NameCensus.

UK surname

Bon

A French surname meaning "good" or derived from the French "bon" meaning "good".

In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Bon surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, up from #29,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Balgreen and Roseburn, Peebles South and Gorgie West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bon is 154 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 431.0%.

1881 census count

29

Ranked #29,484

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

2016

154 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bon had 29 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 51 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Bon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bon 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 39 #26,319
1881 historical 29 #29,484
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1901 historical 51 #28,492
1997 modern 74 #30,218
1998 modern 84 #29,537
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 74 #30,785
2001 modern 67 #31,297
2002 modern 71 #31,351
2003 modern 64 #32,056
2004 modern 61 #32,581
2005 modern 67 #32,196
2006 modern 77 #31,510
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 89 #30,713
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 106 #29,305
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 138 #25,218
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Bons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Balgreen and Roseburn, Peebles South, Gorgie West, Bedford and Howden. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Balgreen and Roseburn City of Edinburgh
2 Peebles South Scottish Borders
3 Gorgie West City of Edinburgh
4 Bedford 006 Bedford
5 Howden West Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bon

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bon

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Bon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bon 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

Bon falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bon 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Bon

The surname BON has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "bon," meaning "good" or "kind." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a pleasant or agreeable demeanor.

In the early 13th century, the name appears in the Cartulaire de Notre-Dame de Paris, a collection of medieval manuscripts from the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. This suggests that the name was already in use among French families during this time period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BON can be found in the Armorial Général, a collection of French coats of arms compiled in the late 17th century. This work includes entries for several BON families from various regions of France, indicating the name's widespread use throughout the country.

During the 14th century, the name BON was associated with the village of Bon-Repos in the Normandy region of France. This village's name, meaning "good rest," may have influenced the surname's development in that area.

Notable individuals bearing the surname BON include:

1. Jean Bon (1765-1830), a French revolutionary and politician during the French Revolution. 2. André Bon (1925-2023), a French historian and author known for his works on World War II and the French Resistance. 3. Marie-Anne de Bourbon (1697-1741), a French princess and daughter of Louis III, Prince of Condé. 4. Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon (1635-1719), the second wife of King Louis XIV of France. 5. Pierre Bon (1871-1936), a French architect and designer known for his Art Nouveau and Art Deco works.

While the surname BON originated in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots can be traced back to the French language and the descriptive nickname given to individuals with a kind and good-natured disposition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bon 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. Kent leads with 7 Bons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.01x.

County Total Index
Kent 7 6.01x
Middlesex 7 2.05x
Midlothian 6 13.13x
Devon 4 5.63x
Lanarkshire 2 1.81x
Ayrshire 1 3.92x
Dorset 1 4.47x
Glamorgan 1 1.68x
Hampshire 1 1.43x
Herefordshire 1 7.15x
Merionethshire 1 16.03x
Norfolk 1 1.91x
Royal Navy 1 24.57x
Yorkshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Milton In Milton in Kent leads with 7 Bons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.

Place Total Index
Milton In Milton 7 1428.57x
Edinburgh Trinity 6 4000.00x
St Andrew Holborn London 6 405.41x
Little Torrington 3 5000.00x
Barony 2 7.16x
Aberdare 1 24.51x
Bridlington 1 129.87x
Droxford 1 370.37x
Kirkoswald 1 476.19x
Lugwardine 1 1111.11x
Lytchett Matravers 1 1250.00x
Middleton 1 1000.00x
Royal Navy 1 28.74x
St Pancras London 1 3.64x
Stoke Damerel 1 20.12x
Trawsfynydd 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Ann 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Maud 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Robert 3
George 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Chs.Ed. 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Thomas 1
Tugolish 1
Walter 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Bon households.

FAQ

Bon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Bon surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Bon a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Bon surname mean?

A French surname meaning "good" or derived from the French "bon" meaning "good".

What does the Bon map show?

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