. Mary's Church in Stow-on-the-Wold, which was completed in 1858.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bodger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bodger 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. Middlesex leads with 61 Bodgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.45x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 61 1.45x
Somerset 41 6.04x
Cambridgeshire 36 13.49x
Huntingdonshire 32 38.25x
Norfolk 28 4.32x
Northamptonshire 27 6.81x
Essex 25 3.01x
Durham 20 1.60x
Surrey 20 0.97x
Yorkshire 20 0.48x
Glamorgan 14 1.91x
Lincolnshire 14 2.08x
Lancashire 13 0.26x
Bedfordshire 10 4.58x
Devon 10 1.14x
Northumberland 8 1.28x
Suffolk 8 1.56x
Derbyshire 6 0.91x
Sussex 6 0.84x
Hertfordshire 5 1.72x
Kent 5 0.35x
Leicestershire 4 0.86x
Monmouthshire 4 1.31x
Staffordshire 3 0.21x
Warwickshire 3 0.28x
Royal Navy 2 3.98x
Berkshire 1 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.39x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Cornwall 1 0.21x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 19 Bodgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.24x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 19 20.24x
Heathfield 14 9333.33x
Chelsea London 13 10.24x
Liverpool 13 4.28x
Hillingdon 10 74.40x
Hillfarrance 9 1475.41x
Hornchurch 9 220.59x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 12.76x
Burnham 8 154.74x
Godmanchester 8 253.16x
Leyton Low 8 47.31x
March 8 89.49x
Stonehouse East 8 179.78x
Terrington St Clement 8 273.04x
Bermondsey 7 5.58x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 7 241.38x
Kingsthorpe 7 158.73x
Peakirk 7 2000.00x
Staplegrove 7 843.37x
Tottenham 7 10.43x
West Winch 7 1186.44x
Coxlodge 6 125.79x
Eckington 6 37.43x
Orton Waterville 6 1333.33x
Somersham 6 295.57x
Tilney St Lawrence 6 576.92x
Wanstead 6 41.18x
Beverley St Mary 5 81.97x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 35.01x
Clerkenwell London 5 5.03x
Conington 5 2380.95x
Hackney London 5 2.12x
Isleworth 5 26.68x
Peterborough 5 17.42x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 27.41x
St Swithin Lincoln 5 47.21x
Wandsworth 5 12.32x
Wisbech St Peter 5 37.37x
Woodbridge 5 76.22x
Hemingford Abbots 4 714.29x
Melton Mowbray 4 47.62x
North Mimms 4 218.58x
Scarborough 4 10.54x
Whittlesey St Mary St 4 42.92x
Battersea 3 1.93x
Cardington 3 168.54x
Fletton 3 112.36x
Keighley 3 6.74x
Kingswinford 3 5.81x
Leighton Buzzard 3 31.95x
Lewisham 3 3.91x
Llandaff 3 12.29x
Sutton 3 135.75x
Thornhaugh 3 857.14x
Welney 3 202.70x
Bedford St Paul 2 13.36x
Birmingham 2 0.56x
Brighton 2 1.40x
Bures St Mary 2 160.00x
Clapham 2 3.80x
Donington 2 82.64x
Great Grimsby 2 4.68x
Hastings St Clement 2 29.90x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 10.28x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 6.15x
Risca 2 34.84x
Royal Navy 2 4.66x
Southill 2 112.99x
St George Martyr London 2 23.42x
St Ives 2 46.08x
Taunton St James 2 20.22x
Toft 2 540.54x
Wellingborough 2 10.04x
Aston 1 0.34x
Brigstock 1 66.67x
Darlington 1 2.07x
Harrow 1 15.53x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.03x
Prittlewell 1 8.67x
Stamford Baron St Martin 1 47.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 20
Emma 9
Annie 8
Fanny 8
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Louisa 6
Margaret 6
Jane 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Maria 4
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Gertrude 3
Harriet 3
Isabella 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Beatrice 2
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Harriett 2
Baby 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Catherne 1
Eizabeth 1
Eleanor 1
Eugene 1
Evan 1
Henrietta 1
Jeannie 1
Jemima 1
Joanna 1
Juliet 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 24
James 13
Thomas 12
Charles 9
Robert 9
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Henry 8
Walter 7
Benjamin 6
Frederick 6
George 6
David 5
Joseph 5
Edwin 4
Arthur 3
Frank 3
Samuel 3
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Jonathan 2
Chas 1
Edwd.John 1
Eli 1
Ellis 1
Elliss 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Hector 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jeremiah 1
Johnathan 1
Jonah 1
Jonothan 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Saville 1
Septimus 1
Snowdon 1

FAQ

Bodger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bodger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 430 people were recorded with the Bodger surname. That placed it at #7,569 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bodger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016. That gives Bodger a modern rank of #18,105.

What does the Bodger surname mean?

A surname for someone who worked as a repairer or tinkerer.

What does the Bodger map show?

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