NameCensus.

UK surname

Body

An English occupational surname referring to a servant or a person of humble birth.

In the 1881 census there were 1,010 people recorded with the Body surname, ranking it #3,876 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 947, ranked #6,060, down from #3,876 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Biddesham, London parishes and Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Shepway and Caithness North East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Body is 1,244 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.2%.

1881 census count

1,010

Ranked #3,876

Modern count

947

2016, ranked #6,060

Peak year

1901

1,244 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Body had 1,010 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,876 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 947 in 2016, ranked #6,060.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,244 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Body surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Body surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Body 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 945 #2,937
1861 historical 776 #3,550
1881 historical 1,010 #3,876
1891 historical 1,027 #4,057
1901 historical 1,244 #3,983
1911 historical 1,150 #4,059
1997 modern 939 #5,771
1998 modern 934 #5,982
1999 modern 948 #5,955
2000 modern 973 #5,821
2001 modern 951 #5,814
2002 modern 936 #6,009
2003 modern 926 #5,952
2004 modern 900 #6,089
2005 modern 880 #6,123
2006 modern 901 #6,035
2007 modern 914 #6,023
2008 modern 945 #5,907
2009 modern 956 #5,972
2010 modern 966 #6,043
2011 modern 961 #6,013
2012 modern 982 #5,821
2013 modern 980 #5,915
2014 modern 974 #5,989
2015 modern 957 #6,035
2016 modern 947 #6,060

Geography

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Where Bodys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Biddesham, London parishes, Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent, Brighton and Liskeard, St Cleer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Shepway, Caithness North East, Tonbridge and Malling and Cornwall. 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 Biddesham Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent Somerset
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 003 Sedgemoor
2 Shepway 011 Shepway
3 Caithness North East Highland
4 Tonbridge and Malling 002 Tonbridge and Malling
5 Cornwall 057 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Body

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Body

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Body 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

Body is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Body falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Body

The surname BODY is thought to have originated in England. It is likely derived from the Old English word 'bodig', meaning a person's trunk or torso. The name may have been used as a nickname for a stout or heavily-built individual during medieval times.

Records indicate the name BODY first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror to record land ownership across England and parts of Wales. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was 'Bodie'.

One of the earliest known bearers of the BODY surname was William Bodie, who lived in Gloucestershire, England, in the late 12th century. Rogerus Body, born around 1210 in Oxfordshire, is another early example.

In the 14th century, the BODY surname began appearing in various spellings, such as 'Bodye', 'Bodie', and 'Boddy'. This was likely due to regional variations in pronunciation and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

A notable figure with the BODY surname was Sir Thomas Body (1498-1563), an English Member of Parliament and lawyer who served as Speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Mary I.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BODY surname spread across England, with concentrations in counties like Somerset, Devon, and Gloucestershire. This was likely due to the movement of people during the Tudor and Stuart periods.

Another prominent individual with the BODY surname was John Body (1615-1692), an English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Pious and Learned Reader's Delight" and "The Scripture Weighing All Teachers and Teachings".

In the 18th century, the BODY surname appeared in various place names, such as Body Farm in Berkshire and Body's Green in Gloucestershire, further suggesting the name's longstanding presence in certain regions of England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BODY surname in North America was Richard Body, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Another early bearer of the name in the American colonies was Samuel Body, who was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1667.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Body families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Body 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. Cornwall leads with 177 Bodys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.64x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 177 15.64x
Middlesex 113 1.13x
Somerset 99 6.15x
Devon 97 4.66x
Sussex 60 3.56x
Gloucestershire 53 2.70x
Surrey 49 1.01x
Kent 48 1.41x
Lancashire 40 0.34x
Yorkshire 39 0.39x
Essex 28 1.42x
Hampshire 27 1.32x
Norfolk 27 1.76x
Lincolnshire 21 1.31x
Buckinghamshire 17 2.81x
Hertfordshire 16 2.32x
Derbyshire 15 0.96x
Worcestershire 15 1.15x
Channel Islands 13 4.39x
Glamorgan 12 0.69x
Durham 9 0.30x
Berkshire 8 1.07x
Staffordshire 8 0.24x
Cheshire 7 0.32x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.37x
Northumberland 4 0.27x
Radnorshire 4 4.96x
Royal Navy 3 2.52x
Warwickshire 3 0.12x
Flintshire 2 0.74x
Bedfordshire 1 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.16x
Denbighshire 1 0.26x
Dorset 1 0.15x
Herefordshire 1 0.24x
Wiltshire 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. Brighton in Sussex leads with 45 Bodys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.23x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 45 13.23x
Biddisham 37 8809.52x
Liskeard 22 116.16x
Portsea 18 4.48x
Breage 16 154.89x
Coleby 16 1081.08x
Plymouth St Andrew 16 9.98x
St Marylebone London 16 3.00x
St Pancras London 16 1.99x
Plymouth Charles The 15 16.36x
Bristol St George 14 15.44x
Wittersham 14 460.53x
Duloe 13 391.57x
Aylsham 12 131.15x
Holy Trinity 12 5.04x
Mile End Old Town London 12 5.64x
Dudley 11 6.93x
Stoke Damerel 11 7.55x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 5.42x
Chenies 10 751.88x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 5.31x
Crediton 10 50.71x
Falmouth 10 24.96x
Mevagissey 10 132.98x
Southill 10 578.03x
Wrington 10 185.19x
Blagdon 9 265.49x
Camberwell 9 1.41x
Kenwyn 9 30.41x
Llandaff 9 15.54x
St Austell 9 23.26x
St Peter Port 9 16.42x
West Ham 9 2.07x
Battersea 8 2.17x
Callington 8 121.21x
Chapel En Le Frith 8 55.98x
Morval 8 346.32x
Plumstead 8 7.03x
Portsmouth 8 16.95x
South Brent 8 295.20x
Tetcott 8 888.89x
West Derby 8 2.30x
Hammersmith London 7 2.84x
Lanteglos By Fowey 7 151.84x
Layston 7 190.74x
Leyton Low 7 17.45x
Newington 7 1.90x
St George Hanover Square 7 3.97x
Wandsworth 7 7.27x
Barking 6 10.39x
Biddenden 6 128.48x
Bitton 6 35.15x
Bristol St Paul In 6 11.49x
Chelsea London 6 1.99x
Englishcombe 6 335.20x
Islington London 6 0.62x
Kirby Misperton 6 645.16x
Paddington London 6 1.63x
Redcar 6 76.34x
West Hallam 6 295.57x
Weston Birt Lasborough 6 2400.00x
Weston Super Mare 6 14.76x
Barnstaple 5 15.30x
Brenenden 5 113.90x
Everton 5 1.32x
Mawgan In Meneage 5 169.49x
Norwich St Giles 5 101.63x
St Ewe 5 145.77x
St Germans 5 63.29x
St Luke London 5 3.12x
St Mary Magdalene 5 60.10x
Stoke 5 59.31x
Tranmere 5 6.16x
Uxbridge 5 43.78x
Watford 5 9.36x
Wolverhampton 5 1.93x
East Brent 4 164.61x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 8.39x
Kirkdale 4 2.00x
Madron Penzance 4 9.72x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 73
John 57
George 38
James 28
Thomas 25
Henry 23
Charles 19
Frederick 18
Richard 17
Albert 14
Alfred 14
Samuel 13
Joseph 12
Arthur 11
Robert 11
Walter 9
Harry 7
Edwin 6
Edward 5
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Edmund 4
Herbert 3
Josiah 3
Peter 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Bernard 2
Cornelius 2
Frederic 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Hart 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Sidney 2
Andrew 1
Byron 1
Chas 1
Elihu 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Isaac 1
Ivor 1
Josp.H. 1
Kennith 1
Laurence 1
Lewis 1
Zadock 1

FAQ

Body surname: questions and answers

How common was the Body surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,010 people were recorded with the Body surname. That placed it at #3,876 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Body surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 947 in 2016. That gives Body a modern rank of #6,060.

What does the Body surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a servant or a person of humble birth.

What does the Body map show?

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