NameCensus.

UK surname

Bole

A habitational surname derived from a place name referring to a small dwelling or bower.

In the 1881 census there were 207 people recorded with the Bole surname, ranking it #12,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 249, ranked #16,847, down from #12,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Axmouth, Roosdown and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craigend and Ruchazie, Bellfield and Kirkstyle and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bole is 310 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.3%.

1881 census count

207

Ranked #12,555

Modern count

249

2016, ranked #16,847

Peak year

1891

310 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bole had 207 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016, ranked #16,847.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 310 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Bole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bole surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bole 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 181 #11,256
1861 historical 296 #8,532
1881 historical 207 #12,555
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 260 #12,817
1911 historical 117 #20,757
1997 modern 264 #14,734
1998 modern 272 #14,846
1999 modern 274 #14,826
2000 modern 265 #15,143
2001 modern 259 #15,151
2002 modern 270 #15,010
2003 modern 256 #15,377
2004 modern 257 #15,419
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 242 #16,097
2007 modern 242 #16,296
2008 modern 245 #16,295
2009 modern 258 #16,050
2010 modern 264 #16,163
2011 modern 245 #16,874
2012 modern 252 #16,424
2013 modern 247 #16,935
2014 modern 246 #17,079
2015 modern 246 #16,994
2016 modern 249 #16,847

Geography

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Where Boles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Axmouth, Roosdown, London parishes, Manchester and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craigend and Ruchazie, Bellfield and Kirkstyle, St. Helens, IZ07 and Dover. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Axmouth, Roosdown Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craigend and Ruchazie Glasgow City
2 Bellfield and Kirkstyle East Ayrshire
3 St. Helens 017 St. Helens
4 IZ07 East Lothian
5 Dover 014 Dover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bole

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bole

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bole 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

Bole is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bole

The surname BOLE is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word 'bol', which referred to a rounded or bulbous object, potentially describing a topographical feature or a characteristic of an individual.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, one of the earliest comprehensive records of landowners and tenants in England, the name is recorded as 'Bole', suggesting its presence in the country during the Norman Conquest. This early mention provides evidence of the name's antiquity and its establishment in England.

The earliest known bearer of the surname BOLE was Richard Bole, who lived in Gloucestershire, England, in the 13th century. Records from this period also reveal the name in various spellings, such as 'Bolle', 'Boll', and 'Bolle', reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions in those times.

During the 14th century, the name BOLE appeared in connection with several place names, including Bolebrook in Derbyshire and Bolehall in Warwickshire. These place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa, indicating a strong local presence of the BOLE family.

Notable individuals with the surname BOLE include:

1. John Bole (c. 1459-1537), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. 2. Robert Bole (c. 1490-1556), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire. 3. William Bole (c. 1530-1598), an English theologian and author, known for his writings on religious controversies during the Reformation. 4. Elizabeth Bole (c. 1620-1684), an English Quaker writer and preacher who faced persecution for her religious beliefs. 5. Samuel Bole (1675-1743), an English architect and surveyor renowned for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

The surname BOLE has endured through the centuries, with many individuals bearing this name leaving their mark on various aspects of English history, from religion and politics to architecture and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bole families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bole 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. Renfrewshire leads with 35 Boles recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.26x.

County Total Index
Renfrewshire 35 22.26x
Devon 34 8.05x
Lanarkshire 20 3.05x
Lancashire 20 0.83x
Surrey 19 1.92x
Ayrshire 12 7.90x
Wigtownshire 12 44.54x
Glamorgan 8 2.26x
Suffolk 8 3.24x
Roxburghshire 7 19.05x
Middlesex 6 0.30x
Gloucestershire 4 1.01x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 13.62x
Somerset 4 1.22x
Hampshire 3 0.72x
Warwickshire 2 0.39x
Yorkshire 2 0.10x
Cumberland 1 0.57x
Denbighshire 1 1.30x
Durham 1 0.17x
Kent 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 4.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.15x
West Lothian 1 3.27x
Wiltshire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 12 Boles recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.26x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 12 9.26x
Whimple 11 2340.43x
East Greenock 9 60.61x
Eastwood 9 92.98x
Port Glasgow 9 118.42x
Glasgow 8 6.87x
Somerleyton 8 1951.22x
Axmouth 7 1489.36x
Newington 7 9.34x
Wilton 7 173.70x
Manchester 6 5.54x
Glasserton 5 595.24x
St Quivox 5 97.47x
Toxteth Park 5 6.13x
Cardiff St John 4 34.66x
Crossmichael 4 430.11x
Everton 4 5.21x
Govan 4 2.46x
Hamilton 4 21.86x
Neilston 4 50.70x
Whithorn 4 195.12x
Bitton Oldland 3 73.71x
Bothwell 3 16.86x
Midsomer Norton 3 97.40x
Offwell 3 1304.35x
Ottery St Mary 3 108.30x
Riccarton Hurlford 3 112.78x
Roath 3 18.69x
Abbey 2 8.34x
Axminster 2 101.01x
Birmingham 2 1.17x
Colyton 2 123.46x
Inch 2 76.05x
Islington London 2 1.02x
Salcombe Regis 2 500.00x
Sheffield 2 3.12x
Stewarton 2 66.67x
Ayr 1 13.95x
Barnstaple 1 15.08x
Barony 1 0.60x
Bedford 1 19.84x
Birling 1 163.93x
Boness 1 23.75x
Cardiff St Mary 1 5.14x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.09x
Clifton 1 4.97x
Coxhoe 1 58.48x
Cricklade St Mary 1 344.83x
Dailly 1 64.52x
Edenhall 1 526.32x
Hackney London 1 0.88x
Holdenhurst 1 9.17x
Honiton 1 42.74x
Kilmalcolm 1 53.19x
Leswalt 1 54.05x
Liverpool 1 0.68x
Llandrillo Yn Rhos 1 88.50x
North Meols 1 4.24x
Paddington London 1 1.34x
Paisley Middle Church 1 10.93x
Plymouth Charles The 1 5.37x
Salford 1 1.41x
Seaton 1 61.35x
Southampton All Sts 1 14.01x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.80x
Walcot 1 5.75x
Wickham 1 131.58x
Wigan 1 2.97x
Wolverhampton 1 1.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 8
Jane 4
Susan 3
Alice 2
Anna 2
Eliza 2
Jemima 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Arabella 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Ella 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
F.E. 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Haimal 1
Helena 1
Henrtta.A. 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Kitty 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Leah 1
Lillan 1
Margaret 1
Margt.Gert. 1
Martha 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 6
John 6
Benjamin 4
Robert 4
William 4
George 3
Thomas 3
Albert 1
Ambrose 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Eli 1
Fr.Crossley 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Harman 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Arch 1
Jas.Henry 1
Joseph 1
Mathew 1
Maxwell 1
Phillip 1
Rayment 1
Stephen 1
W. 1

FAQ

Bole surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bole surname in 1881?

In 1881, 207 people were recorded with the Bole surname. That placed it at #12,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016. That gives Bole a modern rank of #16,847.

What does the Bole surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name referring to a small dwelling or bower.

What does the Bole map show?

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