UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "dwelling of Bolla's people" in Old English, or "bowl-shaped hollow" in Middle English.
In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Bolling surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #19,518 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Dorking, Clifton and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bolling is 118 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.8%.
1881 census count
102
Ranked #19,518
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1861
118 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bolling surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bolling surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 66 | #21,617 |
| 1861 | historical | 118 | #18,512 |
| 1881 | historical | 102 | #19,518 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 62 | #27,252 |
| 1911 | historical | 36 | #29,370 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 49 | #33,130 |
| 2000 | modern | 46 | #33,458 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 40 | #34,133 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 39 | #34,477 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 42 | #34,714 |
| 2007 | modern | 41 | #34,974 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 41 | #35,384 |
| 2014 | modern | 44 | #35,241 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Dorking, Clifton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Melbury Osmond and St Anne Limehouse. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dorking | Surrey |
| 2 | Clifton | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Melbury Osmond | Dorset |
| 5 | St Anne Limehouse | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bolling surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bolling, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bolling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bolling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bolling is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bolling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bolling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bolling originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "bolling", which means "dwelling" or "homestead". The name is believed to have originated as a place name, referring to a settlement or homestead where the original bearers of the name lived.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bolling surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as Boling, Bollinges, and Bollingges, indicating its long history and evolution.
In the 13th century, the Bolling family was prominent in the county of Yorkshire, England. Records from this period mention individuals such as Robert de Bolling and William de Bolling, who held lands and estates in the area.
During the 14th century, the Bolling family gained prominence in other parts of England as well. Sir John Bolling, who was born in 1350, served as a member of parliament and held significant landholdings in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
In the 16th century, the Bolling family established itself in the Virginia Colony of British America. Robert Bolling, who was born in 1646 in England, immigrated to Virginia in 1660 and became a prominent landowner and planter. His descendants played influential roles in the colonial and early American periods, including John Bolling (1737-1800), who served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.
Another notable figure with the Bolling surname was Archibald Bolling (1742-1833), a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and a supporter of the American Revolution. He was also a cousin of the wife of Thomas Jefferson, Martha Wayles Skelton.
In the 19th century, the Bolling family continued to have a presence in various parts of the United States. William Bolling (1809-1876) was a prominent lawyer and politician from Missouri, serving as a judge and as a member of the Missouri State Senate.
The Bolling surname has also been associated with several place names throughout history, such as Bollington in Cheshire, England, and Bollington Cross in Derbyshire, England, further reinforcing its connection to the Old English word "bolling" and its meaning of a dwelling or homestead.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bolling surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 20 Bollings recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.22x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 20 | 6.22x |
| Surrey | 16 | 3.30x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 1.10x |
| Nottinghamshire | 10 | 7.46x |
| Sussex | 9 | 5.37x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.70x |
| Dorset | 6 | 9.19x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 2.28x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 2.56x |
| Somerset | 3 | 1.87x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.97x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.59x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.51x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.58x |
| Rutland | 1 | 13.70x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.16x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shettleston in Lanarkshire leads with 20 Bollings recorded in 1881 and an index of 694.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shettleston | 20 | 694.44x |
| Greasley | 10 | 330.03x |
| Dorking | 8 | 246.15x |
| Bollington In | 5 | 256.41x |
| Hammersmith London | 5 | 20.41x |
| Melbury Osmond | 5 | 3846.15x |
| Prestwich | 5 | 170.07x |
| Tonge With Haulgh | 5 | 217.39x |
| Clifton | 4 | 40.57x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 4.72x |
| Newington | 3 | 8.16x |
| Preston | 3 | 102.39x |
| Bedminster | 2 | 13.29x |
| Brighton | 2 | 5.91x |
| Broadwater | 2 | 51.95x |
| Farnworth | 2 | 28.29x |
| Axminster | 1 | 103.09x |
| Betchworth | 1 | 166.67x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 5.44x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 12.95x |
| Hayes | 1 | 416.67x |
| Henstridge | 1 | 227.27x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 19.65x |
| Oakham Lordshold | 1 | 131.58x |
| Rudgwick | 1 | 263.16x |
| Rusholme | 1 | 31.75x |
| Sherborne | 1 | 52.08x |
| Shrewsbury St Alkmond | 1 | 208.33x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 5.00x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 5.70x |
| Stokefleming | 1 | 384.62x |
| Swansea St Thomas | 1 | 57.47x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.31x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 1 | 20.83x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bolling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bolling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Bolling households.
FAQ
In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Bolling surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Bolling a modern rank of #35,336.
Derived from a place name meaning "dwelling of Bolla's people" in Old English, or "bowl-shaped hollow" in Middle English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bolling bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.