NameCensus.

UK surname

Bora

A Turkish surname potentially derived from the Bora wind or the Bora region.

In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Bora surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 143, ranked #24,505, up from #32,081 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Leicester and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bora is 143 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1200.0%.

1881 census count

11

Ranked #32,081

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

2016

143 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bora had 11 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,081 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 24 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Bora surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bora surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bora 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
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 11 #32,081
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1997 modern 44 #33,275
1998 modern 37 #34,149
1999 modern 47 #33,320
2000 modern 53 #32,805
2001 modern 56 #32,379
2002 modern 55 #32,831
2003 modern 55 #32,895
2004 modern 59 #32,787
2005 modern 83 #30,486
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 115 #27,207
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 118 #27,192
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

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Where Boras 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 Hounslow, Leicester, Birmingham and Greenwich. 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 Hounslow 016 Hounslow
2 Leicester 022 Leicester
3 Birmingham 092 Birmingham
4 Leicester 019 Leicester
5 Greenwich 003 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bora

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bora

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bora 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

Bora 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

Bora falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bora is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
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 Bora, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bora

The surname Bora is believed to have originated in the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe, particularly in present-day Croatia and neighboring areas of the Balkan peninsula. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 12th to 15th centuries.

One theory suggests that Bora is derived from the Slavic word "bor," which means pine or pine tree. This could indicate that the name was initially used to identify individuals who lived near or worked with pine forests.

Another possibility is that Bora is a shortened or altered form of the Slavic word "boraviti," meaning "to reside" or "to dwell." In this case, the name might have referred to a person's place of residence or origin.

Early records of the surname Bora can be found in various historical documents from the region, including church registers and land ownership records. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the 1498 census of the Dubrovnik Republic, an important maritime and trading center in modern-day Croatia.

In the 16th century, a prominent Croatian nobleman named Petar Bora (born around 1500) held significant influence in the region and played a role in the Croatian-Ottoman wars of that period.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Bora surname spread to other parts of Europe, particularly Italy and Austria, likely due to migration and trade routes. In Italy, the name is sometimes spelled "Borra" or "Borro."

One notable Italian figure with the surname Bora was Giovanni Bora (1556-1624), a Venetian architect and engineer who contributed to the design and construction of several prominent buildings in Venice.

In the 19th century, a Polish mathematician and astronomer named Józef Bora (1821-1886) made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

Another individual worth mentioning is the Serbian painter and writer Dimitrije Bora (1867-1939), who was known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life in the Balkans.

The 20th century saw several prominent individuals with the surname Bora, including the Italian composer and conductor Bruno Bora (1905-1993) and the Croatian football player Marijan Bora (born 1984), who represented his country in international competitions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bora families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bora 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. Stirlingshire leads with 5 Boras recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.58x.

County Total Index
Stirlingshire 5 126.58x
Middlesex 3 2.80x
Cumberland 1 10.83x
Kent 1 2.73x
Lanarkshire 1 2.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Falkirk in Stirlingshire leads with 5 Boras recorded in 1881 and an index of 537.63x.

Place Total Index
Falkirk 5 537.63x
St Marylebone London 2 34.97x
Bromley 1 178.57x
Islington London 1 9.62x
Maryhill 1 147.06x
Workington 1 188.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizth. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
Nevel 1
Walter 1
William 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 Bora households.

FAQ

Bora surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bora surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Bora surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bora surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Bora a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Bora surname mean?

A Turkish surname potentially derived from the Bora wind or the Bora region.

What does the Bora map show?

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