NameCensus.

UK surname

Bordon

An English surname derived from the French place name Bourdon, referring to someone from that location.

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Bordon surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Carluke East and High Blantyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bordon is 133 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1562.5%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

2016

133 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bordon had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 74 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Bordon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bordon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bordon 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 35 #27,037
1861 historical 74 #24,370
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 20 #32,579
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 79 #29,672
1998 modern 82 #29,754
1999 modern 87 #29,398
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 85 #29,396
2002 modern 84 #29,982
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 113 #28,016
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 130 #26,216
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Bordons 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 Barnet, Carluke East, High Blantyre and Blantyre South and Wheatlands. 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 Barnet 037 Barnet
2 Barnet 038 Barnet
3 Carluke East South Lanarkshire
4 High Blantyre South Lanarkshire
5 Blantyre South and Wheatlands South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bordon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bordon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Bordon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bordon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Bordon is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bordon 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

Bordon falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bordon

The surname Bordon has its origins in England, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, specifically around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "bord," which means "plank" or "board," and was often used to refer to a dwelling or a small house made of planks.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Bordon can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. These rolls mention individuals with the surname Bordon residing in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Wiltshire and Berkshire.

The name Bordon is closely associated with the village of Burdon, located in the county of Hampshire. This village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conquer. It is believed that some individuals may have taken the name Bordon as a reference to their place of origin or residence in this village.

One notable individual with the surname Bordon was Sir John Bordon, a prominent English military commander who lived during the 15th century. He served under King Henry V and participated in the famous Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where the English forces defeated the French army.

Another historical figure bearing the name Bordon was William Bordon, a 16th-century English clergyman and writer. He was born in 1535 and served as the rector of Adderbury in Oxfordshire. Bordon was known for his theological writings, including a treatise on the Book of Revelation.

In the 17th century, the name Bordon appeared in the records of the Virginia Company, which was responsible for the establishment of the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown. One individual, Robert Bordon, was listed as a settler who arrived in Virginia in 1635.

During the 18th century, there were several notable individuals with the surname Bordon. One was Samuel Bordon, an English architect and surveyor born in 1708. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Foundling Hospital and the Mansion House.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Bordon, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1741 and commanded several ships in the Royal Navy, playing a significant role in the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781.

In the 19th century, the name Bordon was associated with John Bordon, a British lawyer and politician who was born in 1802. He served as a Member of Parliament for Bath and was known for his work in the field of legal reform.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bordon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bordon 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. Middlesex leads with 3 Bordons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 3.08x
Isle of Man 2 110.50x
Bedfordshire 1 19.84x
Lancashire 1 0.87x
Staffordshire 1 3.05x
Suffolk 1 8.44x
Yorkshire 1 1.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maughold in Isle of Man leads with 2 Bordons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.

Place Total Index
Maughold 2 1428.57x
Bethnal Green London 1 23.64x
Holy Trinity 1 43.10x
Layham 1 5000.00x
Sandy 1 1111.11x
Shoreditch London 1 23.70x
St George Hanover Square 1 58.48x
Tutbury 1 1250.00x
Wigan 1 62.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Caroline 1
Carrie 1
Eleanor 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
John 1
Walter 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 Bordon households.

FAQ

Bordon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bordon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Bordon surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bordon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Bordon a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Bordon surname mean?

An English surname derived from the French place name Bourdon, referring to someone from that location.

What does the Bordon map show?

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