NameCensus.

UK surname

Boothby

A topographic surname referring to someone from a place called "booth settlement".

In the 1881 census there were 845 people recorded with the Boothby surname, ranking it #4,463 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,011, ranked #5,754, down from #4,463 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, South Holland and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boothby is 1,053 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.6%.

1881 census count

845

Ranked #4,463

Modern count

1,011

2016, ranked #5,754

Peak year

1998

1,053 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boothby had 845 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,463 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,011 in 2016, ranked #5,754.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 947 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boothby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boothby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Boothby 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 570 #4,463
1861 historical 546 #4,815
1881 historical 845 #4,463
1891 historical 776 #5,171
1901 historical 947 #4,944
1911 historical 891 #5,000
1997 modern 998 #5,508
1998 modern 1,053 #5,430
1999 modern 1,050 #5,488
2000 modern 1,053 #5,457
2001 modern 1,027 #5,470
2002 modern 1,033 #5,549
2003 modern 1,021 #5,507
2004 modern 1,013 #5,537
2005 modern 1,030 #5,415
2006 modern 1,000 #5,567
2007 modern 990 #5,651
2008 modern 992 #5,687
2009 modern 1,007 #5,734
2010 modern 1,038 #5,700
2011 modern 1,028 #5,693
2012 modern 1,022 #5,638
2013 modern 1,046 #5,629
2014 modern 1,050 #5,624
2015 modern 1,027 #5,686
2016 modern 1,011 #5,754

Geography

Back to top

Where Boothbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Pinchbeck, Cowbit and Sibsey, Carrington, West Ville, Thornton-le-Fen, Langrick Ville, Silt Pits, Frith Ville, Rowlands Ma. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, South Holland, Cheshire East, Boston and Gedling. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Pinchbeck, Cowbit Lincolnshire
5 Sibsey, Carrington, West Ville, Thornton-le-Fen, Langrick Ville, Silt Pits, Frith Ville, Rowlands Ma Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 015 North Lincolnshire
2 South Holland 005 South Holland
3 Cheshire East 020 Cheshire East
4 Boston 007 Boston
5 Gedling 005 Gedling

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Boothby

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Boothby

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Boothby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boothby is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Boothby

The surname Boothby is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name Boothby, which refers to several locations in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. The name is thought to be derived from the Old Norse words "both" meaning a dwelling or hut, and "by" meaning a village or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Boothby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bodebi" in Lincolnshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Botheby," "Boddeby," and "Bodeby," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that period. One notable bearer of the name was Sir William Boothby (c. 1260-1329), who served as a knight and landowner in Lincolnshire.

By the 14th century, the spelling of the name had become more standardized as "Boothby." Records from this time period include entries for individuals such as Roger Boothby (c. 1320-1390), a wealthy merchant from Leicestershire, and John Boothby (c. 1380-1445), a clergyman and academic who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Boothby family established themselves as prominent landowners and gentry in Lincolnshire and Derbyshire. One notable figure from this period was Sir William Boothby (1609-1677), a Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War.

Another distinguished bearer of the name was Sir Brooke Boothby (1744-1824), a poet and philosopher who was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time. He is perhaps best known for his work "Observations on the Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs," which was a response to Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France."

In the 19th century, the Boothby family continued to maintain their status as part of the landed gentry. One notable figure was Sir William Boothby (1809-1898), a Conservative politician who served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including East Lincolnshire and South Lincolnshire.

Overall, the surname Boothby has a long and rich history in England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Derbyshire. Its origins can be traced back to the 12th century, and it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including knights, merchants, clergymen, poets, and politicians.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Boothby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boothby 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. Lincolnshire leads with 186 Boothbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.03x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 186 14.03x
Cheshire 142 7.76x
Yorkshire 121 1.47x
Lancashire 107 1.09x
Middlesex 71 0.86x
Derbyshire 46 3.54x
Norfolk 42 3.29x
Surrey 26 0.64x
Staffordshire 24 0.86x
Kent 10 0.35x
Hampshire 9 0.53x
Hertfordshire 8 1.40x
Fife 7 1.43x
Gloucestershire 7 0.43x
Leicestershire 7 0.76x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.63x
Glamorgan 6 0.42x
Clackmannanshire 3 4.38x
Denbighshire 3 0.96x
Devon 3 0.17x
Warwickshire 3 0.14x
Channel Islands 2 0.81x
Midlothian 2 0.18x
Royal Navy 2 2.02x
Sussex 2 0.14x
Wiltshire 2 0.27x
Isle of Man 1 0.65x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Macclesfield in Cheshire leads with 50 Boothbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.46x.

Place Total Index
Macclesfield 50 61.46x
Pinchbeck 28 329.41x
Kettleshulme 24 2553.19x
Oldham 20 6.30x
Hulme 17 8.28x
Shoreditch London 16 4.45x
Hurdsfield 14 124.33x
Cottingham 12 67.76x
Hyde 12 22.22x
Fernilee 11 364.24x
Lambeth 11 1.52x
Skirbeck 11 148.05x
St Andrew Holborn London 11 30.64x
St Giles In Fields London 11 27.04x
Barton St Peter 10 164.47x
Camberwell 10 1.89x
Dersingham 10 347.22x
Downham Market 10 114.16x
Preston 10 3.80x
Sculcoates 10 7.68x
Wigtoft 10 520.83x
Everton 9 2.87x
Stickney 9 459.18x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 3.03x
Wavertree 9 28.58x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 10.80x
Boston 8 19.89x
Butterwick 8 529.80x
Doncaster 8 13.33x
Gosberton 8 135.82x
Great Grimsby 8 9.51x
Holy Trinity 8 4.05x
Kingstonupon Hull 8 121.40x
Ollersett 8 316.21x
Sheffield 8 3.06x
Skelton In Guisbrough 8 35.99x
South Normanton 8 87.72x
St Pancras London 8 1.20x
Taxal 8 898.88x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 3.26x
Clenchwarton 7 368.42x
Docking 7 174.56x
Dukinfield 7 8.28x
Horncastle 7 51.17x
Leasingham 7 660.38x
North Bierley 7 15.78x
Reddish 7 51.66x
Southcoates 7 15.35x
St Andrews 7 31.35x
Sutton In Macclesfield 7 36.86x
Wormhill 7 257.35x
Baldock 6 111.73x
Bramhall 6 79.16x
Brightside Bierlow 6 3.72x
Chadderton 6 12.47x
Frampton 6 239.04x
Portsea 6 1.80x
Scunthorpe 6 100.67x
West Derby 6 2.08x
Whitchurch 6 76.82x
Wootton 6 363.64x
Cannock 5 10.24x
Cheriton 5 43.37x
Clerkenwell London 5 2.55x
Hawkesbury 5 90.42x
Hunstanton 5 116.01x
Ordsall 5 58.41x
Poplar London 5 3.20x
Surfleet 5 181.16x
Swanland 5 400.00x
Belchford 4 287.77x
Chapel En Le Frith 4 33.76x
Finchley 4 12.58x
Hartington Upper 4 64.62x
Little Bolton 4 3.16x
Louth 4 13.17x
Scarborough 4 5.36x
Stockport 4 4.25x
Wombwell 4 16.69x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 4 110.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 50
William 47
George 28
James 27
Thomas 25
Charles 22
Henry 20
Joseph 20
Robert 11
Edward 10
Arthur 8
Walter 7
Alfred 6
Samuel 6
Albert 5
Edwin 5
Herbert 5
Abraham 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Basil 2
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Horace 2
Hubbard 2
Matthew 2
Ralph 2
Tom 2
Austin 1
C.B. 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Murray 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Guy 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Jerimiah 1
Jess 1
Jno. 1
Johnathan 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Boothby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boothby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 845 people were recorded with the Boothby surname. That placed it at #4,463 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boothby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,011 in 2016. That gives Boothby a modern rank of #5,754.

What does the Boothby surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone from a place called "booth settlement".

What does the Boothby map show?

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