NameCensus.

UK surname

Bolus

A Latinized surname derived from the Greek word "bolos" meaning a lump or mass.

In the 1881 census there were 164 people recorded with the Bolus surname, ranking it #14,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 196, ranked #19,848, down from #14,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coventry, Blackpool and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bolus is 201 in 2001. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.5%.

1881 census count

164

Ranked #14,624

Modern count

196

2016, ranked #19,848

Peak year

2001

201 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bolus had 164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016, ranked #19,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 193 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Bolus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bolus surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bolus 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 69 #25,057
1881 historical 164 #14,624
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 193 #15,469
1911 historical 186 #15,643
1997 modern 184 #18,580
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 191 #18,744
2000 modern 200 #18,209
2001 modern 201 #17,885
2002 modern 195 #18,590
2003 modern 188 #18,810
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 184 #19,117
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 182 #19,618
2008 modern 191 #19,195
2009 modern 189 #19,727
2010 modern 191 #20,015
2011 modern 189 #19,997
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 199 #19,584
2014 modern 195 #20,036
2015 modern 195 #19,909
2016 modern 196 #19,848

Geography

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Where Bolus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Kings Norton and Pleasley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coventry, Blackpool, Shropshire, West Lindsey and Bolton. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Kings Norton Worcestershire
4 Pleasley Nottinghamshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coventry 014 Coventry
2 Blackpool 019 Blackpool
3 Shropshire 033 Shropshire
4 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
5 Bolton 029 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bolus

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bolus

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Bolus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bolus household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Bolus is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bolus is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bolus 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 Bolus is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bolus

The surname Bolus is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "bolu" or "bole," which referred to a rounded or cylindrical object. This name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a round or plump appearance.

In early records, the name appears with various spellings, such as Bolle, Bole, and Boules. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a Robert Bolle from Cambridgeshire.

The Bolus surname is also associated with certain place names in England, particularly in areas where the name was more prevalent. For instance, there is a village called Bolas in Shropshire, which may have contributed to the surname's development.

One notable historical figure with the surname Bolus was Sir John Bolus, a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London during the 16th century (c. 1520-1585). He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1576.

Another individual of note was Robert Bolus (1650-1718), an English clergyman and antiquarian who served as the rector of Swinstead in Lincolnshire. He was known for his interest in local history and antiquities.

In the 18th century, John Bolus (1677-1756) was a respected physician and botanist from Halifax, West Yorkshire. He made significant contributions to the study of plants and their medicinal properties.

The Bolus name also appears in literary works, such as in the writings of William Shakespeare. In his play "The Merchant of Venice," one of the characters is named "Balthasar," which is a variant of the name Bolus.

Another notable figure was George Bolus (1809-1890), a British entrepreneur and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was a prominent figure in Manchester and supported various charitable causes.

While the Bolus surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, its earliest recorded instances and historical significance can be traced back to medieval England and the regions surrounding the original place names associated with the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bolus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bolus 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. Warwickshire leads with 61 Bolus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.21x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 61 15.21x
Staffordshire 28 5.22x
Middlesex 18 1.13x
Yorkshire 10 0.63x
Derbyshire 9 3.62x
Surrey 8 1.03x
Shropshire 7 5.10x
Somerset 5 1.95x
Oxfordshire 4 4.07x
Sussex 4 1.49x
Worcestershire 3 1.45x
Bedfordshire 2 2.43x
Lancashire 2 0.11x
Leicestershire 2 1.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 26 Bolus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.46x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 26 19.46x
Willenhall 22 218.91x
Aston 20 18.12x
Bow London 9 44.47x
Carsington 7 5384.62x
Shifnal 7 187.67x
Wolverhampton 6 14.54x
Heeley 5 104.38x
Lambeth 5 3.61x
Nunney 5 909.09x
Hackney London 4 4.49x
Little Packington 4 6666.67x
Neithrop 4 121.21x
Barnes 3 91.46x
Bradford 3 7.87x
Coleshill 3 232.56x
Hornsey 3 14.93x
Hove 3 25.51x
Kings Norton 3 16.11x
Maxstoke 3 2307.69x
Barlborough 2 217.39x
Blackburn 2 3.98x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 6.24x
Hawnes 2 392.16x
Islington London 2 1.30x
Leicester St Mary 2 14.04x
Brighton 1 1.85x
Cubbington 1 188.68x
Edgbaston 1 8.05x
Knowle 1 121.95x
Shustoke 1 277.78x
Solihull 1 34.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 7
Anne 3
Hannah 3
Ann 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Martha 2
Phoebe 2
Ada 1
Agusta 1
Amelia 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Ernance 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Jannet 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lillian 1
Llian 1
Maria 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
George 10
William 8
Alfred 6
Charles 6
Edward 6
Henry 4
James 4
Joseph 4
Arthur 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Frederick 2
Heney 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Joel 1
Maria 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Bolus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bolus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 164 people were recorded with the Bolus surname. That placed it at #14,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bolus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016. That gives Bolus a modern rank of #19,848.

What does the Bolus surname mean?

A Latinized surname derived from the Greek word "bolos" meaning a lump or mass.

What does the Bolus map show?

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