NameCensus.

UK surname

Bore

An archaic occupational surname referring to someone boring holes or tunnels.

In the 1881 census there were 235 people recorded with the Bore surname, ranking it #11,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 306, ranked #14,543, down from #11,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, Toxteth Park and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bore is 346 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.2%.

1881 census count

235

Ranked #11,573

Modern count

306

2016, ranked #14,543

Peak year

1998

346 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bore had 235 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 306 in 2016, ranked #14,543.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 323 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bore surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bore 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 248 #8,840
1861 historical 299 #8,460
1881 historical 235 #11,573
1891 historical 294 #11,288
1901 historical 297 #11,721
1911 historical 323 #10,842
1997 modern 322 #12,914
1998 modern 346 #12,630
1999 modern 330 #13,125
2000 modern 328 #13,129
2001 modern 312 #13,392
2002 modern 329 #13,167
2003 modern 328 #13,026
2004 modern 325 #13,161
2005 modern 312 #13,462
2006 modern 319 #13,318
2007 modern 309 #13,760
2008 modern 318 #13,604
2009 modern 330 #13,513
2010 modern 324 #13,979
2011 modern 324 #13,839
2012 modern 323 #13,780
2013 modern 321 #14,073
2014 modern 321 #14,150
2015 modern 310 #14,402
2016 modern 306 #14,543

Geography

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Where Bores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, Toxteth Park, St Dunstan Stepney, Polstead and Pattiswick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock Worcestershire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Polstead Suffolk
5 Pattiswick Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire
2 North East Lincolnshire 002 North East Lincolnshire
3 North East Lincolnshire 012 North East Lincolnshire
4 North East Lincolnshire 021 North East Lincolnshire
5 North East Lincolnshire 010 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bore

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Bore is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Bore is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bore falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bore is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bore

The surname "BORE" has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bor," meaning a small stream or brook. The surname was primarily found in areas with a high concentration of waterways, such as the counties of Devon and Somerset.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bore." This historical record suggests that the name existed during the Norman Conquest and was likely used to identify individuals living near small streams or brooks.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Boure," "Bour," and "Bure." These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling during that period. Place names like "Boreham" and "Borehampton" also emerged, indicating the presence of individuals with the surname "BORE" in those areas.

One notable figure bearing the surname "BORE" was Sir John Bore (c. 1470-1521), a prominent English courtier and politician during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Calais and was involved in diplomatic missions to France and the Holy Roman Empire.

Another individual of historical significance was William Bore (c. 1535-1599), an English clergyman and academic. He served as the Master of the Bench of the Inner Temple and was renowned for his contributions to legal education.

In the 17th century, the surname "BORE" gained further recognition with the birth of Robert Bore (1629-1679), an English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1666.

During the 18th century, the name "BORE" was associated with the literary world through the works of Reverend Charles Bore (1704-1768), an English poet and clergyman. His collection of poems, titled "Poems on Several Occasions," was well-received in his time.

In the 19th century, the surname "BORE" was carried by John Bore (1811-1887), a prominent English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Royal Opera House in London.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence and historical significance of the surname "BORE" across various fields, from politics and law to academia, literature, and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bore 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. Suffolk leads with 34 Bores recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.66x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 34 12.66x
Middlesex 26 1.18x
Essex 25 5.74x
Lancashire 22 0.84x
Hampshire 12 2.66x
Shropshire 12 6.30x
Radnorshire 9 50.59x
Gloucestershire 8 1.85x
Kent 8 1.06x
Surrey 8 0.74x
Lincolnshire 7 1.99x
Monmouthshire 7 4.39x
Herefordshire 6 6.64x
Northamptonshire 6 2.89x
Montgomeryshire 5 9.90x
Buckinghamshire 4 3.00x
Yorkshire 4 0.18x
Leicestershire 3 1.23x
Worcestershire 3 1.04x
Berkshire 2 1.21x
Cheshire 2 0.41x
Devon 2 0.44x
Hertfordshire 2 1.32x
Staffordshire 2 0.27x
Sussex 2 0.54x
Derbyshire 1 0.29x
Dorset 1 0.69x
Oxfordshire 1 0.73x
Royal Navy 1 3.81x
Warwickshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Polstead in Suffolk leads with 27 Bores recorded in 1881 and an index of 4285.71x.

Place Total Index
Polstead 27 4285.71x
Mile End Old Town London 16 34.10x
Portsea 9 10.16x
Cheltenham 8 23.98x
Preston 8 11.43x
Aberystruth 7 49.82x
Pattiswick 7 2692.31x
Clee With Weelsby 6 77.72x
Cressing 6 1463.41x
Kington 6 267.86x
Lambeth 6 3.12x
Tonbridge 6 22.12x
Toxteth Park 6 6.77x
Watford 6 1714.29x
West Ham 6 6.25x
Churchstoke 5 526.32x
Assington 4 714.29x
Presteigne 4 353.98x
Bishops Castle In 3 270.27x
Bradford 3 5.67x
Clerkenwell London 3 5.77x
Leicester St Leonard 3 129.87x
Liverpool 3 1.89x
More 3 2000.00x
Wolverton 3 108.70x
Bow London 2 7.13x
Bucknell 2 370.37x
Handsworth 2 10.91x
Hopesay 2 416.67x
Hyssington 2 833.33x
Kidderminster Borough 2 11.87x
Milton In Gravesend 2 17.73x
Portsmouth 2 19.23x
St Marylebone London 2 1.70x
Stisted 2 357.14x
Stonehouse East 2 85.84x
Stuston 2 1428.57x
Throcking 2 3333.33x
Winkfield 2 72.73x
Aston 1 0.65x
Bishops Castle Out 1 256.41x
Braintree 1 25.58x
Brighton 1 1.33x
Childwall 1 714.29x
Culham 1 243.90x
Eccleston 1 416.67x
Edmonton 1 5.63x
Everton 1 1.20x
Frimley 1 32.68x
Great Grimsby 1 4.47x
Hockley 1 212.77x
Ince In Makerfield 1 8.22x
Kensington London 1 0.82x
Llanbadarnfynydd 1 222.22x
Mentmore 1 416.67x
Mistley 1 85.47x
Monks Coppenhall 1 5.45x
Morton 1 151.52x
Portland 1 12.85x
Preston 1 15.41x
Rock 1 86.96x
Royal Navy 1 4.45x
Ryde 1 10.30x
Shoreditch London 1 1.05x
Shrewsbury St Julian 1 21.23x
South Kirkby 1 208.33x
South Shoebury 1 57.14x
Stratford St Mary 1 263.16x
Sutton 1 12.87x
Walton On Hill 1 7.06x
West Derby 1 1.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 15
Mary 10
Emma 7
Sarah 7
Eliza 5
Maria 5
Amelia 4
Ellen 4
Catherine 3
Fanny 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Diana 1
Eleanor 1
Elizbth. 1
Emley 1
Georgiana 1
Gwen 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Keturah 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Milborough 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 235 people were recorded with the Bore surname. That placed it at #11,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 306 in 2016. That gives Bore a modern rank of #14,543.

What does the Bore surname mean?

An archaic occupational surname referring to someone boring holes or tunnels.

What does the Bore map show?

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