NameCensus.

UK surname

Bonar

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place in Fife, likely meaning "bone ford" or "fordable river."

In the 1881 census there were 485 people recorded with the Bonar surname, ranking it #6,931 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 784, ranked #7,037, down from #6,931 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Whisky Isles, West Somerset and South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonar is 788 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.6%.

1881 census count

485

Ranked #6,931

Modern count

784

2016, ranked #7,037

Peak year

2014

788 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bonar had 485 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,931 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 784 in 2016, ranked #7,037.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 608 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Bonar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bonar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bonar 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 314 #7,361
1861 historical 369 #6,919
1881 historical 485 #6,931
1891 historical 518 #7,216
1901 historical 608 #7,000
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 689 #7,337
1998 modern 709 #7,398
1999 modern 720 #7,362
2000 modern 674 #7,717
2001 modern 647 #7,824
2002 modern 698 #7,530
2003 modern 661 #7,733
2004 modern 681 #7,569
2005 modern 709 #7,256
2006 modern 701 #7,342
2007 modern 752 #7,044
2008 modern 737 #7,204
2009 modern 750 #7,248
2010 modern 773 #7,213
2011 modern 764 #7,200
2012 modern 776 #7,033
2013 modern 786 #7,071
2014 modern 788 #7,094
2015 modern 779 #7,082
2016 modern 784 #7,037

Geography

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Where Bonars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Whisky Isles, West Somerset, South Tyneside, Glenwood South and Possil Park. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
2 West Somerset 001 West Somerset
3 South Tyneside 016 South Tyneside
4 Glenwood South Glasgow City
5 Possil Park Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bonar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bonar

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Bonar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Bonar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bonar is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bonar is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bonar falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bonar

The surname Bonar has its origins in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "bon air", meaning "good air" or "pleasant climate", suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in an area with a favorable climate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which list individuals who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears here as "Bonair", possibly an early spelling variation.

In the 15th century, the name is found in various Scottish records, such as the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, often spelled as "Bonar" or "Bonnar". This suggests that the name had become more firmly established in its current form by this time.

The Bonar surname is particularly associated with the Scottish Highlands, where it was prevalent in areas such as Ross-shire and Sutherland. It is possible that the name may have been linked to specific place names in these regions, although the exact connections are uncertain.

Notable individuals with the surname Bonar include:

1. Andrew Bonar (1637-1659), a Scottish minister and theologian who was one of the leading figures in the Covenanter movement. 2. John Bonar (1721-1761), a Scottish philosopher and moral philosopher who wrote on the theory of moral sentiments. 3. Horatius Bonar (1808-1889), a Scottish minister and poet who wrote many well-known hymns, including "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say". 4. Andrew Bonar (1810-1892), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and missionary who served in India and Palestine. 5. James Bonar (1852-1941), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as Premier of Victoria from 1917 to 1924.

While the Bonar surname has a long history in Scotland, it has also been carried by individuals and families in other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration in more recent centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bonar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonar 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. Lanarkshire leads with 111 Bonars recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.33x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 111 7.33x
Angus 67 15.45x
Renfrewshire 50 13.78x
Midlothian 41 6.54x
Wigtownshire 26 41.82x
Ayrshire 23 6.56x
Aberdeenshire 21 4.84x
Perthshire 19 9.04x
Lancashire 16 0.29x
Middlesex 14 0.30x
Fife 13 4.69x
Dunbartonshire 10 7.95x
Kincardineshire 10 17.54x
Stirlingshire 10 5.79x
Glamorgan 9 1.10x
West Lothian 8 11.35x
Surrey 6 0.26x
East Lothian 4 6.45x
Gloucestershire 4 0.44x
Durham 3 0.22x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 4.43x
Clackmannanshire 2 5.17x
Hampshire 2 0.21x
Pembrokeshire 2 1.34x
Argyllshire 1 0.77x
Devon 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.35x
Sussex 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 56 Bonars recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.58x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 56 34.58x
Glasgow 33 12.27x
Barony 31 8.09x
Govan 27 7.21x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 7.13x
Kirkcolm 18 604.03x
East Greenock 15 43.78x
Liff Benvie 11 16.70x
Neilston 11 60.41x
Kilmarnock 9 21.58x
Kinfauns 9 947.37x
Roath 9 24.30x
Bathgate 8 52.25x
Bervie 8 236.69x
Cambuslang 8 52.39x
Hamilton 8 18.94x
Kirkdale 8 8.56x
Middle Greenock 8 80.81x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 7 8.63x
St Pancras London 7 1.86x
Bonhill 6 29.70x
Inch 6 99.01x
South Leith 6 8.50x
Toxteth Park 6 3.19x
Campsie 5 52.74x
Clapham 5 8.54x
Port Glasgow 5 28.51x
Wemyss 5 42.63x
Aberdeen Old Machar 4 4.42x
Duddingston 4 31.77x
Dunfermline 4 9.39x
Edinburgh St Marys 4 32.81x
Houston Killallan 4 113.96x
Islington London 4 0.88x
Prestonkirk 4 129.03x
St Quivox 4 33.76x
Tarbolton 4 69.32x
Tulliallan 4 112.36x
West Greenock 4 6.14x
Chapel Of Garioch 3 97.09x
Muiravonside 3 68.34x
Old Kilpatrick 3 20.17x
Perth East Church 3 15.14x
Auchtertool 2 173.91x
Cathcart 2 10.19x
Cramond 2 42.11x
Dalkeith 2 16.17x
Darlington 2 3.72x
Girvan 2 22.73x
Leswalt 2 46.95x
Liberton 2 20.66x
North Leith 2 6.89x
Peterhead 2 8.72x
St Marylebone London 2 0.80x
Westbury On Trym 2 6.43x
Ardoch 1 56.50x
Auchterarder 1 17.04x
Blythswood 1 1250.00x
Bristol Christchurch 1 75.19x
Chelsea London 1 0.71x
Cheltenham 1 1.41x
Clackmannan 1 13.68x
Crimond 1 74.63x
Cupar 1 8.30x
Glenmuick Tullich 1 31.95x
Gorbals 1 11.12x
Kincardine 1 46.08x
Largs 1 12.11x
Milverton 1 28.90x
Newabbey 1 68.97x
Old Monkland 1 1.66x
Oxford St Giles 1 7.25x
Pembroke St Mary 1 5.22x
Ryde 1 4.85x
Selsey 1 68.97x
Skelton In Guisbrough 1 7.97x
Sutton 1 6.06x
Tillicoultry 1 11.63x
West Calder 1 8.09x
West Derby 1 0.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Allice 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Christine 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emeley 1
Florence 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

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 Bonar households.

FAQ

Bonar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bonar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 485 people were recorded with the Bonar surname. That placed it at #6,931 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bonar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 784 in 2016. That gives Bonar a modern rank of #7,037.

What does the Bonar surname mean?

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place in Fife, likely meaning "bone ford" or "fordable river."

What does the Bonar map show?

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