NameCensus.

UK surname

Bor

A surname meaning 'dweller by the edge of a hill' derived from an Old English word.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Bor surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrow, Camden and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bor is 146 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6750.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

2015

146 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bor had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bor 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 16 #30,441
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1997 modern 56 #32,004
1998 modern 55 #32,399
1999 modern 64 #31,692
2000 modern 60 #32,124
2001 modern 58 #32,180
2002 modern 63 #32,113
2003 modern 67 #31,796
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 90 #30,567
2009 modern 89 #31,235
2010 modern 99 #30,397
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 128 #25,852
2013 modern 138 #25,020
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

Back to top

Where Bors 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 Harrow, Camden, Cornwall, Nottingham and Southwark. 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 Harrow 007 Harrow
2 Camden 008 Camden
3 Cornwall 035 Cornwall
4 Nottingham 012 Nottingham
5 Southwark 030 Southwark

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bor

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bor

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Bor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bor 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bor is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bor 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

Bor 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 Bor 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Bor

The surname "Bor" is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "bor," which means "bore" or "drill." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who worked as carpenters, woodworkers, or bore makers.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, which mentions a certain "Henricus Bor" living in Saxony. The Bor family is also mentioned in the chronicles of the city of Lübeck, where they were prominent citizens during the 14th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bor was Johannes Bor (1446-1519), a German theologian and reformer from Saxony. He played a significant role in the early stages of the Protestant Reformation and was a close associate of Martin Luther.

Another notable figure with the Bor surname was Pieter Christiaanszoon Bor (1559-1635), a Dutch historian and chronicler from Utrecht. He is best known for his work "Oorsprongkelijke verhalen van de Nederlandsche oorlogen" (Original Accounts of the Dutch Wars), which documented the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule.

In the 16th century, the Bor family also had a presence in England, as evidenced by the marriage record of William Bor and Elizabeth Pettit in 1587 in the parish of St. Bride's, London.

During the 17th century, the name Bor was associated with several notable individuals, including Hans Bor (1598-1672), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his Still Life with Fruit and Flowers, and Johann Bor (1611-1683), a German composer and organist who served at the court of Hanover.

Another prominent figure with the Bor surname was Christoph Bor (1638-1711), a German physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the region of Saxony-Anhalt.

In the 18th century, the Bor family had a presence in France, with Jacques Bor (1715-1788) being a notable French architect and urban planner who designed several buildings in Paris and its surroundings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bor 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. Herefordshire leads with 1 Bors recorded in 1881 and an index of 250.00x.

County Total Index
Herefordshire 1 250.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishops Frome in Herefordshire leads with 1 Bors recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Bishops Frome 1 0.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francis 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 Bor households.

Occupation Count
Farm Servant (Indoor) 1

FAQ

Bor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Bor surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Bor a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Bor surname mean?

A surname meaning 'dweller by the edge of a hill' derived from an Old English word.

What does the Bor map show?

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