NameCensus.

UK surname

Bollen

A Dutch toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "small hills" or "mounds".

In the 1881 census there were 344 people recorded with the Bollen surname, ranking it #8,864 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 359, ranked #12,898, down from #8,864 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Piddletrenthide. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Monmouthshire and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bollen is 424 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.4%.

1881 census count

344

Ranked #8,864

Modern count

359

2016, ranked #12,898

Peak year

1911

424 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bollen had 344 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,864 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016, ranked #12,898.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 424 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bollen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bollen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bollen 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 301 #7,626
1861 historical 283 #8,866
1881 historical 344 #8,864
1891 historical 343 #9,994
1901 historical 361 #10,196
1911 historical 424 #8,905
1997 modern 390 #11,215
1998 modern 389 #11,594
1999 modern 404 #11,361
2000 modern 397 #11,463
2001 modern 385 #11,534
2002 modern 389 #11,667
2003 modern 376 #11,791
2004 modern 364 #12,110
2005 modern 354 #12,270
2006 modern 356 #12,284
2007 modern 364 #12,237
2008 modern 373 #12,104
2009 modern 375 #12,317
2010 modern 390 #12,233
2011 modern 385 #12,195
2012 modern 362 #12,615
2013 modern 363 #12,815
2014 modern 364 #12,876
2015 modern 365 #12,743
2016 modern 359 #12,898

Geography

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Where Bollens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Piddletrenthide, Lambeth and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Monmouthshire, Wiltshire and Torfaen. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Piddletrenthide Dorset
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
2 Monmouthshire 008 Monmouthshire
3 Forest of Dean 010 Forest of Dean
4 Wiltshire 021 Wiltshire
5 Torfaen 001 Torfaen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bollen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bollen

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bollen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bollen 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Bollen is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bollen is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bollen

The surname Bollen is of Dutch origin, derived from the Middle Dutch word "bol," which means "round" or "bulb." This name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a round or plump appearance or as an occupational name for someone who worked with bulbs or round objects.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Bollen can be traced back to the 16th century in the Netherlands. In 1598, a record mentions a Pieter Bollen from the city of Amsterdam. Another early record from 1612 lists a Jan Bollen from the town of Delft.

During the 17th century, the name Bollen appeared in various Dutch records and documents. One notable example is Pieter Bollen, a Dutch painter who lived from 1624 to 1674. He was known for his still-life paintings and landscapes.

In the 18th century, the name Bollen was found in various regions of the Netherlands, including the provinces of North Holland, South Holland, and Zeeland. One prominent individual with this surname was Jan Bollen (1703-1772), a Dutch merchant and politician who served as the mayor of Rotterdam.

As the Dutch immigrated to other parts of the world, the surname Bollen spread to other countries. In the 19th century, there are records of individuals with the Bollen surname in the United States, Canada, and South Africa, among other places.

One notable person with the Bollen surname was Christiaan Bollen (1854-1941), a Dutch architect who designed several notable buildings in Amsterdam, including the Beurs van Berlage and the Royal Concertgebouw.

Another individual of note was Johannes Bollen (1858-1931), a Dutch-American painter and etcher who immigrated to the United States in the late 19th century and became known for his landscapes and cityscapes.

In the 20th century, the Bollen surname continued to be present in various parts of the world. One example is Hendrik Bollen (1908-1976), a Dutch politician who served as the Minister of Economic Affairs in the Netherlands from 1959 to 1963.

Overall, the surname Bollen has a rich history rooted in the Netherlands, with its earliest origins likely stemming from descriptive nicknames or occupational names related to round or bulbous objects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bollen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bollen 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. Dorset leads with 47 Bollens recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.34x.

County Total Index
Dorset 47 21.34x
Surrey 42 2.57x
Somerset 41 7.59x
Wiltshire 36 12.13x
Sussex 34 6.01x
Middlesex 28 0.83x
Kent 19 1.66x
Hampshire 16 2.33x
Warwickshire 10 1.18x
Gloucestershire 9 1.37x
Lanarkshire 9 0.83x
Norfolk 9 1.74x
Worcestershire 9 2.05x
Glamorgan 8 1.37x
Monmouthshire 6 2.47x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.97x
Devon 3 0.43x
Lincolnshire 3 0.56x
Yorkshire 3 0.09x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Renfrewshire 2 0.77x
Berkshire 1 0.40x
Cumberland 1 0.35x
Essex 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 25 Bollens recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.90x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 25 21.90x
Lambeth 23 7.86x
Ilchester 19 2435.90x
Puddletrenthide 18 2093.02x
Portsea 14 10.39x
Corsham 12 277.14x
Bradford On Avon 11 115.79x
Portland 11 92.91x
Alveston 9 967.74x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 9 608.11x
Llanwonno 8 38.11x
Stalbridge 8 382.78x
Birmingham 7 2.48x
Cantelo 7 7777.78x
Devizes St James 7 177.67x
Kensington London 7 3.75x
New Monkland 7 21.82x
Croydon 6 6.61x
Deptford St Paul 6 6.80x
Dorchester St Peter 6 375.00x
Llanover 6 72.46x
Worcester St Peter 6 72.38x
Yeovil 6 54.69x
St Luke London 5 9.29x
West Cranmore 5 1515.15x
Eton 4 86.96x
Godalming 4 38.87x
Greenwich 4 7.49x
Newhaven 4 86.96x
St Dunstan In West London 4 380.95x
Bishops Cannings 3 272.73x
Hackney London 3 1.59x
Mortlake 3 41.15x
Plumstead 3 7.86x
Preston 3 30.36x
Rotherhithe 3 7.24x
Shoreditch London 3 2.06x
Worcester Blockhouse 3 124.48x
Devizes St John 2 89.69x
Dover St Mary Virgin 2 18.05x
Exeter St Mary Major 2 47.51x
Glasgow 2 1.04x
Houston Killallan 2 79.37x
Kimberworth 2 10.84x
Leamington Priors 2 9.61x
Lymington 2 39.60x
Newington 2 1.61x
Pinchbeck 2 58.14x
St Pancras London 2 0.74x
Wrotham 2 52.77x
Aston 1 0.43x
Bow London 1 2.34x
Broadmayne 1 169.49x
Chelsea London 1 0.99x
Chilton Cantelo 1 2000.00x
Chippenham 1 16.08x
Crewkerne 1 17.42x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 1 56.18x
Friskney 1 58.82x
Hethersgill 1 147.06x
Hollingbourn 1 75.76x
Hove 1 4.03x
Layton With Warbreck 1 6.84x
Limington 1 294.12x
Linthorpe 1 5.04x
Liverpool 1 0.41x
Lower Beeding 1 66.67x
Melcombe Regis 1 10.95x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.27x
Preston 1 125.00x
Rattery 1 222.22x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.69x
Thatcham 1 25.77x
Walcot 1 3.48x
Walton On Thames 1 13.32x
Watford 1 5.58x
West Ham 1 0.68x
Westminster St John 1 2.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 10
Ann 9
Annie 8
Alice 7
Ellen 7
Jane 7
Eliza 6
Fanny 5
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Ada 2
Bessie 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Harriett 2
Jemima 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Celia 1
E.E. 1
Eleanor 1
Elise 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
F.C. 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Gwen 1
Isabella 1
Kitty 1
Lilley 1
Lilly 1
Linford 1
Lydia 1
Marina 1
Melina 1
Naomi 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
George 19
Charles 12
James 8
Thomas 8
John 7
Henry 6
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Tom 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Jehu 2
Joseph 2
Walter 2
Charlie 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Emanuel 1
Enos 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Edwd. 1
Harry 1
Helen 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Leopold 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samual 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Edwd. 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bollen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bollen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 344 people were recorded with the Bollen surname. That placed it at #8,864 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bollen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016. That gives Bollen a modern rank of #12,898.

What does the Bollen surname mean?

A Dutch toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "small hills" or "mounds".

What does the Bollen map show?

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