NameCensus.

UK surname

Bonsell

Of English origin, referring to someone living near a hill or small mountain.

In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Bonsell surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 146, ranked #24,173, up from #27,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chesterfield, Hinckley and Bosworth and South Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonsell is 163 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 210.6%.

1881 census count

47

Ranked #27,019

Modern count

146

2016, ranked #24,173

Peak year

1999

163 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bonsell had 47 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016, ranked #24,173.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 92 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Bonsell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bonsell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bonsell 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 47 #27,019
1891 historical 76 #27,290
1901 historical 67 #26,703
1911 historical 92 #23,580
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 155 #21,227
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 151 #21,684
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 162 #20,839
2003 modern 152 #21,486
2004 modern 145 #22,289
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 147 #22,720
2009 modern 157 #22,271
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 154 #22,870
2013 modern 150 #23,653
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 151 #23,613
2016 modern 146 #24,173

Geography

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Where Bonsells 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 Chesterfield, Hinckley and Bosworth, South Northamptonshire, Coventry and Leicester. 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 Chesterfield 004 Chesterfield
2 Hinckley and Bosworth 007 Hinckley and Bosworth
3 South Northamptonshire 008 South Northamptonshire
4 Coventry 039 Coventry
5 Leicester 036 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bonsell

These lists show first names that appear often with the Bonsell 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 Bonsell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bonsell, 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 Bonsell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Bonsell 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bonsell 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

Bonsell 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

Bonsell falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bonsell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bonsell

The surname Bonsell is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bon," meaning "bone," and "sele," meaning "hall" or "dwelling." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a residence or estate associated with a person involved in bone-related work, such as a butcher or a physician.

One of the earliest known references to the name Bonsell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire from the year 1195, where it appears as "Boneshale." This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to a specific location in England during the medieval period.

In the 13th century, the surname Bonsell was documented in various forms, including "Boneshull" and "Boneshale," reflecting the variations in spelling common at the time. These variations often stemmed from local dialects and the interpretations of scribes transcribing the name.

During the 14th century, the name Bonsell gained further recognition, appearing in records such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it is listed as "Boneshull." Additionally, the surname is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, suggesting its presence in different regions of England.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Bonsell throughout history are:

1. William Bonsell (c. 1560 - 1635), an English merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. 2. John Bonsell (1622 - 1698), a prominent figure in the early Quaker community of Pennsylvania, who emigrated from England in the late 17th century. 3. Sarah Bonsell (1688 - 1768), an influential Quaker minister and writer from Pennsylvania, known for her religious works and advocacy for social justice. 4. Thomas Bonsell (1745 - 1823), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a Member of Parliament. 5. Henry Bonsell (1819 - 1892), an American businessman and philanthropist from Philadelphia, who made significant contributions to educational institutions and charitable organizations.

The surname Bonsell has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Bonsall in Derbyshire and Bonsall Park in Lancashire, further reinforcing its historical roots and geographical connections within the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bonsell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonsell 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. Lancashire leads with 18 Bonsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.31x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 18 3.31x
Leicestershire 12 23.61x
Nottinghamshire 5 8.09x
Cheshire 4 3.95x
Staffordshire 3 1.94x
Warwickshire 2 1.73x
Denbighshire 1 5.78x
Hertfordshire 1 3.17x
Middlesex 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Market Bosworth in Leicestershire leads with 8 Bonsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4444.44x.

Place Total Index
Market Bosworth 8 4444.44x
Rusholme 8 551.72x
Westhoughton 5 344.83x
Gawsworth 3 3333.33x
Mansfield 3 140.19x
Farnworth 2 61.35x
Harborne 2 40.32x
Stapleford 2 400.00x
Stoney Stanton 2 1250.00x
Acton Trussell 1 1111.11x
Aston 1 3.14x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 24.45x
Bersham 1 135.14x
Broxbourne 1 158.73x
Edgbaston 1 27.93x
Edmonton 1 27.10x
Heaton Norris 1 32.26x
Leicester St Mary 1 24.33x
Newton In Ashton Under 1 100.00x
Twycross 1 1666.67x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 63.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 3
Eliza 2
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Ellen 1
Eth.Ann 1
Hannah 1
Martha 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 5
John 5
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edmund 1
Enoch 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Reuben 1
Samuel 1
William 1
Wm. 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 Bonsell households.

FAQ

Bonsell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bonsell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Bonsell surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bonsell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016. That gives Bonsell a modern rank of #24,173.

What does the Bonsell surname mean?

Of English origin, referring to someone living near a hill or small mountain.

What does the Bonsell map show?

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