NameCensus.

UK surname

Borbely

A surname meaning "barber" in Hungarian.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Kirklees and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borbely is 113 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

2016

113 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Borbely surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Borbely surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Borbely 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
1997 modern 12 #36,785
1998 modern 11 #36,908
1999 modern 13 #36,693
2000 modern 20 #35,915
2001 modern 17 #36,053
2002 modern 18 #36,067
2003 modern 20 #35,915
2004 modern 22 #35,878
2005 modern 27 #35,588
2006 modern 29 #35,605
2007 modern 36 #35,278
2008 modern 45 #34,818
2009 modern 60 #33,989
2010 modern 64 #33,946
2011 modern 65 #33,842
2012 modern 85 #32,395
2013 modern 95 #31,523
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 111 #28,986
2016 modern 113 #28,691

Geography

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Where Borbelys 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 Bradford, Kirklees, Waltham Forest, Cheshire East and Preston. 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 Bradford 047 Bradford
2 Kirklees 019 Kirklees
3 Waltham Forest 019 Waltham Forest
4 Cheshire East 008 Cheshire East
5 Preston 014 Preston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Borbely

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Borbely

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Borbely surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Borbely household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Borbely is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Borbely 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

Borbely 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 Borbely 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Borbely

The surname Borbely has its origins in Hungary, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Hungarian word 'borbély', which means 'barber' or 'surgeon'. This suggests that the name was originally an occupational surname, given to individuals who practiced the trade of barbering or minor surgery.

The earliest known records of the name Borbely can be traced back to the 13th century in various Hungarian documents and manuscripts. One notable mention is in the Regestrum Varadiense, a compilation of legal documents from the Diocese of Várad (now Oradea, Romania) from the 13th and 14th centuries, where the name appears as 'Borbel'.

During the medieval period, the Borbely surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Transylvania and the Great Hungarian Plain. It is believed that the name may have originated from the town of Borbely (now Bărbulești, Romania), which could have been a center for the barbering trade.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the Borbely name was Péter Borbély (1499-1572), a Hungarian Calvinist minister and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Hungary.

Another notable individual was János Borbély (1825-1892), a Hungarian writer and journalist who contributed to the literary and cultural scene of the 19th century.

In the 20th century, Sándor Borbély (1913-1984) was a Hungarian football player who represented the national team and played for several clubs, including Ferencvárosi TC and Újpesti TE.

Zsuzsa Borbély (1925-1998) was a Hungarian actress and singer who enjoyed a successful career in film, theater, and television, and was honored with various awards for her contributions to the arts.

Szilárd Borbély (born 1963) is a contemporary Hungarian writer and poet, known for his critically acclaimed works exploring themes of identity, memory, and trauma. He has received numerous literary awards, including the prestigious Kossuth Prize.

While the surname Borbely has its roots in Hungary, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the name remains strongly associated with its Hungarian heritage and the historical significance of the barbering trade.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Borbely surname: questions and answers

How common is the Borbely surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Borbely a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Borbely surname mean?

A surname meaning "barber" in Hungarian.

What does the Borbely map show?

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