UK surname
A surname derived from the French word for hat or bonnet, likely referring to an occupation related to hat-making.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Bonett surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Alburgh, Audlem and Stradbroke. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonett is 268 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.1%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1861
268 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bonett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bonett surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 96 | #17,594 |
| 1861 | historical | 268 | #9,274 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 96 | #24,559 |
| 1901 | historical | 45 | #29,156 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 39 | #33,759 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 43 | #33,683 |
| 2000 | modern | 44 | #33,602 |
| 2001 | modern | 48 | #33,129 |
| 2002 | modern | 46 | #33,631 |
| 2003 | modern | 43 | #33,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 35 | #34,982 |
| 2006 | modern | 41 | #34,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 42 | #34,905 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 41 | #35,221 |
| 2010 | modern | 39 | #35,451 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 41 | #35,328 |
| 2013 | modern | 45 | #35,167 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Alburgh, Audlem, Stradbroke, London parishes and Hasketon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alburgh | Norfolk |
| 2 | Audlem | Cheshire |
| 3 | Stradbroke | Suffolk |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Hasketon | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bonett surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bonett, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bonett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bonett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bonett is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bonett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bonett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bonett is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the French word "bonnet," which refers to a type of cap or headgear worn during that time. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who wore a distinctive bonnet or made and sold such headgear for a living.
The earliest recorded instances of the Bonett surname can be traced back to various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region around Paris. In medieval records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Bonet, Bonnet, and Bonnette, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times.
One of the earliest documented references to the Bonett surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties compiled in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname likely accompanied William the Conqueror from Normandy and settled in England during that period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Bonett surname. One of the earliest was Raoul Bonett, a French nobleman and knight who participated in the Third Crusade (1189-1192) led by Richard the Lionheart. In the 14th century, Jean Bonett was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Rouen, France.
During the Renaissance, the Bonett family produced several accomplished artists and scholars. François Bonett (1520-1589) was a renowned painter and engraver from Paris, while his contemporary, Michel Bonett (1525-1597), was a celebrated humanist scholar and philosopher.
In more recent times, Émile Bonett (1861-1923) was a French politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of France from 1920 to 1921. Similarly, Georges Bonett (1876-1944) was a prominent French military officer who played a significant role in the French Resistance during World War II.
Overall, the surname Bonett has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to medieval France, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname related to the wearing or crafting of distinctive headgear.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonett surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Suffolk leads with 29 Bonetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.90x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 29 | 35.90x |
| Norfolk | 13 | 12.75x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.66x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 3.85x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.89x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.79x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.72x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.76x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.74x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.01x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.12x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 12.66x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fressingfield in Suffolk leads with 14 Bonetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5384.62x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fressingfield | 14 | 5384.62x |
| Hardwick | 9 | 22500.00x |
| Islington London | 8 | 12.45x |
| Mendham | 6 | 3529.41x |
| Badwell Ash | 5 | 5000.00x |
| Needham | 3 | 4285.71x |
| Brighton | 2 | 8.87x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 12.78x |
| Derby All Sts | 2 | 229.89x |
| Derby St Peter | 2 | 60.42x |
| Kelsale | 2 | 909.09x |
| Ludford Magna | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Bury St Edmunds St James | 1 | 46.30x |
| Carlton | 1 | 98.04x |
| Cheam | 1 | 285.71x |
| Honiton | 1 | 131.58x |
| Norwich Liberty Of Town | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 14.79x |
| South Weald | 1 | 89.29x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.82x |
| Stowmarket | 1 | 107.53x |
| Warkworth | 1 | 625.00x |
| Yaverland | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bonett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bonett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Bonett households.
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Bonett surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Bonett a modern rank of #34,889.
A surname derived from the French word for hat or bonnet, likely referring to an occupation related to hat-making.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bonett bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.