NameCensus.

UK surname

Boo

A nickname surname of uncertain origin, possibly from a medieval word for "friend" or "companion."

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Boo surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 126, ranked #26,686, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ11, Barnet and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boo is 126 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1300.0%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

2016

126 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boo had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Boo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boo 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 3 #32,890
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1997 modern 20 #35,809
1998 modern 21 #35,788
1999 modern 24 #35,514
2000 modern 29 #34,976
2001 modern 27 #35,041
2002 modern 27 #35,243
2003 modern 24 #35,552
2004 modern 25 #35,610
2005 modern 24 #35,827
2006 modern 26 #35,822
2007 modern 26 #35,932
2008 modern 33 #35,556
2009 modern 34 #35,608
2010 modern 40 #35,403
2011 modern 35 #35,659
2012 modern 62 #34,155
2013 modern 76 #33,329
2014 modern 87 #32,585
2015 modern 89 #32,325
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

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Where Boos 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 IZ11, Barnet, Haringey, Kensington and Chelsea and Mid Sussex. 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 IZ11 West Dunbartonshire
2 Barnet 015 Barnet
3 Haringey 019 Haringey
4 Kensington and Chelsea 021 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Mid Sussex 009 Mid Sussex

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boo

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Boo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Boo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Boo is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boo is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boo falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boo 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Boo

The surname Boo has its origins in England, first appearing in records from the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "bua", meaning a dwelling or a cottage. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived in a small, modest home or hut.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Boo can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279, which mentions a Hugo le Buo. The spelling "le Buo" indicates the French influence on English names during the Norman period, with "le" being the French equivalent of "the".

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Boue, Bowe, and Boo, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling during that time. One notable individual was John Boo, a landowner in Somerset mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

The Boo surname also has connections to place names in England. For example, there is a village called Booe in Kent, which may have given rise to some instances of the name. Additionally, the name could be linked to places like Bowood in Wiltshire or Bowden in Cheshire.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the Boo surname was Sir John Boo (1492-1554), a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Henry VIII. He was involved in local affairs and held several administrative positions.

Another notable Boo was William Boo (1562-1622), a clergyman who served as the Vicar of Stratton in Dorset. He is remembered for his writings on religious topics and his involvement in local church matters.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, including the marriage of Robert Boo and Elizabeth Wyatt in 1642, recorded in the parish registers of St. Giles Cripplegate in London.

Thomas Boo (1679-1744) was a successful merchant and landowner in Yorkshire, known for his involvement in local politics and his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of a school for underprivileged children.

The Boo surname continued to be present in various parts of England throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, with individuals from different walks of life bearing the name. However, it is important to note that these examples are not exhaustive, and there may have been other notable figures with the Boo surname throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boo 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. Durham leads with 2 Boos recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.30x.

County Total Index
Durham 2 17.30x
Middlesex 2 5.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whickham in Durham leads with 2 Boos recorded in 1881 and an index of 1818.18x.

Place Total Index
Whickham 2 1818.18x
Spitalfields London 1 344.83x
St George Bloomsbury 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
John 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 Boo households.

FAQ

Boo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Boo surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Boo a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Boo surname mean?

A nickname surname of uncertain origin, possibly from a medieval word for "friend" or "companion."

What does the Boo map show?

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