NameCensus.

UK surname

Bogle

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic word "bodhbh" meaning a frightening supernatural being or specter.

In the 1881 census there were 375 people recorded with the Bogle surname, ranking it #8,345 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 865, ranked #6,483, up from #8,345 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanark, Govan Combination and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridge of Weir, Lambeth and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bogle is 879 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 130.7%.

1881 census count

375

Ranked #8,345

Modern count

865

2016, ranked #6,483

Peak year

2010

879 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bogle had 375 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,345 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 865 in 2016, ranked #6,483.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 458 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Bogle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bogle surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bogle 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 288 #7,884
1861 historical 346 #7,377
1881 historical 375 #8,345
1891 historical 458 #7,974
1901 historical 411 #9,300
1911 historical 225 #13,874
1997 modern 751 #6,874
1998 modern 774 #6,938
1999 modern 804 #6,759
2000 modern 788 #6,857
2001 modern 777 #6,796
2002 modern 778 #6,933
2003 modern 746 #7,049
2004 modern 757 #6,972
2005 modern 759 #6,894
2006 modern 792 #6,685
2007 modern 809 #6,622
2008 modern 816 #6,629
2009 modern 851 #6,561
2010 modern 879 #6,519
2011 modern 872 #6,488
2012 modern 832 #6,642
2013 modern 862 #6,562
2014 modern 873 #6,519
2015 modern 867 #6,500
2016 modern 865 #6,483

Geography

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Where Bogles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanark, Govan Combination, Greenock, Glasgow and Cambuslang. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridge of Weir, Lambeth, Ashford, Houston North and Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton. 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 Lanark Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Cambuslang Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridge of Weir Renfrewshire
2 Lambeth 020 Lambeth
3 Ashford 014 Ashford
4 Houston North Renfrewshire
5 Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bogle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bogle

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Bogle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Bogle 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 often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bogle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bogle is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bogle falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bogle

The surname Bogle is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle English word 'bogill' or 'bogle', which means a goblin or a frightening apparition. This indicates that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone with a strange or frightening appearance.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Bogle can be found in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls of 1296, where a person named Nichole Bogill is mentioned. It is also found in the records of the Burgh of Peebles in 1457, referring to a person named Adam Bogill.

In the 16th century, the name Bogle was prominent in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in areas such as Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. The variant spellings 'Bogill' and 'Bogle' were used interchangeably during this period.

One notable historical figure with the surname Bogle was John Bogle (c. 1585-1646), a Scottish clergyman who served as the minister of Kilwinning and was a leading figure in the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. Another prominent individual was Robert Bogle (1675-1743), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the tobacco trade between Glasgow and Virginia.

In the 18th century, the surname Bogle was associated with the town of Ayr in Scotland. Robert Bogle (1711-1772), a merchant and landowner, was born in Ayr and was involved in the shipping and tobacco trade. His son, George Bogle (1746-1781), was a Scottish diplomat and explorer who is best known for his travels to Tibet and his diplomatic mission to the court of the Panchen Lama.

Another notable figure with the surname Bogle was Patrick Bogle (1811-1870), a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator who served in the British East India Company and later became the Governor of Mauritius.

Over time, the surname Bogle spread beyond Scotland to other parts of the United Kingdom and eventually to other countries through emigration. However, its historical roots can be traced back to its Scottish origins and the Middle English word 'bogill' or 'bogle'.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bogle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bogle 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. Lanarkshire leads with 153 Bogles recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.00x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 153 13.00x
Lancashire 92 2.13x
Devon 11 1.45x
Middlesex 11 0.30x
Stirlingshire 10 7.45x
Warwickshire 10 1.09x
Renfrewshire 9 3.19x
Roxburghshire 8 12.14x
Dunbartonshire 6 6.14x
Kent 6 0.48x
Midlothian 6 1.23x
Surrey 6 0.34x
Argyllshire 5 4.94x
Cumberland 5 1.60x
Perthshire 5 3.06x
Herefordshire 4 2.68x
Worcestershire 4 0.84x
Dorset 3 1.26x
Yorkshire 3 0.08x
Ayrshire 2 0.73x
Durham 2 0.18x
Hampshire 2 0.27x
Morayshire 2 3.54x
Selkirkshire 2 6.08x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Peeblesshire 1 5.84x
Somerset 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.16x
West Lothian 1 1.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 38 Bogles recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.76x.

Place Total Index
Barony 38 12.76x
Glasgow 38 18.19x
Govan 22 7.56x
Lanark 21 221.75x
Tonge With Haulgh 19 226.19x
Cambuslang 12 101.18x
Kensington London 10 4.94x
Birmingham 9 2.94x
Carluke 9 84.19x
Tormoham 8 24.96x
Little Bolton 7 12.61x
Radcliffe 7 33.64x
Wilton 7 96.82x
Biggar 6 225.56x
Breightmet 6 315.79x
Castleton 6 13.91x
Denny 6 84.03x
Liverpool 6 2.29x
Abbey 5 11.62x
Beaumont 5 1724.14x
Darcy Lever 5 200.80x
Dunoon Kilmun 5 63.29x
Gillingham 5 19.53x
Newchurch 5 14.16x
Salford 5 3.94x
Widnes 5 16.06x
Wiston Robertson 5 714.29x
Callander 4 148.70x
Cardross 4 34.07x
Everton 4 2.91x
Falkirk 4 12.73x
Great Bolton 4 6.99x
Leominster 4 64.72x
Manchester 4 2.06x
Worcester St Clement 4 132.45x
Battersea 3 2.24x
Heap 3 13.10x
Washfield 3 612.24x
Dalkeith 2 20.79x
Elgin 2 18.18x
Frensham 2 76.92x
Lochwinnoch 2 47.62x
Marton 2 69.69x
Paisley Low Church 2 22.40x
Selkirk 2 21.58x
Sheffield 2 1.74x
Sherborne 2 28.45x
Walton On Hill 2 8.55x
Abbas Temple Coombe 1 333.33x
Aldershot 1 4.00x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.08x
Bradshaw 1 106.38x
Cockpen 1 17.54x
Dalry 1 7.81x
Edgbaston 1 3.51x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 15.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.51x
Epsom 1 11.57x
Gateshead 1 1.23x
Halliwell 1 6.37x
Hamilton 1 3.05x
Hastings St Mary 1 6.55x
Hougham 1 13.55x
Kilbirnie 1 15.29x
Knutsford Nether 1 20.62x
Leeds 1 0.49x
Linlithgow 1 14.22x
Old Kilpatrick 1 8.66x
Old Monkland 1 2.14x
Perth East Church 1 6.49x
Portsea 1 0.68x
Ratho 1 44.05x
Row 1 7.91x
Roxburgh 1 79.37x
St Pancras London 1 0.34x
Swanage 1 33.90x
Traquair 1 105.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 5
Eliza 4
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Margaret 3
Nancy 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Blanche 2
Emma 2
Janet 2
May 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Effield 1
Esther 1
Eve 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
G. 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
K. 1
Katherine 1
Louisa 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Maynard 1
Susannah 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bogle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bogle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 375 people were recorded with the Bogle surname. That placed it at #8,345 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bogle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 865 in 2016. That gives Bogle a modern rank of #6,483.

What does the Bogle surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic word "bodhbh" meaning a frightening supernatural being or specter.

What does the Bogle map show?

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