NameCensus.

UK surname

Bolingbroke

A surname derived from the name of a town in Lincolnshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Bolingbroke surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 282, ranked #15,406, down from #14,689 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brighton and Hove and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bolingbroke is 309 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.0%.

1881 census count

163

Ranked #14,689

Modern count

282

2016, ranked #15,406

Peak year

1999

309 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bolingbroke had 163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,689 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016, ranked #15,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 291 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Bolingbroke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bolingbroke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bolingbroke 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 63 #22,069
1861 historical 124 #17,797
1881 historical 163 #14,689
1891 historical 224 #13,760
1901 historical 241 #13,417
1911 historical 291 #11,696
1997 modern 287 #13,912
1998 modern 306 #13,720
1999 modern 309 #13,697
2000 modern 309 #13,651
2001 modern 301 #13,700
2002 modern 304 #13,887
2003 modern 293 #14,037
2004 modern 301 #13,850
2005 modern 287 #14,216
2006 modern 296 #14,030
2007 modern 291 #14,347
2008 modern 288 #14,537
2009 modern 295 #14,594
2010 modern 287 #15,195
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 296 #14,635
2013 modern 294 #14,961
2014 modern 297 #14,943
2015 modern 290 #15,117
2016 modern 282 #15,406

Geography

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Where Bolingbrokes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Brighton, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brighton and Hove and Norwich. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lambeth London (South Districts)
3 Brighton Sussex
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brighton and Hove 025 Brighton and Hove
2 Brighton and Hove 009 Brighton and Hove
3 Norwich 004 Norwich
4 Brighton and Hove 017 Brighton and Hove
5 Norwich 006 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bolingbroke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bolingbroke

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Bolingbroke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Bolingbroke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bolingbroke 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

Bolingbroke 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

Bolingbroke 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 Bolingbroke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bolingbroke

The surname Bolingbroke is of English origin, derived from the town of Bolingbroke in Lincolnshire. The name is thought to date back to the 11th century, originating from the Old English words 'boling' meaning 'ridge' and 'broke' meaning 'brook'.

The Domesday Book, a record of landowners in England in 1086, contains the earliest known reference to Bolingbroke, spelled as 'Bolingbroc'. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bolingbroke was Sir John de Bolingbroke, a knight who lived in the 13th century. He is mentioned in various chronicles and historical records from that time.

The name gained particular prominence in the 14th and 15th centuries, associated with the House of Lancaster and the English monarchy. Henry IV, who reigned from 1399 to 1413, was known as Henry Bolingbroke before ascending to the throne.

Another notable figure was Henry St. John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678-1751), a prominent English politician, philosopher, and writer. He served as Secretary of State during the reign of Queen Anne and was a leading figure in the Tory party.

In the 17th century, Oliver Bolingbroke (1616-1687) was an English politician and member of the Long Parliament during the English Civil War. He was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentarian cause and played a role in the establishment of the Commonwealth of England.

The Bolingbroke family also had connections to the town of Bolingbroke in Lincolnshire. The Bolingbroke Castle, built in the 12th century, was a significant landmark in the area and likely contributed to the spread of the surname.

Throughout history, the spelling of the name has varied, with variations such as Bolingbrok, Bollingbroke, and Bullingbroke appearing in different records and documents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bolingbroke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bolingbroke 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. Norfolk leads with 49 Bolingbrokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.05x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 49 20.05x
Surrey 26 3.36x
Middlesex 24 1.51x
Sussex 17 6.34x
Suffolk 11 5.68x
Essex 9 2.87x
Durham 8 1.69x
Yorkshire 7 0.44x
Bedfordshire 3 3.64x
Lancashire 3 0.16x
Cheshire 2 0.57x
Derbyshire 2 0.80x
Kent 1 0.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 18 Bolingbrokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.89x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 18 88.89x
St Pancras London 12 9.38x
Croydon 10 23.26x
Hellesdon 8 1777.78x
Lambeth 8 5.77x
Brockdish 7 2916.67x
Hastings Holy Trinity 7 353.54x
Hunslet 7 28.49x
Newington 7 11.92x
Barnham 6 2400.00x
Chelmsford 6 111.52x
Hastings St Mary In The 6 104.90x
Helhoughton 6 3333.33x
Hedleyhope 5 609.76x
St Bride London 5 543.48x
Brighton 4 7.40x
East Dereham 4 129.45x
St Martin In Fields 4 42.02x
Birkdale 3 62.89x
Colchester St Leonard 3 297.03x
Eaton St Andrew 3 441.18x
Melchbourne 3 2500.00x
Bardwell 2 487.80x
Blofield 2 322.58x
Bungay St Mary 2 208.33x
Islington London 2 1.30x
Puddington 2 2222.22x
Wolsingham 2 46.40x
Chelsea London 1 2.09x
Derby St Alkmund 1 13.40x
Long Melford 1 55.56x
Miningsby In Boston 1 769.23x
Norwich St George Colegate 1 112.36x
Plumstead 1 5.53x
Shirley 1 769.23x
Stranton 1 6.28x
Woking 1 21.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 4
Louisa 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Jane 3
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Eleanor 2
Henrietta 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Matilda 2
Susannah 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lois 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
May 1
Mercy 1
Minnie 1
Phillis 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 8
William 7
Edward 6
George 5
John 5
Alfred 4
Henry 4
James 4
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Fredk. 2
Harold 2
Joseph 2
Robt. 2
Samuel 2
Alban 1
Alberto 1
Archdale 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Ed.H. 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Jas. 1
Horace 1
Hy.Ernest 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Marshall 1
Nathaniel 1
Newton 1
Richard 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Albert 1

FAQ

Bolingbroke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bolingbroke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Bolingbroke surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bolingbroke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016. That gives Bolingbroke a modern rank of #15,406.

What does the Bolingbroke surname mean?

A surname derived from the name of a town in Lincolnshire, England.

What does the Bolingbroke map show?

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