NameCensus.

UK surname

Bonham

A locational surname derived from the Old English words "bōn" meaning "bone" and "hām" meaning "homestead" or "village."

In the 1881 census there were 779 people recorded with the Bonham surname, ranking it #4,763 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 959, ranked #5,992, down from #4,763 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Aylesbury Vale and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonham is 1,038 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.1%.

1881 census count

779

Ranked #4,763

Modern count

959

2016, ranked #5,992

Peak year

2000

1,038 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bonham had 779 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,763 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 959 in 2016, ranked #5,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,021 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bonham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bonham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bonham 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 462 #5,372
1861 historical 508 #5,149
1881 historical 779 #4,763
1891 historical 840 #4,853
1901 historical 953 #4,927
1911 historical 1,021 #4,473
1997 modern 976 #5,610
1998 modern 1,034 #5,523
1999 modern 1,028 #5,590
2000 modern 1,038 #5,512
2001 modern 1,008 #5,549
2002 modern 1,037 #5,529
2003 modern 1,011 #5,543
2004 modern 1,011 #5,548
2005 modern 981 #5,631
2006 modern 965 #5,717
2007 modern 963 #5,785
2008 modern 971 #5,781
2009 modern 988 #5,824
2010 modern 1,013 #5,828
2011 modern 986 #5,885
2012 modern 933 #6,078
2013 modern 966 #5,992
2014 modern 982 #5,944
2015 modern 972 #5,945
2016 modern 959 #5,992

Geography

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Where Bonhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Aylesbury Vale and Cherwell. 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 Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland Buckinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 007 North Norfolk
2 Aylesbury Vale 016 Aylesbury Vale
3 Cherwell 004 Cherwell
4 Aylesbury Vale 017 Aylesbury Vale
5 Aylesbury Vale 011 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bonham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bonham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bonham, 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 Bonham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bonham 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Bonham is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bonham is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bonham 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 Bonham 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 Bonham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bonham

The surname Bonham has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the late medieval period. The name is thought to have derived from the Old English words "bun" meaning "a boundary" and "ham" meaning "a homestead or village." This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a boundary or at the edge of a settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bonham appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this record, the name is spelled "Boneham," referring to a place in Nottinghamshire. The variation in spelling was common in those times, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

The Bonham surname is associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such figure was Sir John Bonham, a renowned English military commander who lived during the late 16th century (c. 1555-1629). He played a crucial role in the Anglo-Spanish War and was knighted for his bravery and service to the Crown.

Another significant bearer of the Bonham name was Robert Bonham (1711-1776), an influential American planter and politician from South Carolina. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was an active supporter of the American Revolutionary cause.

In the literary realm, Robert Bonham Carter (1891-1957) was a British author and journalist who wrote extensively on World War I and the interwar period. His memoir, "Old Brantonian," published in 1956, offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and times of the early 20th century.

The name Bonham has also been associated with several notable places. For instance, Bonham, Texas, a city located in Fannin County, was named after James Butler Bonham, an early settler and defender of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution.

Throughout its history, the surname Bonham has undergone various spellings and variations, including Bonham, Bonnam, Bonnham, and Bonnam, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier times. Despite these variations, the name's origins remain firmly rooted in the English countryside, where it first emerged as a descriptor of one's place of residence near a boundary or settlement edge.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bonham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonham 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. Northamptonshire leads with 159 Bonhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.22x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 159 22.22x
Buckinghamshire 129 28.04x
Warwickshire 97 5.06x
Middlesex 96 1.26x
Surrey 58 1.56x
Oxfordshire 33 7.02x
Kent 24 0.92x
Essex 20 1.33x
Glamorgan 20 1.51x
Bedfordshire 18 4.57x
Sussex 18 1.40x
Yorkshire 15 0.20x
Carmarthenshire 14 4.37x
Hampshire 14 0.90x
Somerset 13 1.06x
Huntingdonshire 11 7.28x
Derbyshire 9 0.76x
Worcestershire 8 0.81x
Gloucestershire 5 0.34x
Hertfordshire 5 0.95x
Northumberland 3 0.27x
Devon 2 0.13x
Lancashire 2 0.02x
Lincolnshire 2 0.16x
Norfolk 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.18x
Leicestershire 1 0.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northampton St Sepulchre in Northamptonshire leads with 31 Bonhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.14x.

Place Total Index
Northampton St Sepulchre 31 85.14x
Wingrave 30 1271.19x
Aston 29 5.49x
Coventry Holy Trinity 25 43.64x
Bierton With Broughton 24 1137.44x
Middleton Cheney 24 769.23x
Great Doddington 18 1161.29x
Neithrop 17 107.66x
Ivinghoe 16 445.68x
Battersea 15 5.36x
Birmingham 14 2.19x
Chatham 14 19.60x
Dallington 12 285.04x
Edmonton 12 19.58x
Paddington London 12 4.29x
Brackley St Peter 11 224.03x
Llanelly 11 15.23x
St Neots 11 133.98x
St Pancras London 11 1.80x
Streatham 11 19.49x
Wendover 11 221.77x
Yardley Gobion 11 714.29x
Clase 9 18.27x
Coventry St Michael 9 14.60x
Camberwell 8 1.65x
Chelsea London 8 3.49x
Kettering 8 27.63x
Lambeth 8 1.21x
Leyton 8 30.92x
Wardington 8 496.89x
Castle Hedingham 7 258.30x
Houghton Regis 7 111.47x
Northampton Priory St 7 16.30x
Portsea 7 2.29x
Radstock 7 86.96x
St Marylebone London 7 1.72x
Bradford 6 3.29x
Brighton 6 2.32x
Edgbaston 6 10.09x
Linslade 6 133.04x
St Andrew Holborn London 6 18.21x
St George In East London 6 8.38x
St Mary Le Strand London 6 216.61x
Stony Stratford East 6 317.46x
Swansea Town 6 5.52x
Wollaston 6 152.28x
Clevedon 5 39.25x
Cold Brayfield 5 2173.91x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.50x
Hastings St Leonards 5 26.51x
Hunnington 5 1562.50x
Kensington London 5 1.18x
Leighton Buzzard 5 29.50x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 5 14.27x
Swansea St Thomas 5 37.57x
Beachampton 4 701.75x
Bedworth 4 28.57x
Bicester Market End 4 46.35x
Blisworth 4 144.93x
Brimington 4 44.20x
Croydon 4 1.94x
Mursley 4 270.27x
Northampton All Sts 4 16.47x
Northampton St Giles 4 14.67x
Passenham 4 136.05x
Paulerspury 4 134.68x
Rowington 4 185.19x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.98x
St Helens 4 35.27x
Tring 4 28.57x
Winslow 4 92.38x
Ash Normandy 3 59.52x
Belper 3 12.99x
Clapham 3 3.15x
Hammersmith London 3 1.60x
Hasbury 3 46.15x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 10.96x
Laugharne 3 70.59x
Quainton 3 132.74x
Warkworth 3 46.58x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 51
George 38
John 36
Thomas 36
Henry 19
James 19
Charles 15
Edward 12
Joseph 12
Alfred 10
Arthur 10
Albert 8
Frederick 8
David 6
Harry 6
Walter 6
Edwin 5
Samuel 5
Benjamin 4
Daniel 4
Mark 4
Francis 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Lewis 3
Ambrose 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Fleet 2
Frank 2
Cornelius 1
Elijah 1
Ellis 1
Eric 1
Ernest 1
Fredck. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.C. 1
Fredk.K. 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Laurance 1
Lionel 1
Matthew 1
Noah 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bonham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bonham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 779 people were recorded with the Bonham surname. That placed it at #4,763 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bonham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 959 in 2016. That gives Bonham a modern rank of #5,992.

What does the Bonham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the Old English words "bōn" meaning "bone" and "hām" meaning "homestead" or "village."

What does the Bonham map show?

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