UK surname
A surname of German origin, referring to someone who lived near a boundary marker.
In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Bonker surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #30,077 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Bury and St James Westminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonker is 126 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.0%.
1881 census count
25
Ranked #30,077
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
126 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bonker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bonker 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 126 | #17,569 |
| 1881 | historical | 25 | #30,077 |
| 1891 | historical | 48 | #30,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Bury, St James Westminster, Manchester and Malborough. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Bury | Lancashire |
| 3 | St James Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Malborough | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bonker 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 Bonker, 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 Bonker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bonker 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, Bonker 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 Bonker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bonker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BONKER" originated in Germany during the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "bonke," which means "a small hill or knoll." The name was likely given to someone who lived near or on a small hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "BONKER" can be found in a medieval German manuscript from the year 1287, which mentions a person named Johannes Bonker. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time.
In the 14th century, the name "BONKER" appeared in various records and documents across different regions of Germany, with variations in spelling such as "Bonker," "Bonkere," and "Bonkier." These variations were common during that era due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.
During the 15th century, a notable figure with the surname "BONKER" was Hans Bonker (1412-1478), a merchant and landowner from the town of Nuremberg. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his involvement in local politics.
In the 16th century, the name "BONKER" was found in several historical records, including the baptismal records of a church in the town of Augsburg, where a child named Katherina Bonker was baptized in 1543.
Another prominent individual with the surname "BONKER" was Johann Bonker (1602-1673), a German theologian and author who wrote several books on religious topics. He was born in the town of Heidelberg and served as a pastor in various churches throughout his life.
In the 17th century, the name "BONKER" appeared in connection with several place names, such as "Bonkerhof" (Bonker's farm) and "Bonkerfeld" (Bonker's field), which were located in different parts of Germany. These place names suggest that the surname was well-established and associated with specific locations.
During the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname "BONKER" was Friedrich Bonker (1720-1789), a German artist and painter who was renowned for his landscape paintings. He was born in the city of Dresden and spent most of his life working and exhibiting his artwork throughout Germany.
As the centuries passed, the surname "BONKER" continued to be found in various historical records and documents across Germany, with some individuals bearing this name migrating to other parts of Europe and eventually to other continents, carrying the name with them.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonker 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. Devon leads with 9 Bonkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 9 | 17.74x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 2.42x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 12.57x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 4.88x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.82x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Malborough in Devon leads with 8 Bonkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Malborough | 8 | 4000.00x |
| Royton | 7 | 795.45x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 4 | 215.05x |
| Birmingham | 3 | 14.65x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 15.37x |
| Devonport | 1 | 172.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bonker 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 Bonker 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 Bonker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Speed Tenter In Cotton Mill | 2 |
| Brazer | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Cotton Mixer In Cotton Mill | 1 |
| Cox Cutter | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| House Wife | 1 |
| Iron Puddler | 1 |
| Iron Puddler Wife | 1 |
| Little Tenter In Cotton Mill | 1 |
| Piecer In Cotton Mill | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Solicitor | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Bonker surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Bonker a modern rank of #37,599.
A surname of German origin, referring to someone who lived near a boundary marker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bonker 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.