NameCensus.

UK surname

Boot

A surname derived from the Old German word "bote", meaning messenger or herald.

In the 1881 census there were 1,411 people recorded with the Boot surname, ranking it #2,942 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,658, ranked #3,759, down from #2,942 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Staffordshire, Erewash and Lichfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boot is 2,042 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.5%.

1881 census count

1,411

Ranked #2,942

Modern count

1,658

2016, ranked #3,759

Peak year

1911

2,042 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boot had 1,411 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,942 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,658 in 2016, ranked #3,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,042 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boot surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boot surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boot 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 1,054 #2,656
1861 historical 1,222 #2,333
1881 historical 1,411 #2,942
1891 historical 1,683 #2,678
1901 historical 1,771 #2,937
1911 historical 2,042 #2,446
1997 modern 1,791 #3,353
1998 modern 1,847 #3,379
1999 modern 1,834 #3,419
2000 modern 1,808 #3,446
2001 modern 1,772 #3,430
2002 modern 1,771 #3,518
2003 modern 1,706 #3,568
2004 modern 1,674 #3,627
2005 modern 1,654 #3,632
2006 modern 1,640 #3,661
2007 modern 1,648 #3,673
2008 modern 1,654 #3,690
2009 modern 1,697 #3,675
2010 modern 1,709 #3,739
2011 modern 1,679 #3,751
2012 modern 1,649 #3,738
2013 modern 1,687 #3,731
2014 modern 1,703 #3,716
2015 modern 1,670 #3,749
2016 modern 1,658 #3,759

Geography

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Where Boots are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Nottingham St Mary and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Staffordshire, Erewash, Lichfield, Ashfield and North East Derbyshire. 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 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Staffordshire 001 East Staffordshire
2 Erewash 001 Erewash
3 Lichfield 006 Lichfield
4 Ashfield 015 Ashfield
5 North East Derbyshire 013 North East Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boot

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boot

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Boot, 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 Boot surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Boot 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Boot is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Boot 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

Boot falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Boot

The surname "Boot" is believed to have originated in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "bōt," which means a dwelling or abode. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who lived in a particular type of dwelling or settlement.

The name "Boot" was likely first used as a descriptive surname, referring to a person's place of residence or the location of their property. It is possible that the earliest bearers of this name lived in a specific area or region known for its distinct type of dwellings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a certain Robert le Bote is mentioned. This document provides valuable insight into the early use and spelling variations of the surname.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "le Bot," "le Bote," and "atte Bote," reflecting the evolving spelling conventions of the time. These variations often indicated a person's proximity to a particular dwelling or location.

During the medieval period, the name "Boot" was also associated with certain place names. For instance, in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, a Thomas de la Bote is recorded, suggesting a connection to a place called "la Bote" or a similar location.

Notable individuals who bore the surname "Boot" throughout history include:

1. William Boot (c. 1460 - 1535), an English merchant and benefactor from Nottinghamshire. 2. Arnold Boot (1601 - 1653), an English physician and writer from Derbyshire. 3. Jesse Boot (1850 - 1931), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Boots pharmacy chain. 4. John Boots (1719 - 1796), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Pacific Northwest. 5. Margery Boot (c. 1390 - 1460), a English landowner and notable figure in the Wars of the Roses.

While the surname "Boot" may have evolved over time and taken on various spellings, its origins can be traced back to the 12th century and the Old English word "bōt," reflecting its connection to dwellings and settlements in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boot families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boot 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 265 Boots recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.25x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 265 14.25x
Staffordshire 176 3.78x
Derbyshire 175 8.10x
Yorkshire 128 0.94x
Leicestershire 107 7.00x
Warwickshire 91 2.62x
Middlesex 78 0.57x
Lancashire 61 0.37x
Surrey 51 0.76x
Buckinghamshire 48 5.76x
Worcestershire 42 2.33x
Cheshire 34 1.12x
Northamptonshire 33 2.54x
Essex 19 0.70x
Kent 11 0.23x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.14x
Shropshire 10 0.84x
Huntingdonshire 9 3.29x
Sussex 8 0.34x
Devon 7 0.24x
Durham 6 0.15x
Norfolk 6 0.28x
Oxfordshire 6 0.70x
Lincolnshire 5 0.23x
Bedfordshire 4 0.56x
Cornwall 3 0.19x
Somerset 3 0.14x
Anglesey 2 0.82x
Berkshire 2 0.19x
Denbighshire 2 0.38x
Glamorgan 2 0.08x
Hampshire 2 0.07x
Hertfordshire 2 0.21x
Monmouthshire 2 0.20x
Suffolk 2 0.12x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 64 Boots recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.16x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 64 17.16x
Nottingham St Mary 60 12.48x
Birmingham 53 4.57x
Walsall Foreign 51 21.21x
Sutton In Ashfield 39 96.65x
Belper 35 83.59x
Dudley 34 15.53x
Aston 32 3.34x
Lambeth 27 2.24x
Ecclesall Bierlow 26 9.35x
Wolstanton Oldcott 26 154.12x
Odd Rode 25 165.78x
Wycombe 25 40.22x
Hugglescote 24 106.67x
Bulwell 23 56.90x
Sheffield 23 5.29x
Kirkby In Ashfield 22 110.61x
Cannock 21 25.85x
Adstone 19 2676.06x
Hillingdon 19 43.20x
Hucknall Under 19 198.12x
Great Marlow 18 79.96x
Chesterfield 16 19.77x
Islington London 15 1.12x
South Normanton 15 98.88x
Wessington 15 519.03x
Holbeck 14 15.46x
Lenton 13 29.69x
Bermondsey 12 2.92x
Dewsbury 12 8.56x
Litchurch 12 13.81x
Stanton On Wolds 12 2352.94x
Beeston 11 51.50x
Derby St Peter 11 15.99x
Newbold Dunston 11 53.61x
Claylane 10 33.31x
Ingleby Arncliffe 10 689.66x
Mansfield 10 15.54x
Dronfield 9 32.53x
Walsall Borough 9 24.90x
Aston Cum Aughton 8 71.56x
Basford 8 9.34x
Bingley 8 9.19x
Godmanchester 8 77.22x
Harborne 8 5.36x
Hathern 8 129.24x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 1.62x
West Ham 8 1.33x
Atherton 7 11.75x
Brighton 7 1.49x
Church Gresley 7 20.37x
Everton 7 1.34x
Maidford 7 551.18x
Nether Hallam 7 3.79x
Paddington London 7 1.38x
Pilsley 7 98.18x
Radford 7 7.41x
Snenton 7 9.58x
St Andrewthe Less 7 7.01x
Bromley London 6 1.98x
Glossop Dale 6 5.93x
Hulme 6 1.76x
Kensington London 6 0.78x
Kingswinford 6 3.55x
Manchester 6 0.82x
Norton Canes 6 35.36x
West Bromwich 6 2.25x
Whitchurch Alkington 6 1016.95x
Alkerton 5 666.67x
Balderton 5 98.23x
Barrow In Furness 5 2.25x
Burntwood Edial 5 16.81x
East Ham 5 9.90x
Eastwood 5 30.08x
Leeds 5 0.65x
Morton 5 120.48x
Ripley 5 18.73x
Shenstone 5 42.23x
St Marylebone London 5 0.68x
St Pancras London 5 0.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 73
Sarah 57
Elizabeth 54
Emma 38
Ann 36
Hannah 29
Eliza 24
Emily 21
Annie 20
Jane 18
Clara 16
Alice 14
Charlotte 13
Ellen 13
Harriet 13
Florence 12
Lucy 11
Ada 10
Fanny 9
Louisa 9
Maria 9
Martha 9
Harriett 8
Kate 8
Amelia 5
Edith 5
Amy 4
Anne 4
Catherine 4
Frances 4
Laura 4
Minnie 4
Rebecca 4
Rose 4
Agnes 3
Elizth. 3
Honor 3
Isabella 3
Lily 3
Lydia 3
Rachel 3
Rosa 3
Ruth 3
Susannah 3
Gertrude 2
Lizzie 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Millicent 2
Phoebe 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 86
William 77
George 58
Thomas 38
Joseph 36
James 35
Samuel 34
Alfred 33
Charles 32
Henry 30
Arthur 28
Harry 15
Albert 14
Edward 14
Herbert 11
Richard 11
Frederick 9
Walter 9
Robert 8
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Daniel 4
David 4
Fred 4
Hosea 4
Solomon 4
Tom 4
Andrew 3
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Jesse 3
Lionel 3
Mark 3
Noah 3
Thos. 3
Amos 2
Edmund 2
Emanuel 2
Herbt. 2
Jarvis 2
Jonathan 2
Percy 2
Reuben 2
Willis 2
Wm. 2
Clarence 1
Edwd.J. 1
Eleazer 1
Emma 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Boot surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boot surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,411 people were recorded with the Boot surname. That placed it at #2,942 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boot surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,658 in 2016. That gives Boot a modern rank of #3,759.

What does the Boot surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old German word "bote", meaning messenger or herald.

What does the Boot map show?

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