NameCensus.

UK surname

Bodman

A English surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from Bodman.

In the 1881 census there were 439 people recorded with the Bodman surname, ranking it #7,455 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 756, ranked #7,240, up from #7,455 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Englishcombe, Tiverton, Keevil and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Wiltshire and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bodman is 799 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.2%.

1881 census count

439

Ranked #7,455

Modern count

756

2016, ranked #7,240

Peak year

1998

799 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bodman had 439 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,455 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 756 in 2016, ranked #7,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 728 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bodman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bodman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bodman 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 280 #8,043
1861 historical 319 #7,987
1881 historical 439 #7,455
1891 historical 531 #7,061
1901 historical 619 #6,894
1911 historical 728 #5,882
1997 modern 731 #7,000
1998 modern 799 #6,757
1999 modern 793 #6,852
2000 modern 776 #6,942
2001 modern 756 #6,947
2002 modern 775 #6,952
2003 modern 755 #6,982
2004 modern 745 #7,058
2005 modern 726 #7,126
2006 modern 742 #7,042
2007 modern 766 #6,938
2008 modern 772 #6,946
2009 modern 797 #6,912
2010 modern 795 #7,065
2011 modern 786 #7,057
2012 modern 762 #7,145
2013 modern 771 #7,186
2014 modern 779 #7,153
2015 modern 760 #7,224
2016 modern 756 #7,240

Geography

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Where Bodmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Englishcombe, Tiverton, Keevil, London parishes, Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington and Bath St Michael. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Wiltshire, Neath Port Talbot and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 Englishcombe, Tiverton Somerset
2 Keevil Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington Wiltshire
5 Bath St Michael Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 011 Caerphilly
2 Wiltshire 034 Wiltshire
3 Wiltshire 028 Wiltshire
4 Neath Port Talbot 003 Neath Port Talbot
5 Bath and North East Somerset 003 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bodman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bodman

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bodman is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Bodman is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bodman falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bodman

The surname Bodman is of English origin, originating from the county of Somerset in the south-west of England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words 'bod' meaning messenger or herald, and 'mann' meaning man. The name likely referred to someone who worked as a messenger or herald, delivering important messages or announcements.

The earliest recorded occurrence of the name Bodman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from the year 1190, where a certain 'Alured Bodman' is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the Bodman surname appears in various records from the county of Somerset, such as the Assize Rolls of 1268, which mention a 'William Bodman' from the village of Nettlecombe. This village's name was originally spelled 'Nettlecumbe' in Old English, indicating the surname's connection to local place names.

The Bodman family was also prominently mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which documented taxation records in Somerset. Several individuals with the surname, including John Bodman and Robert Bodman, were listed as landowners and taxpayers in various villages and towns.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Roger Bodman (c. 1420 - 1492) is recorded as having been a wealthy merchant and landowner in the town of Taunton, Somerset. He was involved in local politics and served as the Mayor of Taunton on multiple occasions.

Another prominent individual was Sir John Bodman (1563 - 1637), who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Shaftesbury in Dorset during the reign of King James I. He was a wealthy landowner and held several positions of authority in the local government.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Colonel William Bodman (1610 - 1678) was a prominent military figure who fought for the Parliamentarian forces against King Charles I. He was instrumental in several key battles and later served as the Governor of Taunton Castle.

As the centuries progressed, the Bodman name continued to be found in various records and documents from the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and neighboring regions, reflecting the family's deep roots and historical presence in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bodman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bodman 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. Wiltshire leads with 111 Bodmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.31x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 111 29.31x
Gloucestershire 76 9.05x
Somerset 66 9.58x
Middlesex 56 1.31x
Surrey 30 1.44x
Kent 19 1.30x
Staffordshire 14 0.97x
Worcestershire 13 2.32x
Yorkshire 11 0.26x
Warwickshire 9 0.83x
Hampshire 6 0.68x
Lancashire 6 0.12x
Brecknockshire 5 5.84x
Berkshire 4 1.24x
Derbyshire 3 0.45x
Essex 3 0.35x
Stirlingshire 3 1.90x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Durham 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Keevil in Wiltshire leads with 27 Bodmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4909.09x.

Place Total Index
Keevil 27 4909.09x
Calne 25 320.51x
Camberwell 19 6.95x
Lyncombe Widcombe 17 94.18x
Walcot 17 46.31x
Bitton 13 177.84x
Gloucester St Nicholas 12 308.48x
Oldbury 12 43.62x
Kingswinford 11 20.96x
Chippenham 10 125.94x
Clerkenwell London 10 9.89x
Lewisham 10 12.84x
St George In East London 10 24.83x
Dunkerton 9 604.03x
Battersea 8 5.08x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 8 55.13x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 8 299.63x
Marshfield 8 357.14x
Aston 7 2.35x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 8.85x
Dodington 7 3181.82x
Dyrham Hinton 7 1186.44x
Hillmarton 7 744.68x
Burnham 6 114.29x
Devizes St John 6 211.27x
Laycock 6 348.84x
Tormarton 6 967.74x
Westbury 6 67.87x
Wick Abson 6 465.12x
Brecknock St John 5 69.25x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 5 159.74x
Monckton Combe 5 227.27x
South Hayling 5 320.51x
St Marylebone London 5 2.19x
St Stephen Coleman Street 5 333.33x
Twerton 5 70.32x
Bath St James 4 55.63x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.15x
St Andrew Holborn 4 27.55x
St Giles Cripplegate 4 70.42x
Derby St Werburgh 3 7.75x
Ecclesfield 3 9.64x
Everton 3 1.85x
Falkirk 3 8.11x
Islington London 3 0.72x
Lee 3 14.14x
Poulshot 3 600.00x
West Ham 3 1.61x
Wolverhampton 3 2.70x
Woolwich 3 5.56x
Birmingham 2 0.56x
Bradford On Avon 2 16.50x
Eltham 2 23.36x
Hardenhuish 2 1333.33x
Kingsbury 2 180.18x
Lambeth 2 0.54x
Melksham 2 30.40x
Reading St Giles 2 6.34x
St Pancras London 2 0.58x
Warminster 2 24.10x
Arlingham 1 108.70x
Bristol St James In 1 8.10x
Darlington 1 2.03x
Edington 1 72.99x
Foots Cray 1 35.71x
Hackney London 1 0.42x
Hove 1 3.16x
Kington St Michael 1 147.06x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.10x
Oldham 1 0.61x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.65x
Portsea 1 0.58x
Pucklechurch 1 52.91x
Severn Stoke 1 98.04x
St Anne Soho London 1 4.09x
Stockport 1 2.06x
Trowbridge 1 5.97x
Westerleigh 1 53.19x
Westminster St James 1 2.27x
Weston 1 18.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 22
Mary 18
Elizabeth 11
Emily 9
Ann 8
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Alice 6
Jane 6
Martha 6
Florence 5
Kate 5
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Frances 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Julia 3
Amy 2
Bessie 2
Blanche 2
Caroline 2
Dorcas 2
Edith 2
Georgina 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Malinda 2
Matilda 2
Sophia 2
Aletha 1
Blanch 1
Burtha 1
Easter 1
Elisa 1
Emile 1
Esther 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Infant 1
Julianna 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Tobothia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 27
Henry 22
George 18
James 15
Albert 9
Charles 8
Thomas 7
Edward 6
Frederick 6
Walter 6
Benjamin 5
Frank 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Harry 4
Job 4
Joseph 4
Herbert 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Gorge 2
Jesse 2
Joshua 2
Richard 2
Agustus 1
Ambrose 1
Augusts 1
Cecil 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Dick 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Hy. 1
Jacob 1
Jaspar 1
Lewis 1
Luther 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Nathan 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Waller 1

FAQ

Bodman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bodman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 439 people were recorded with the Bodman surname. That placed it at #7,455 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bodman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 756 in 2016. That gives Bodman a modern rank of #7,240.

What does the Bodman surname mean?

A English surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from Bodman.

What does the Bodman map show?

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