NameCensus.

UK surname

Bonnie

A Scottish surname meaning "attractive" or "beautiful."

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Bonnie surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, down from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Solihull and Isle of Anglesey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonnie is 127 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 186.1%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

1998

127 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bonnie had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 52 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Bonnie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bonnie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bonnie 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 33 #29,814
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 52 #30,061
1901 historical 42 #29,487
1911 historical 46 #28,224
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 109 #26,381
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Bonnies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Solihull, Isle of Anglesey, Wandsworth and Rochdale. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 006 Stroud
2 Solihull 005 Solihull
3 Isle of Anglesey 003 Isle of Anglesey
4 Wandsworth 007 Wandsworth
5 Rochdale 022 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bonnie

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bonnie

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Bonnie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Bonnie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bonnie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bonnie 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

Bonnie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bonnie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bonnie

The surname Bonnie is derived from the French word "bon" meaning "good". It originated in France during the Middle Ages, particularly in the northern regions. The name was likely initially a nickname bestowed upon individuals with a cheerful or amiable disposition.

In England, the surname Bonnie can be traced back to the 11th century, with records indicating its presence in the Domesday Book of 1086. This historic document was commissioned by William the Conqueror and served as a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership across England and parts of Wales.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bonnie can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166, where a reference is made to a certain Willelmus Bonnius. The name also appears in various medieval charters and legal documents from different regions of England, such as Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire.

During the 13th century, the surname Bonnie was closely associated with the village of Bonnyton, located in the Scottish Borders region. The name of this settlement likely derived from the French word "bon", suggesting a connection between the place name and the surname.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Bonnie, one can mention Sir John Bonnie (c. 1480-1545), an English politician and member of the House of Commons during the reign of Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was William Bonnie (1561-1628), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh.

In the literary world, Robert Bonnie (1671-1719) was a Scottish poet and author known for his poignant works that reflected the cultural and societal landscape of his time. His most celebrated work, "The Gentle Shepherd," is considered a seminal piece of Scottish pastoral literature.

During the 18th century, the Bonnie surname gained prominence in the American colonies, with several notable individuals bearing this name. Among them was James Bonnie (1733-1792), a Virginia planter and politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress.

Another noteworthy figure was Samuel Bonnie (1755-1835), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from Pennsylvania. He played a significant role in the Battle of Germantown and later served as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bonnie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonnie 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. Ayrshire leads with 10 Bonnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.05x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 10 38.05x
Middlesex 10 2.85x
Lancashire 4 0.96x
Surrey 3 1.75x
Renfrewshire 2 7.35x
Essex 1 1.44x
Hampshire 1 1.39x
Kent 1 0.83x
Lanarkshire 1 0.88x
Midlothian 1 2.13x
Perthshire 1 6.35x
Stirlingshire 1 7.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Auckinleck in Ayrshire leads with 9 Bonnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.

Place Total Index
Auckinleck 9 1111.11x
Bromley London 5 64.68x
Battersea 3 23.22x
Habergham Eaves 3 78.74x
Islington London 3 8.81x
Eastwood 2 119.05x
St Pancras London 2 7.07x
Carisbrooke 1 100.00x
Chatham 1 30.30x
Colchester All Sts 1 2000.00x
Culross 1 714.29x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 5.28x
Falkirk 1 33.00x
New Monkland 1 29.76x
Oldham 1 7.43x
West Kilbride 1 400.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Caroline 1
Esther 1
Katie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 3
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Angus 1
Archibald 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
John 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Bonnie households.

FAQ

Bonnie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bonnie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Bonnie surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bonnie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Bonnie a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Bonnie surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "attractive" or "beautiful."

What does the Bonnie map show?

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