UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from the German city of Bonn or a place with a similar name.
In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Bonn surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #20,349 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Old or West Kilpatrick, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonn is 142 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.9%.
1881 census count
95
Ranked #20,349
Modern count
77
2016, ranked #33,236
Peak year
1861
142 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bonn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bonn 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 | 31 | #27,734 |
| 1861 | historical | 142 | #15,982 |
| 1881 | historical | 95 | #20,349 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 85 | #24,636 |
| 1911 | historical | 62 | #26,622 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 81 | #29,849 |
| 1999 | modern | 83 | #29,823 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 76 | #30,366 |
| 2002 | modern | 79 | #30,499 |
| 2003 | modern | 84 | #29,978 |
| 2004 | modern | 86 | #30,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 83 | #30,808 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 80 | #31,833 |
| 2009 | modern | 81 | #32,172 |
| 2010 | modern | 78 | #32,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 80 | #32,652 |
| 2012 | modern | 75 | #33,263 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 77 | #33,236 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Old or West Kilpatrick, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel and Rusper. 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 | Old or West Kilpatrick | Dunbarton |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Rusper | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bonn 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 Bonn, 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 Bonn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bonn 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, Bonn 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 Bonn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bonn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BONN is of German origin, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the German city of Bonn, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The name likely originated as a locational surname, given to individuals who hailed from or lived near the city of Bonn.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname BONN can be found in the Codex Falkensteinensis, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 13th century. This document contains references to individuals bearing the name BONN, suggesting that the surname was already in use during this time period.
In the 14th century, the surname BONN appeared in various records and documents across the German-speaking regions. Notable examples include the Habsburger Urbar, a medieval land registry from Austria, and the Wittenberger Heberegister, a tax record from the city of Wittenberg.
The 16th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals bearing the surname BONN. One such figure was Johannes BONN, a German composer and organist who lived from around 1510 to 1570. His works were widely performed and appreciated during his lifetime.
In the 17th century, the name BONN gained further recognition with the birth of Johann Peter BONN (1670-1748), a German painter and engraver. His works, which often depicted religious and mythological scenes, were highly regarded and can be found in various museums and collections across Europe.
Another notable individual with the surname BONN was Johann Baptist BONN (1743-1805), a German architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design and construction of several important buildings and structures in his native city of Bonn.
As the surname spread across Europe, it also appeared in various localized spellings and variations. In France, for instance, the name was sometimes spelled as BONNE, while in the Netherlands, it took the form of BOON or BONS.
Throughout history, the surname BONN has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including artists, musicians, architects, and scholars. While not an exhaustive list, these examples highlight the rich heritage and lasting impact of this German surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonn 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. Middlesex leads with 19 Bonns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 19 | 2.12x |
| Sussex | 10 | 6.61x |
| Somerset | 8 | 5.54x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.83x |
| Kent | 7 | 2.29x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 2.84x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 5.18x |
| Dumfriesshire | 4 | 20.18x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 3.00x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 3.31x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 1.51x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 2.50x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 1.42x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.69x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 2.01x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.20x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.20x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.70x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 4.15x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.44x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.91x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rusper in Sussex leads with 9 Bonns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5294.12x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Rusper | 9 | 5294.12x |
| Whitechapel London | 8 | 90.40x |
| Cheriton | 7 | 560.00x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 10.47x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 8.31x |
| Taunton St James | 6 | 284.36x |
| Alnwick | 4 | 173.91x |
| Clarborough | 4 | 444.44x |
| Gloucester Longford St | 4 | 1666.67x |
| Hutton | 4 | 1600.00x |
| Birkenhead | 3 | 19.00x |
| Brigham | 3 | 833.33x |
| St Clement Danes London | 3 | 161.29x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 4.13x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 4.01x |
| Leicester St Mary | 2 | 24.88x |
| Abbey | 1 | 9.43x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 1 | 5.76x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 6.04x |
| Dalziel | 1 | 32.05x |
| East Grinstead | 1 | 46.73x |
| Frome | 1 | 28.90x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 1.94x |
| Hognaston | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Ipswich St Mary At Elms | 1 | 285.71x |
| Kirriemuir | 1 | 48.78x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.28x |
| Lamplugh | 1 | 256.41x |
| Leith South | 1 | 625.00x |
| Northowram | 1 | 16.03x |
| Sherborne | 1 | 57.80x |
| St Asaph | 1 | 208.33x |
| Staveley | 1 | 40.16x |
| Tooting Graveney | 1 | 81.97x |
| Wells St Cuthbert Out | 1 | 86.21x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bonn 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 Bonn 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 Bonn households.
FAQ
In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Bonn surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Bonn a modern rank of #33,236.
A locational surname referring to someone from the German city of Bonn or a place with a similar name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bonn 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.