NameCensus.

UK surname

Bonsall

A locational surname derived from an English town in Derbyshire.

In the 1881 census there were 556 people recorded with the Bonsall surname, ranking it #6,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 923, ranked #6,183, up from #6,212 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sawley, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Sheffield and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonsall is 973 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.0%.

1881 census count

556

Ranked #6,212

Modern count

923

2016, ranked #6,183

Peak year

1999

973 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bonsall had 556 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,212 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 923 in 2016, ranked #6,183.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 926 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bonsall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bonsall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bonsall 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 264 #8,419
1861 historical 361 #7,076
1881 historical 556 #6,212
1891 historical 664 #5,855
1901 historical 842 #5,407
1911 historical 926 #4,841
1997 modern 925 #5,838
1998 modern 960 #5,857
1999 modern 973 #5,825
2000 modern 939 #5,983
2001 modern 919 #5,979
2002 modern 929 #6,041
2003 modern 915 #6,004
2004 modern 900 #6,089
2005 modern 884 #6,103
2006 modern 909 #5,995
2007 modern 905 #6,061
2008 modern 904 #6,110
2009 modern 930 #6,090
2010 modern 962 #6,061
2011 modern 963 #6,001
2012 modern 915 #6,168
2013 modern 927 #6,208
2014 modern 927 #6,248
2015 modern 937 #6,141
2016 modern 923 #6,183

Geography

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Where Bonsalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sawley, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Manchester, Alfreton and Chesterfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Sheffield, Mansfield and Craven. 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 Sawley Derbyshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Alfreton Derbyshire
5 Chesterfield Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 008 Derbyshire Dales
2 Sheffield 039 Sheffield
3 Mansfield 007 Mansfield
4 Derbyshire Dales 009 Derbyshire Dales
5 Craven 001 Craven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bonsall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bonsall

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Bonsall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bonsall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bonsall is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bonsall is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bonsall

The surname Bonsall has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the early medieval period as a locational name derived from the place name Bonsall in Derbyshire. This place name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bun" meaning boundary and "sæl" meaning hall or mansion, suggesting that the name referred to a manor house situated on a boundary.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bonsall can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Bonsover." This entry suggests that the name and the associated place name were already well-established by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Bonsall living in Derbyshire, indicating that the surname had become hereditary by this point. Another early bearer of the name was William de Bonsall, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Derbyshire in 1273.

Throughout the Middle Ages and into the early modern period, the Bonsall family maintained a presence in Derbyshire and the surrounding areas. Notable individuals with this surname include Sir Thomas Bonsall (1547-1622), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire, and Reverend Henry Bonsall (1658-1723), an Anglican clergyman and author.

In the 17th century, the surname began to spread beyond its original Derbyshire homeland as members of the Bonsall family migrated to other parts of England and, eventually, to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded Bonsalls in America was Joseph Bonsall (1668-1757), who settled in Pennsylvania in the early 18th century.

Other notable bearers of the Bonsall surname include Richard Bonsall (1821-1899), an English artist and engraver, and Andrew Bonsall (1940-2018), an American actor and screenwriter known for his work on television shows like "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Incredible Hulk."

Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the surname Bonsall has persisted throughout the centuries, with bearers of the name continuing to make their mark in various fields, from politics and religion to art and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bonsall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonsall 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. Derbyshire leads with 292 Bonsalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.45x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 292 34.45x
Yorkshire 46 0.86x
Lancashire 38 0.59x
Staffordshire 34 1.86x
Cardiganshire 28 21.20x
Nottinghamshire 27 3.70x
Durham 23 1.43x
Surrey 13 0.49x
Middlesex 12 0.22x
Leicestershire 11 1.83x
Essex 7 0.66x
Glamorgan 5 0.53x
Lincolnshire 5 0.58x
Cheshire 4 0.33x
Montgomeryshire 3 2.42x
Suffolk 3 0.45x
Kent 2 0.11x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Cumberland 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alfreton in Derbyshire leads with 64 Bonsalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 248.54x.

Place Total Index
Alfreton 64 248.54x
Monyash 38 5135.14x
Ripley 19 181.30x
Aston Cum Aughton 15 341.69x
Nottingham St Mary 15 7.95x
Chesterfield 14 44.07x
Long Eaton 14 125.11x
Camberwell 13 3.76x
Alstonefield 12 1363.64x
Claylane 11 93.38x
Aberystwyth 10 476.19x
Derby St Werburgh 10 20.43x
Esh 10 85.32x
Wensley Snitterton 10 793.65x
Buxton 9 125.52x
Heage 9 200.89x
Brampton 8 67.51x
Ilkeston 8 33.67x
Salford 8 4.23x
Tupton 8 313.73x
Cockerton 7 135.40x
Cwmrheidol 7 331.75x
Hornsey 7 10.22x
Sheffield 7 4.10x
Warslow Elkstone 7 648.15x
Fernilee 6 304.57x
Matlock 6 52.72x
Pilsley 6 214.29x
Rusholme 6 35.03x
Sandiacre 6 198.68x
Selston 6 73.62x
Walthamstow 6 15.60x
Wetton 6 983.61x
Bishop Auckland 5 23.14x
Fenny Bentley 5 1086.96x
Flagg 5 1428.57x
Llanbadarn Fawr 5 285.71x
Llantrisant 5 21.04x
Middlesbrough 5 7.16x
Sheldon 5 1612.90x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 5 41.05x
Burslem 4 7.64x
Chapel En Le Frith 4 51.68x
Eckington 4 19.43x
Nether Hallam 4 5.51x
Newtown Linford 4 444.44x
Ashton On Mersey 3 48.54x
Blackwell 3 71.94x
Brightside Bierlow 3 2.85x
Leek Lowe 3 12.34x
Leicester St Mary 3 6.19x
Llanddeinol 3 714.29x
Lowestoft 3 9.63x
Newark Upon Trent 3 11.44x
Paddington London 3 1.51x
Penegoes 3 163.93x
Stoney Middleton 3 461.54x
Stoney Stanton 3 163.04x
Stretford 3 8.49x
Acomb 2 71.43x
Bakewell 2 43.10x
Campsall 2 350.88x
Great Longstone With 2 222.22x
Hartington Nether 2 285.71x
Hartington Upper 2 49.51x
Heaton Norris 2 5.47x
Heeley 2 12.27x
Hindley 2 7.30x
Hulme 2 1.49x
Lewisham 2 2.03x
Llanbadarny Croyddin 2 243.90x
Moss Side 2 5.92x
Pendleton In Salford 2 2.61x
Potter Newton 2 21.14x
Aberystwith 1 8.80x
Broughton In Salford 1 1.70x
Penrith 1 5.81x
Pentrich 1 20.96x
Snenton 1 3.49x
St Pancras London 1 0.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 38
Mary 37
Hannah 19
Sarah 19
Emma 14
Ann 13
Eliza 11
Jane 9
Annie 6
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Emily 3
Isabella 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Betsey 2
Caroline 2
Dorothy 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Pheobe 2
Amelia 1
B.E. 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elenor 1
Eliner 1
Elmma 1
Emm 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hephzibah 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kitty 1
Tamer 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 45
George 31
William 30
Thomas 28
Joseph 19
Henry 14
Arthur 9
James 9
Richard 9
Samuel 8
Frederick 6
Isaac 6
Benjamin 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Matthew 4
Charles 3
Peter 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
David 2
Earnest 2
Edwin 2
Enoch 2
Erastus 2
Ferdinand 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Jesse 2
Saml. 2
Wm. 2
Chad 1
Clifford 1
Daniel 1
Edmond 1
Ernest 1
Geo. 1
H.E. 1
Hedley 1
Ivor 1
Johnathan 1
Joshua 1
Nahum 1
Orlando 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Sam 1

FAQ

Bonsall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bonsall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 556 people were recorded with the Bonsall surname. That placed it at #6,212 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bonsall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 923 in 2016. That gives Bonsall a modern rank of #6,183.

What does the Bonsall surname mean?

A locational surname derived from an English town in Derbyshire.

What does the Bonsall map show?

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