NameCensus.

UK surname

Bone

An English occupational surname referring to a person who made bones for various uses or gathered bones.

In the 1881 census there were 5,555 people recorded with the Bone surname, ranking it #798 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,480, ranked #1,039, down from #798 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hampshire, Fallin and South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bone is 7,236 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.7%.

1881 census count

5,555

Ranked #798

Modern count

6,480

2016, ranked #1,039

Peak year

1999

7,236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bone had 5,555 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #798 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,480 in 2016, ranked #1,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,768 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bone surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bone surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bone 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 4,022 #708
1861 historical 3,789 #743
1881 historical 5,555 #798
1891 historical 5,821 #809
1901 historical 6,768 #817
1911 historical 6,571 #788
1997 modern 7,011 #930
1998 modern 7,223 #941
1999 modern 7,236 #945
2000 modern 7,236 #937
2001 modern 7,029 #942
2002 modern 7,058 #954
2003 modern 6,856 #959
2004 modern 6,879 #959
2005 modern 6,666 #986
2006 modern 6,612 #994
2007 modern 6,632 #999
2008 modern 6,568 #1,009
2009 modern 6,750 #1,005
2010 modern 6,874 #1,008
2011 modern 6,728 #1,013
2012 modern 6,578 #1,016
2013 modern 6,669 #1,020
2014 modern 6,674 #1,027
2015 modern 6,560 #1,036
2016 modern 6,480 #1,039

Geography

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Where Bones are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Lambeth and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hampshire, Fallin, South Tyneside and Chichester. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hampshire 003 East Hampshire
2 Fallin Stirling
3 South Tyneside 015 South Tyneside
4 Chichester 014 Chichester
5 South Tyneside 009 South Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bone

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bone

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Bone is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Bone is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bone falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bone is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bone

The surname Bone is of English origin and derives from the Old English word "ban", meaning bone. It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, likely referring to a bone-worker or someone involved in the processing or trade of bones.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Bone can be traced back to the late 12th century in various English counties, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain references to individuals bearing the name, such as Walter le Bone in Derbyshire and Thomas Bone in Oxfordshire.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Bone was John Bone, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. Another early record is that of William Bone, whose name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

The Bone surname is also found in early Scottish records, suggesting that it may have migrated from England to Scotland at some point. One of the earliest known Scottish bearers of the name was John Bone, who was recorded in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1455.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Bone. One of the most prominent was Henry Bone (1755-1834), an English enamel painter and enameller who was appointed Enamel Painter to King George III in 1811. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Bone (1842-1922), a British civil engineer and contractor who was involved in the construction of several major railway projects in India.

Other historical figures with the surname Bone include Robert Bone (1570-1637), an English clergyman and author, and David William Bone (1807-1892), a Scottish marine painter known for his seascapes. Additionally, Musgrave Bone (1876-1936) was a British architect and designer who played a significant role in the Arts and Crafts movement.

While the surname Bone may have originated as an occupational name, it has since become a well-established surname found in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language, reflecting the rich history and diversity of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bone families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bone 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. Hampshire leads with 793 Bones recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.14x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 793 7.14x
Middlesex 723 1.34x
Surrey 445 1.69x
Norfolk 423 5.08x
Ayrshire 332 8.19x
Cornwall 288 4.70x
Durham 284 1.76x
Kent 166 0.90x
Northumberland 162 2.01x
Yorkshire 160 0.30x
Sussex 156 1.71x
Lancashire 152 0.24x
Lanarkshire 139 0.79x
Bedfordshire 135 4.81x
Essex 132 1.23x
Cumberland 106 2.27x
Devon 102 0.90x
Hertfordshire 96 2.57x
Buckinghamshire 83 2.54x
Renfrewshire 78 1.86x
Suffolk 78 1.18x
Lincolnshire 68 0.79x
Midlothian 45 0.62x
Warwickshire 35 0.26x
Berwickshire 31 4.73x
Wigtownshire 28 3.89x
Derbyshire 24 0.28x
Leicestershire 22 0.37x
Dumfriesshire 21 1.76x
Staffordshire 18 0.10x
Huntingdonshire 16 1.49x
Kirkcudbrightshire 16 2.04x
Buteshire 15 4.57x
Aberdeenshire 14 0.28x
Berkshire 14 0.34x
Gloucestershire 12 0.11x
Glamorgan 11 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 9 0.26x
Cheshire 9 0.08x
Dunbartonshire 9 0.62x
Somerset 9 0.10x
East Lothian 8 1.12x
Herefordshire 8 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.11x
Monmouthshire 7 0.18x
Northamptonshire 7 0.14x
Perthshire 7 0.29x
Argyllshire 6 0.40x
Royal Navy 6 0.93x
Rutland 6 1.51x
Roxburghshire 5 0.51x
Dorset 4 0.11x
Westmorland 4 0.34x
Oxfordshire 3 0.09x
West Lothian 3 0.37x
Wiltshire 3 0.06x
Worcestershire 2 0.03x
Brecknockshire 1 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.05x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.22x
Merionethshire 1 0.10x
Stirlingshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 101 Bones recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.64x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 101 4.64x
Shoreditch London 70 2.98x
Lambeth 67 1.42x
Camberwell 65 1.88x
Newington 55 2.75x
Govan 53 1.22x
St Pancras London 50 1.15x
Islington London 47 0.90x
Westgate 47 9.42x
Westoe 46 5.04x
St Quivox 45 32.84x
West Ham 44 1.86x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 43 17.20x
Basingstoke 42 32.90x
Luton 42 8.65x
Medstead 42 450.64x
Gateshead 41 3.40x
Muirkirk 41 43.09x
Bethnal Green London 39 1.66x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 37 1.27x
St Luke London 36 4.14x
Croydon 35 2.39x
Kensington London 34 1.13x
Middlesbrough 34 4.87x
Selborne 34 150.51x
Odiham 33 67.75x
St Marylebone London 33 1.14x
Alton 31 37.06x
Hackney London 31 1.02x
Paddington London 31 1.56x
Southwark St George Martyr 31 2.85x
St Austell 30 14.32x
Battersea 28 1.41x
Combs 28 127.16x
Elswick 28 4.35x
Girvan 28 27.53x
Maybole 28 22.69x
Fareham 27 20.24x
Mile End Old Town London 27 2.34x
South Stoneham 27 11.21x
Alverstoke 26 6.47x
East Worldham 26 529.53x
Greenwich 26 3.02x
Tonbridge 26 3.90x
Barony 25 0.56x
Paul 25 22.45x
Chelsea London 23 1.41x
Stockton On Tees 23 2.96x
West Greenock 23 3.05x
Buriton 22 102.95x
Flamstead 22 63.99x
Kilmarnock 22 4.56x
St George In East London 22 4.32x
Plymouth Charles The 21 4.23x
Southampton St Mary 21 3.01x
Stoke Damerel 21 2.66x
Upminster 21 94.55x
Brighton 20 1.09x
Liss 20 88.65x
Poplar London 20 1.96x
Chesham 19 15.75x
Hemel Hempstead 19 11.30x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 19 3.95x
Wing 19 62.62x
East Dereham 18 17.11x
Glasgow 18 0.58x
Hammersmith London 18 1.35x
Sparsholt 18 223.88x
Ayr 17 8.89x
Calstock 17 14.14x
Dalry 17 8.92x
Plymouth St Andrew 17 1.96x
Stanwix 17 45.05x
Westminster St John 17 2.58x
Bromley London 16 1.34x
Grimston 16 76.05x
Horsham 16 9.02x
Liskeard 16 15.60x
Sorn 16 20.10x
Woolwich 16 2.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 295
Elizabeth 182
Sarah 158
Jane 112
Alice 88
Ann 81
Emma 78
Ellen 71
Annie 68
Eliza 67
Emily 57
Hannah 43
Margaret 42
Martha 38
Louisa 35
Edith 33
Florence 33
Maria 33
Fanny 32
Susan 32
Caroline 31
Charlotte 30
Harriet 26
Harriett 25
Ada 23
Isabella 23
Agnes 20
Anne 20
Clara 20
Catherine 19
Lucy 19
Julia 17
Kate 17
Frances 16
Matilda 16
Jessie 15
Amelia 14
Laura 14
Rose 14
Esther 12
Lydia 11
Ruth 11
Amy 10
Elizth. 10
Rebecca 10
Rosa 10
Sophia 10
Beatrice 9
Ethel 9
Minnie 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 327
John 254
George 207
James 159
Thomas 134
Charles 104
Henry 100
Robert 82
Arthur 57
Joseph 55
Edward 50
Alfred 49
Walter 48
Albert 43
Frederick 42
Samuel 36
Richard 27
Harry 26
Frank 23
Edwin 22
Ernest 18
Herbert 12
David 11
Wm. 11
Sidney 10
Andrew 9
Benjamin 9
Daniel 9
Geo. 9
Jesse 9
Sydney 8
Christopher 7
Edgar 7
Francis 7
Henery 7
Percy 7
Peter 7
Philip 6
Robt. 6
Eli 5
Frederic 5
Fredrick 5
Isaac 5
Jacob 5
Thos. 5
Alexander 4
Horace 4
Lewis 4
Martin 4
Stephen 4

FAQ

Bone surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bone surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,555 people were recorded with the Bone surname. That placed it at #798 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bone surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,480 in 2016. That gives Bone a modern rank of #1,039.

What does the Bone surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who made bones for various uses or gathered bones.

What does the Bone map show?

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