UK surname
A residential surname meaning "from the barns" in medieval French.
In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Bolson surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #25,733 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bolson is 222 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.7%.
1881 census count
56
Ranked #25,733
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1861
222 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bolson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bolson surname density by area, 1891 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 | 112 | #15,913 |
| 1861 | historical | 222 | #10,993 |
| 1881 | historical | 56 | #25,733 |
| 1891 | historical | 107 | #22,967 |
| 1901 | historical | 43 | #29,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 38 | #33,872 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 34 | #34,517 |
| 2001 | modern | 30 | #34,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 28 | #35,354 |
| 2005 | modern | 27 | #35,588 |
| 2006 | modern | 30 | #35,526 |
| 2007 | modern | 25 | #36,006 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 28 | #36,048 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, Gateshead, Manchester, Preston and Walcott, Charlcome. 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 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 5 | Walcott, Charlcome | Somerset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bolson 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 Bolson, 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 Bolson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bolson 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, Bolson 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 Bolson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bolson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bolson has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bolle," which means "round" or "bowl-shaped," often referring to a rounded hill or valley.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bolson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1195, where it appears as "Bolesdon." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with a place name, possibly referring to a settlement located near a rounded hill or valley.
During the 13th century, variations of the name, such as "Bolesdon" and "Bolesdun," can be found in various historical documents, including the Feet of Fines for Oxfordshire from 1268.
The Bolson surname gained prominence in the 14th century, with notable individuals bearing the name. One such example is John Bolson, a prominent merchant from Bristol, who was mentioned in the city's records in 1379.
In the 15th century, the surname appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family in Norfolk. In one letter dated 1479, a certain William Bolson is mentioned as a servant to the Pastons.
The 16th century saw the emergence of a notable figure named Thomas Bolson, who was a Member of Parliament for Ludgershall in Wiltshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served in Parliament from 1563 to 1567.
Another noteworthy individual was Richard Bolson, a renowned scholar and author from the 17th century. He was born in 1612 and is known for his work "A Treatise on the Art of Rhetoric," published in 1679.
During the 18th century, the Bolson family had established themselves in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. One notable member was Edward Bolson, who served as the Mayor of Gloucester in 1745.
As the surname spread across England, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Boulson," "Bowlson," and "Bolsonn." These variations often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of individual families.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bolson 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. Lancashire leads with 13 Bolsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 13 | 2.01x |
| Somerset | 12 | 13.65x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.47x |
| Glamorgan | 7 | 7.36x |
| Devon | 4 | 3.52x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 4.85x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 5.84x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.66x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.93x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.54x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 7 Bolsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.60x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Blackburn | 7 | 40.60x |
| Castle Cary | 6 | 1578.95x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 5 | 43.03x |
| Walcot | 4 | 85.47x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 4 | 47.96x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 7.62x |
| Northampton All Sts | 3 | 172.41x |
| St Germans | 3 | 697.67x |
| Hyde | 2 | 56.18x |
| Sandford | 2 | 714.29x |
| Swansea Town | 2 | 25.67x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 24.69x |
| Bath St Michael | 1 | 227.27x |
| Cardiff St John | 1 | 32.15x |
| Charing | 1 | 400.00x |
| Charlcombe | 1 | 833.33x |
| Cheriton Fitzpaine | 1 | 714.29x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 7.76x |
| Droylsden | 1 | 47.39x |
| Frampton Cotterell | 1 | 263.16x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 12.63x |
| Harbottle Peels | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Lydiate | 1 | 500.00x |
| Pemberton | 1 | 38.76x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 20.79x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 17.83x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bolson 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 Bolson 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 Bolson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Carpenter | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Platelayer | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| (Dom) General Servant | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| At Home | 1 |
| Bl Smith Lab | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenter Confectioner &c | 1 |
| Cotton Twister | 1 |
| Domestic Servant Porter | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Gardener Domestic | 1 |
| General Agent | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| Gilder | 1 |
| Groom (Dom) | 1 |
| Groom 8/- | 1 |
| Haulier (Coal) | 1 |
| Horse Hair Weaver | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Potato Dealer | 1 |
| Printer Compositor | 1 |
| Sailors Daur | 1 |
| Sailors Wife | 1 |
| Signalman On Railway | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Bolson surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Bolson a modern rank of #36,533.
A residential surname meaning "from the barns" in medieval French.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bolson 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.