UK surname
Possibly a locational surname derived from a place name incorporating the Old English elements "bor" (dweller) and "ham" (homestead).
In the 1881 census there were 199 people recorded with the Borham surname, ranking it #12,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 63, ranked #34,163, down from #12,880 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Great and Little Maplestead and Sapiston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borham is 199 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.3%.
1881 census count
199
Ranked #12,880
Modern count
63
2016, ranked #34,163
Peak year
1881
199 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Borham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Borham surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 140 | #13,593 |
| 1861 | historical | 145 | #15,715 |
| 1881 | historical | 199 | #12,880 |
| 1891 | historical | 127 | #20,496 |
| 1901 | historical | 99 | #22,999 |
| 1911 | historical | 140 | #18,657 |
| 1997 | modern | 75 | #30,109 |
| 1998 | modern | 80 | #29,966 |
| 1999 | modern | 70 | #31,135 |
| 2000 | modern | 62 | #31,939 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 67 | #31,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 61 | #32,581 |
| 2005 | modern | 57 | #33,178 |
| 2006 | modern | 57 | #33,513 |
| 2007 | modern | 57 | #33,800 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 57 | #34,393 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 60 | #34,378 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 63 | #34,163 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Great and Little Maplestead, Sapiston and Langham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Great and Little Maplestead | Essex |
| 4 | Sapiston | Norfolk |
| 5 | Langham | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Borham surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Borham, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Borham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Borham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Borham is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Borham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Borham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Borham is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and it is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. The earliest records of this name are found in the county of Bedfordshire, where it was likely derived from a place name or a geographical feature.
One theory suggests that the name Borham is derived from the Old English words "bor," meaning a bower or a dwelling, and "ham," which translates to a homestead or a village. This combination could indicate that the name originated from a specific hamlet or settlement in Bedfordshire.
Another possible origin of the name Borham is that it is a variant spelling of the place name "Burnham," which is found in several counties across England. In this case, the name would have evolved from the Old English words "burna," meaning a stream or a brook, and "ham," referring to a homestead or a village.
Although the Domesday Book, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not mention the surname Borham directly, it does record several place names that could be related to the name's origins, such as "Burnham" and "Borham."
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Borham dates back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, compiled in 1279, a person named William de Borham is mentioned as a landowner in the village of Sharnbrook.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Borham. In the 15th century, John Borham was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London. He served as the Sheriff of London in 1463 and played a significant role in the city's governance.
Another notable figure was Richard Borham, a clergyman and academic who lived in the 16th century. Born in Bedfordshire around 1510, he studied at Oxford University and later became the rector of Eastwick, a village in Hertfordshire.
In the 17th century, a man named Thomas Borham gained recognition as a skilled architect and surveyor. He was involved in the rebuilding of several churches in London after the Great Fire of 1666, including St. Andrew Undershaft and St. Mary Aldermanbury.
During the 18th century, a family by the name of Borham owned and operated a successful brewery in the town of Royston, located in the county of Hertfordshire. The Borham Brewery was a prominent local business and contributed to the town's economy for several generations.
In the 19th century, William Borham, born in 1823 in Bedfordshire, became a respected artist and engraver. His works included illustrations for various publications and were highly regarded for their intricate detail and technical skill.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Borham surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 65 Borhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 65 | 3.35x |
| Essex | 56 | 14.62x |
| Suffolk | 30 | 12.69x |
| Somerset | 7 | 2.24x |
| Sussex | 7 | 2.14x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.31x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.53x |
| Kent | 4 | 0.60x |
| Leicestershire | 4 | 1.86x |
| Hertfordshire | 3 | 2.24x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.13x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.35x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.53x |
| Oxfordshire | 2 | 1.67x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.38x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.34x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Maplestead in Essex leads with 17 Borhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 6538.46x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Borham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Sarah | 13 |
| Elizabeth | 10 |
| Mary | 10 |
| Emily | 6 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Hannah | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Agnes | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Theresa | 2 |
| A. | 1 |
| Asenath | 1 |
| Charlott | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Deborah | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Epzabah | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Hilda | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lavinia | 1 |
| Lizzy | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Maude | 1 |
| Mercy | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Norah | 1 |
| Pheb.Asenath | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rosanna | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Sara | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Borham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Borham households.
FAQ
In 1881, 199 people were recorded with the Borham surname. That placed it at #12,880 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016. That gives Borham a modern rank of #34,163.
Possibly a locational surname derived from a place name incorporating the Old English elements "bor" (dweller) and "ham" (homestead).
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Borham bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.