NameCensus.

UK surname

Borges

A Spanish and Portuguese habitational surname referring to someone who lived near a tower or fortress.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Borges surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 470, ranked #10,475, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Colchester, Boston and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borges is 470 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7733.3%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

470

2016, ranked #10,475

Peak year

2016

470 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Borges had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 470 in 2016, ranked #10,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 38 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Borges surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Borges surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Borges 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 14 #32,072
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 19 #31,911
1911 historical 38 #29,147
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 137 #22,922
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 151 #21,574
2004 modern 175 #19,805
2005 modern 207 #17,731
2006 modern 226 #16,891
2007 modern 230 #16,890
2008 modern 255 #15,859
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 364 #12,851
2011 modern 347 #13,167
2012 modern 373 #12,344
2013 modern 392 #12,100
2014 modern 423 #11,488
2015 modern 445 #10,921
2016 modern 470 #10,475

Geography

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Where Borges' 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 Colchester, Boston, Ealing, Lambeth and Camden. 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 Colchester 004 Colchester
2 Boston 004 Boston
3 Ealing 031 Ealing
4 Lambeth 008 Lambeth
5 Camden 024 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Borges

These lists show first names that appear often with the Borges 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 Borges

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Borges surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Borges 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Borges is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Borges 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

Borges falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Borges is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Borges

The surname Borges has its origins in Spain, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Spanish word "borga," which means a small hamlet or village. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived in or came from a small village.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Borges can be found in the medieval Spanish manuscript "El Libro de las Behetrías," which dates back to the reign of King Alfonso XI in the 14th century. This document lists various noble families and their holdings, including individuals bearing the surname Borges.

In the 15th century, the name Borges appeared in several historical records related to the Spanish Reconquista, the period when Christian kingdoms fought to reclaim territories from the Moors. Some notable individuals with this surname during this time include Juan Borges, a military commander who participated in the conquest of Granada in 1492.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the name Borges spread to other parts of the world, including Latin America. One of the most famous bearers of this surname is Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986), an Argentine writer and poet widely regarded as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

Another notable individual with the surname Borges was Bartolomé Mitre Borges (1821-1906), an Argentine statesman and writer who served as the President of Argentina from 1862 to 1868. He played a significant role in the unification of the country and the establishment of a centralized government.

In Portugal, the surname Borges is also found, although its origins are slightly different. It is believed to have derived from the Portuguese word "borga," which means a small village or hamlet, similar to its Spanish counterpart. One notable Portuguese figure with this surname was Tomás Borges (1758-1838), a poet and playwright who contributed to the development of Portuguese Neoclassical literature.

Throughout history, the surname Borges has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For example, in Spain, there are towns and villages such as Borges Blanques and Borges del Campo, which likely influenced the formation of the surname. Additionally, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Borjas and Burrges, reflecting regional variations and language changes over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Borges families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Borges 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. Lancashire leads with 3 Borges' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3 4.33x
Wiltshire 3 58.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chippenham in Wiltshire leads with 3 Borges' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2727.27x.

Place Total Index
Chippenham 3 2727.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 181.82x
North Meols 1 147.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Winifred 2
Dora 1
Louisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
Henry 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 Borges households.

FAQ

Borges surname: questions and answers

How common was the Borges surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Borges surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Borges surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 470 in 2016. That gives Borges a modern rank of #10,475.

What does the Borges surname mean?

A Spanish and Portuguese habitational surname referring to someone who lived near a tower or fortress.

What does the Borges map show?

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