NameCensus.

UK surname

Bolt

An occupational surname referring to a maker of bolts or crossbow arrows.

In the 1881 census there were 2,168 people recorded with the Bolt surname, ranking it #2,048 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,515, ranked #2,631, down from #2,048 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Exeter St David (including Castle Yard). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, West Devon and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bolt is 2,862 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.0%.

1881 census count

2,168

Ranked #2,048

Modern count

2,515

2016, ranked #2,631

Peak year

1911

2,862 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bolt had 2,168 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,048 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,515 in 2016, ranked #2,631.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,862 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bolt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bolt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bolt 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 1,438 #1,999
1861 historical 1,482 #1,907
1881 historical 2,168 #2,048
1891 historical 2,460 #1,921
1901 historical 2,768 #2,008
1911 historical 2,862 #1,820
1997 modern 2,561 #2,475
1998 modern 2,644 #2,491
1999 modern 2,651 #2,494
2000 modern 2,620 #2,508
2001 modern 2,558 #2,509
2002 modern 2,628 #2,508
2003 modern 2,538 #2,537
2004 modern 2,488 #2,581
2005 modern 2,479 #2,557
2006 modern 2,462 #2,577
2007 modern 2,498 #2,569
2008 modern 2,520 #2,571
2009 modern 2,554 #2,597
2010 modern 2,537 #2,661
2011 modern 2,525 #2,656
2012 modern 2,496 #2,623
2013 modern 2,552 #2,620
2014 modern 2,575 #2,610
2015 modern 2,535 #2,620
2016 modern 2,515 #2,631

Geography

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Where Bolts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Devon, West Devon, East Devon, Cornwall and Torridge. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 001 Mid Devon
2 West Devon 001 West Devon
3 East Devon 014 East Devon
4 Cornwall 004 Cornwall
5 Torridge 007 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bolt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bolt

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Bolt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bolt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Bolt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bolt is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bolt falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bolt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bolt

The surname Bolt is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place name, possibly referring to a hamlet or village where people lived near a bolt or bar used for securing a gate or door.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bolt can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199, where a Roger Bolt is mentioned. The surname also appears in the Rotuli Hundredorum of 1273, which was a census-like survey of households in England, indicating its widespread use by that time.

The name Bolt may also be connected to the Old English word "bolt," which referred to a short, thick arrow or missile used in archery or warfare. This could suggest that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone involved in the making or using of such bolts.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded in various spellings, such as Bolte, Boulte, and Bult, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Bolt throughout history include:

1. Robert Bolt (1924-1995), an English playwright and screenwriter best known for his works "A Man for All Seasons" and "The Mission."

2. Usain Bolt (born 1986), a Jamaican sprinter widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, holding world records in the 100m and 200m sprints.

3. Richard Bolt (1911-2002), an American physicist and acoustician who made significant contributions to the development of early computer graphics and the field of computer music.

4. Benjamin Bolt (1797-1859), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Peter in Eaton Square.

5. John Bolt (1920-2005), an American theologian and professor at Calvin Theological Seminary, known for his work on the theology of the Dutch philosopher Herman Bavinck.

While the name Bolt has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, among other regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bolt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bolt 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. Devon leads with 746 Bolts recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.97x.

County Total Index
Devon 746 16.97x
Middlesex 308 1.46x
Warwickshire 112 2.10x
Dorset 97 7.00x
Cornwall 72 3.01x
Shetland 66 30.60x
Somerset 65 1.91x
Gloucestershire 63 1.52x
Lancashire 63 0.25x
Surrey 62 0.60x
Durham 46 0.73x
Hampshire 46 1.06x
Essex 45 1.08x
Glamorgan 41 1.11x
Staffordshire 36 0.51x
Yorkshire 36 0.17x
Kent 33 0.46x
Oxfordshire 29 2.22x
Cheshire 24 0.51x
Midlothian 23 0.81x
Northumberland 22 0.70x
Cumberland 21 1.15x
Sussex 21 0.59x
Royal Navy 11 4.37x
Westmorland 10 2.15x
Leicestershire 8 0.34x
Monmouthshire 8 0.52x
Perthshire 6 0.63x
Worcestershire 6 0.22x
Northamptonshire 5 0.25x
Denbighshire 4 0.50x
Norfolk 4 0.12x
Bedfordshire 3 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.24x
Fife 3 0.24x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.30x
Shropshire 2 0.11x
Suffolk 2 0.08x
Wiltshire 2 0.11x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.11x
Channel Islands 1 0.16x
Derbyshire 1 0.03x
Hertfordshire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.24x
Lincolnshire 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lerwick Gulberwick in Shetland leads with 51 Bolts recorded in 1881 and an index of 152.79x.

Place Total Index
Lerwick Gulberwick 51 152.79x
Plymouth St Andrew 45 13.29x
Aston 44 3.00x
Colaton Raleigh 44 810.31x
Calstock 43 91.70x
Birmingham 37 2.08x
Tormoham 37 19.89x
Bedminster 35 10.96x
Portsea 35 4.13x
Plymouth Charles The 32 16.52x
North Tawton 30 222.22x
Weymouth 28 106.63x
Islington London 26 1.27x
Kensington London 23 1.96x
West Ham 23 2.50x
Cheriton Bishop 20 466.20x
Exeter St Sidwell 20 19.86x
St George Hanover Square 20 5.37x
St Pancras London 20 1.18x
Bristol St James St Paul 19 13.76x
East Budleigh 19 91.74x
Sidmouth 19 75.52x
Chelsea London 18 2.83x
Hornsey 18 6.74x
Stoke Damerel 18 5.85x
Exminster 16 101.20x
Habergham Eaves 16 6.99x
Exeter Alphington 15 186.10x
Exeter Heavitree 15 45.76x
West Derby 15 2.05x
Exeter St Thomas The 14 31.24x
Lancing 14 143.15x
Okehampton 14 84.44x
Sandford 14 130.23x
Shoreditch London 14 1.53x
Westminster St Margaret 14 13.74x
Bermondsey 13 2.07x
Bishopwearmouth 13 2.41x
Clerkenwell London 13 2.61x
Mile End Old Town London 13 2.89x
St Luke London 13 3.84x
Bondleigh 12 875.91x
Bressay Burra Quarff 12 127.52x
Drewsteignton 12 206.19x
Poplar London 12 3.01x
South Leith 12 3.77x
Southwick 12 20.17x
St Marylebone London 12 1.06x
Whitchurch 12 155.24x
Withycombe Rawleigh 12 52.40x
Leamington 11 31.17x
Lifton 11 103.97x
Poole St James 11 21.12x
Rotherhithe 11 4.22x
Swansea Town 11 3.65x
Bradford 10 1.97x
Broomfield 10 152.67x
Kilkhampton 10 141.84x
Lambeth 10 0.54x
Lidford 10 50.66x
Otterton 10 141.44x
Paignton 10 29.90x
Roath 10 5.99x
Royal Navy 10 4.65x
Sampford Courtenay 10 152.21x
Sanford On Thames 10 434.78x
Stockton On Tees 10 3.30x
Tiverton 10 13.20x
Turnworth 10 1204.82x
Winkleigh 10 113.25x
Clifton 9 4.30x
Crediton 9 21.61x
Dartford 9 12.22x
Honley 9 24.57x
Llandilo Talybont 9 46.61x
Lymm 9 26.56x
Melcombe Regis 9 15.67x
Dacre 8 114.12x
East Stonehouse 8 9.24x
Exeter St Pancras 8 350.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 173
Elizabeth 97
Sarah 54
Eliza 43
Emma 42
Ellen 36
Annie 31
Jane 31
Alice 30
Ann 27
Emily 24
Edith 17
Lucy 16
Ada 15
Caroline 14
Hannah 14
Florence 13
Charlotte 12
Maria 12
Susan 12
Louisa 11
Martha 11
Amelia 10
Amy 10
Catherine 10
Harriet 10
Margaret 10
Bessie 8
Harriett 8
Frances 7
Jessie 7
Anna 6
Anne 6
Bertha 6
Kate 6
Matilda 6
Rhoda 6
Clara 5
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Ethel 5
Grace 5
Isabella 5
Laura 5
Betsy 4
May 4
Rebecca 4
Selina 4
Agnes 3
Beatrice 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 188
John 140
George 66
Thomas 51
Charles 47
Henry 42
James 40
Richard 32
Albert 25
Samuel 24
Joseph 20
Frederick 18
Edward 17
Robert 16
Alfred 15
Walter 14
Arthur 13
Ernest 11
Benjamin 10
Frank 9
Francis 7
David 6
Edwin 6
Philip 6
Harry 5
Wm. 5
Christopher 4
Emmanuel 4
Fred 4
Fredrick 4
Herbert 4
Lewis 4
Mark 4
Sydney 4
Cornelius 3
Eli 3
Elias 3
Herman 3
Jonathon 3
Tom 3
Anthony 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Louis 2
Mathew 2
Saml. 2
Simon 2
Stephen 2

FAQ

Bolt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bolt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,168 people were recorded with the Bolt surname. That placed it at #2,048 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bolt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,515 in 2016. That gives Bolt a modern rank of #2,631.

What does the Bolt surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker of bolts or crossbow arrows.

What does the Bolt map show?

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