NameCensus.

UK surname

Boone

A French surname derived from the Old French word "bon," meaning "good," referring to a person with an upstanding character.

In the 1881 census there were 355 people recorded with the Boone surname, ranking it #8,679 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 451, ranked #10,791, down from #8,679 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Norwich, Arun and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boone is 486 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.0%.

1881 census count

355

Ranked #8,679

Modern count

451

2016, ranked #10,791

Peak year

2010

486 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boone had 355 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,679 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 451 in 2016, ranked #10,791.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 470 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boone surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boone surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boone 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 253 #8,709
1861 historical 208 #11,642
1881 historical 355 #8,679
1891 historical 378 #9,277
1901 historical 427 #9,054
1911 historical 470 #8,217
1997 modern 424 #10,531
1998 modern 453 #10,358
1999 modern 448 #10,482
2000 modern 452 #10,394
2001 modern 444 #10,348
2002 modern 447 #10,501
2003 modern 445 #10,376
2004 modern 446 #10,391
2005 modern 438 #10,422
2006 modern 452 #10,204
2007 modern 453 #10,281
2008 modern 458 #10,276
2009 modern 468 #10,354
2010 modern 486 #10,264
2011 modern 466 #10,495
2012 modern 457 #10,548
2013 modern 453 #10,774
2014 modern 469 #10,570
2015 modern 451 #10,801
2016 modern 451 #10,791

Geography

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Where Boones are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester and St George the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Norwich, Arun, Staffordshire Moorlands and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Norwich 013 Norwich
2 Arun 017 Arun
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Cheshire West and Chester 017 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Norwich 003 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boone

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boone

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Boone surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Boone 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Boone is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Boone 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

Boone falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boone 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 Boone, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Boone

The surname Boone has its origins in France and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "bon", meaning "good" or "excellent". The name was likely given as a nickname or descriptive name to someone who was perceived as virtuous or skilled.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Boone can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Bono" and is listed among landowners in various counties.

During the Middle Ages, the name Boone was found in various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. Some early spellings of the name included "Boun", "Boun", and "Boune".

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Etienne Boone was a prominent landowner and knight in the region of Normandy, France. He is mentioned in several historical records and chronicles from that era.

As the name spread across Europe, it took on different spellings and variations. In England, the name appeared as "Boon" and "Boone", while in Germany, it was written as "Bohn" or "Bohne".

One of the most famous bearers of the surname Boone was Daniel Boone (1734-1820), an American pioneer and explorer known for his explorations of the American frontier. He played a significant role in the early settlement of Kentucky and has become a legendary figure in American history.

Another notable individual was Thomas Boone (1590-1670), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1654 and was instrumental in establishing trade relations with the American colonies.

In the field of literature, John Boone (1796-1865) was an American writer and editor who published several works on history and theology, including a biography of Daniel Boone.

In the world of art, Benjamin Boone (1808-1883) was a British painter and engraver known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life in England.

The surname Boone has also been associated with notable figures in science and education, such as William Boone Trail (1844-1927), an American educator and founder of what is now known as the University of Denver.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boone families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boone 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. Middlesex leads with 76 Boones recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.20x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 76 2.20x
Surrey 41 2.44x
Lancashire 39 0.95x
Gloucestershire 33 4.87x
Staffordshire 27 2.32x
Devon 26 3.62x
Buckinghamshire 19 9.10x
Kent 14 1.19x
Somerset 14 2.52x
Suffolk 10 2.38x
Durham 8 0.78x
Warwickshire 8 0.92x
Cheshire 6 0.79x
Bedfordshire 5 2.80x
Renfrewshire 5 1.87x
Sussex 5 0.86x
Berkshire 4 1.54x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.83x
Hertfordshire 2 0.84x
Shropshire 2 0.67x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.31x
Royal Navy 1 2.43x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 18 Boones recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.56x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 18 14.56x
Sherington 16 2253.52x
St Marylebone London 16 8.68x
Bermondsey 13 12.65x
Southwark St George Martyr 13 18.71x
St Pancras London 11 3.96x
Bristol St James St Paul 9 39.86x
Bromley London 9 11.85x
Lowestoft 9 45.29x
St George In East London 9 27.71x
Bleadon 8 1095.89x
Poplar London 8 12.28x
Wolstanton 8 22.60x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 42.53x
Westleigh 7 75.27x
Bishopsteignton 6 441.18x
Byers Green 6 206.90x
Denton 6 66.08x
Farnworth 6 24.44x
Halliwell 6 40.24x
Southwark St Saviour 6 33.80x
Stoke Damerel 6 11.93x
Atherton 5 33.53x
Bristol St George 5 15.96x
Cherrington 5 1724.14x
Inverkip 5 79.24x
Luton 5 16.16x
Lydney 5 142.86x
Sandhurst 5 909.09x
St Giles In Fields London 5 29.52x
Tormoham 5 16.44x
Westbury On Trym 5 21.80x
Lyng 4 1142.86x
Newmarket All Sts 4 248.45x
Ramsgate 4 20.80x
Stayley 4 45.92x
Aston 3 1.25x
Bow Brickhill 3 555.56x
Clerkenwell London 3 3.68x
Edmonton 3 10.78x
Greenwich 3 5.46x
Liverpool 3 1.21x
Minster In Sheppey 3 15.37x
Newington 3 2.35x
Paddington London 3 2.36x
Reading St Giles 3 11.80x
Camberwell 2 0.91x
Chester St Oswald 2 14.49x
Clapham 2 4.63x
Donington 2 425.53x
Hampstead London 2 3.72x
Hove 2 7.83x
Islington London 2 0.60x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 9.98x
North Petherton 2 44.64x
Witton 2 38.84x
Woolwich 2 4.59x
Bristol St Paul In 1 5.54x
Bristol Temple 1 22.42x
Cheltenham 1 1.91x
East Grinstead 1 12.14x
Epsom 1 12.20x
Exeter Heavitree 1 18.66x
Exeter St David 1 16.29x
Govan 1 0.36x
Hammersmith London 1 1.18x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 7.01x
Kettering 1 7.61x
Lambeth 1 0.33x
Lewisham 1 1.59x
Manchester 1 0.54x
Middlesbrough 1 2.24x
Norton In Moors 1 16.21x
Royal Navy 1 2.84x
Sennen 1 116.28x
St Anne Soho London 1 5.07x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.64x
Toxteth Park 1 0.72x
Widnes 1 3.38x
Wotton Under Edge 1 25.06x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
James 15
John 14
George 10
Charles 9
Joseph 8
Thomas 7
Arthur 6
Henry 6
Robert 6
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Harry 4
Samuel 4
Frederick 3
Walter 3
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
A. 1
Aaron 1
Adam 1
Auguste 1
Aurthur 1
Bar 1
Bartholomew 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Gowin 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Isreal 1
L. 1
Michael 1
Raymond 1
Renford 1
Sherborne 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
W.T. 1

FAQ

Boone surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boone surname in 1881?

In 1881, 355 people were recorded with the Boone surname. That placed it at #8,679 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boone surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 451 in 2016. That gives Boone a modern rank of #10,791.

What does the Boone surname mean?

A French surname derived from the Old French word "bon," meaning "good," referring to a person with an upstanding character.

What does the Boone map show?

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