NameCensus.

UK surname

Boldy

In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Boldy surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 284, ranked #15,323, up from #24,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Methwold and Darfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boldy is 297 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 358.1%.

1881 census count

62

Ranked #24,843

Modern count

284

2016, ranked #15,323

Peak year

2010

297 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boldy had 62 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016, ranked #15,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 144 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Boldy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boldy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boldy 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 52 #23,915
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 62 #24,843
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 124 #20,163
1911 historical 144 #18,325
1997 modern 282 #14,072
1998 modern 281 #14,506
1999 modern 283 #14,501
2000 modern 277 #14,688
2001 modern 270 #14,734
2002 modern 264 #15,236
2003 modern 283 #14,368
2004 modern 279 #14,578
2005 modern 279 #14,480
2006 modern 269 #14,952
2007 modern 273 #14,959
2008 modern 265 #15,425
2009 modern 279 #15,184
2010 modern 297 #14,841
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 286 #15,012
2013 modern 296 #14,876
2014 modern 297 #14,943
2015 modern 293 #15,005
2016 modern 284 #15,323

Geography

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Where Boldys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Methwold, Darfield, Kirk Smeaton and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley and Sheffield. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Methwold Norfolk
3 Darfield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Kirk Smeaton Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 023 Barnsley
2 Barnsley 018 Barnsley
3 Barnsley 026 Barnsley
4 Barnsley 006 Barnsley
5 Sheffield 065 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boldy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boldy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Boldy, 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 Boldy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Boldy 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Boldy is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Boldy is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boldy 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 Boldy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Boldy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Boldy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boldy 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. Yorkshire leads with 60 Boldys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.01x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 60 10.01x
Middlesex 1 0.17x
Surrey 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 14 Boldys recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.38x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 14 73.38x
Bradford 9 62.03x
Bowling 8 134.68x
Barnsley 6 97.09x
Leeds 6 17.73x
Balne 4 5714.29x
Saddleworth 4 86.58x
Fewston 3 4285.71x
Norton In Doncaster 2 1666.67x
Adel Cum Eccup 1 400.00x
Crowle 1 169.49x
Egton 1 384.62x
Rotherhithe 1 13.39x
Snaith Cowick 1 277.78x
St Marylebone London 1 3.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 4
Thomas 4
Benjamin 3
James 3
William 3
Herbert 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Ben 1
Benjn. 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
John 1
Josh. 1
Tempest 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Boldy households.

FAQ

Boldy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boldy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Boldy surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boldy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016. That gives Boldy a modern rank of #15,323.

What does the Boldy map show?

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