NameCensus.

UK surname

Bolam

A locational surname derived from places in Northumberland, England.

In the 1881 census there were 817 people recorded with the Bolam surname, ranking it #4,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,353, ranked #4,454, up from #4,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bolam is 1,436 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.6%.

1881 census count

817

Ranked #4,581

Modern count

1,353

2016, ranked #4,454

Peak year

2010

1,436 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bolam had 817 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,353 in 2016, ranked #4,454.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,156 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Bolam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bolam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bolam 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 522 #4,805
1861 historical 513 #5,102
1881 historical 817 #4,581
1891 historical 888 #4,636
1901 historical 1,019 #4,683
1911 historical 1,156 #4,040
1997 modern 1,334 #4,312
1998 modern 1,391 #4,298
1999 modern 1,405 #4,289
2000 modern 1,367 #4,377
2001 modern 1,349 #4,335
2002 modern 1,351 #4,430
2003 modern 1,304 #4,474
2004 modern 1,308 #4,458
2005 modern 1,291 #4,452
2006 modern 1,290 #4,475
2007 modern 1,316 #4,442
2008 modern 1,312 #4,478
2009 modern 1,378 #4,386
2010 modern 1,436 #4,327
2011 modern 1,397 #4,364
2012 modern 1,360 #4,403
2013 modern 1,365 #4,461
2014 modern 1,369 #4,476
2015 modern 1,344 #4,504
2016 modern 1,353 #4,454

Geography

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Where Bolams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Bishop Wearmouth and Newcastle St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Newcastle St John Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 026 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 004 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 North Tyneside 002 North Tyneside
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 028 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 County Durham 006 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bolam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bolam

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Bolam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bolam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bolam 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

Bolam 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bolam

The surname Bolam is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period in England. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the hamlet of Bolam in Northumberland, located near the town of Belsay. The place-name itself is thought to come from the Old English words "bol" meaning a rounded hill or a bowl-shaped valley, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Bolam can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1166, where a reference is made to a landowner named Richard de Bolam. This suggests that the Bolam family had already established themselves as prominent landowners in the region by the late 12th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Bolam name appears in various historical documents related to the region, such as the Feet of Fines (legal records of land transfers) and the Subsidy Rolls (tax records). One notable figure was John de Bolam, who served as the Sheriff of Northumberland in 1313.

The Bolam family continued to play a significant role in the affairs of Northumberland throughout the medieval and early modern periods. In the 16th century, a branch of the family settled in the nearby village of Shittleheugh, where they owned estates and lands. One prominent member of this branch was William Bolam (1535-1607), who served as the High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1594.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the Bolam surname was Sir John Bolam (1607-1685), a successful merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1667. He was knighted by King Charles II in recognition of his contributions to the City of London.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Bolam name spread beyond Northumberland as family members migrated to other parts of England and Scotland. One example is James Bolam (1735-1824), a Scottish clergyman and author who served as the Minister of Wilton in Roxburghshire.

As the surname Bolam became more widely dispersed, it also evolved to include variations in spelling, such as Bollam, Bolham, and Boleham. However, the original Northumbrian form of Bolam remained the most common variation throughout its history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bolam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bolam 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. Durham leads with 374 Bolams recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.81x.

County Total Index
Durham 374 15.81x
Northumberland 307 25.95x
Middlesex 35 0.44x
Lancashire 25 0.27x
Surrey 20 0.52x
Yorkshire 20 0.25x
Hampshire 7 0.43x
Worcestershire 6 0.58x
Midlothian 5 0.47x
Devon 3 0.18x
Suffolk 3 0.31x
Flintshire 2 0.94x
Kent 2 0.07x
Essex 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x

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 64 Bolams recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.14x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 64 36.14x
Elswick 34 36.01x
Usworth 31 246.82x
Westgate 30 40.96x
Bishopwearmouth 29 14.28x
Darlington 27 29.57x
Longbenton 19 37.92x
Heworth 18 38.62x
Birtley 16 165.80x
Houghton Le Spring 16 97.86x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 16 22.65x
Newcastle On Tyne St 15 24.46x
Tynemouth 14 22.10x
Benwell 13 100.54x
Camberwell 12 2.36x
Esh 12 69.73x
Chopwell 11 250.00x
Edmondbyers 11 1145.83x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 11 10.74x
Westoe 11 8.20x
Berwick Upon Tweed 10 39.90x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 10 64.31x
Tanfield 10 35.55x
Cotherston 9 517.24x
Lanchester 9 207.37x
Wigan 9 6.83x
Alnwick 8 39.33x
Everton 8 2.66x
Pelton 8 71.11x
Pittington 8 120.30x
Raw 8 3333.33x
Shotton 8 136.75x
Chollerton 7 210.84x
Crondall 7 80.00x
South Charlton 7 2000.00x
Corsenside 6 324.32x
Iveston 6 55.05x
Jesmond 6 36.06x
Newington 6 2.04x
Shawdon 6 2142.86x
Shoreditch London 6 1.74x
St Botolph Aldgate London 6 36.65x
Stella 6 295.57x
Stockton On Tees 6 5.26x
Warton 6 3750.00x
Whistones 6 79.79x
Bedlington 5 12.66x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.45x
Bothal Demesne 5 88.34x
Bow London 5 4.94x
Chathill 5 2777.78x
Cowpen 5 18.36x
Holywell 5 82.10x
Horton 5 85.47x
Lartington 5 877.19x
Newbiggin In Morpeth 5 132.28x
South Leith 5 4.17x
Willington 5 36.58x
Bradford 4 2.10x
Cullercoates 4 107.53x
Dawdon 4 13.75x
Eltringham 4 314.96x
Hulme 4 2.03x
Kelloe 4 156.86x
Lee Ward 4 1052.63x
North Charlton 4 909.09x
South Gosforth 4 291.97x
St Pancras London 4 0.63x
Wallsend 4 10.66x
West Herrington 4 48.25x
Whitburn 4 72.60x
Alwinton 3 1250.00x
Byker 3 5.13x
Exeter St Paul 3 91.46x
Hexham West Quarter 3 491.80x
Limehouse London 3 3.44x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 6.50x
Ryhope 3 18.27x
Stocksfield Hall 3 967.74x
Waldridge 3 75.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 76
Elizabeth 43
Jane 30
Ann 24
Isabella 21
Margaret 19
Sarah 12
Annie 11
Catherine 10
Hannah 10
Alice 9
Eleanor 7
Frances 6
Charlotte 5
Emily 5
Harriet 5
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Mabel 4
Mable 4
Margt. 4
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Emma 3
Ethel 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Barbara 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Francis 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Rachel 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Tamar 2
Bridget 1
Cate 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizabth 1
Elizb. 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizebeth 1
Harriett 1
Hepzibah 1
Isa. 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 63
Thomas 54
William 45
George 42
Robert 31
James 21
Henry 18
Charles 15
Joseph 14
Edward 7
Mathew 4
Ralph 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Anthony 3
Geo. 3
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Peter 2
Wilson 2
Ann 1
Arthur 1
Benjamine 1
Benjiman 1
Bertram 1
C.F. 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Geo.Jas. 1
Hubert 1
Jno.T. 1
Lionel 1
Luke 1
Margt. 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Norman 1
Owen 1
Patrick 1

FAQ

Bolam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bolam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 817 people were recorded with the Bolam surname. That placed it at #4,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bolam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,353 in 2016. That gives Bolam a modern rank of #4,454.

What does the Bolam surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in Northumberland, England.

What does the Bolam map show?

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