UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English word "burh" referring to a fortified town or village.
In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Borough surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #28,837 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sidbury, St Alkmund and Duffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borough is 140 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 70.6%.
1881 census count
34
Ranked #28,837
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1851
140 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Borough surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Borough surname density by area, 1851 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 | 95 | #21,768 |
| 1881 | historical | 34 | #28,837 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 69 | #25,965 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sidbury, St Alkmund, Duffield, Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock and London parishes. 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 | Sidbury | Devon |
| 2 | St Alkmund | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Duffield | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock | Shropshire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Borough 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 Borough, 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 Borough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Borough 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, Borough 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 Borough is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Borough, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Borough originates from England and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "burh," meaning a fortified town or borough. The name likely referred to people who lived in or were associated with a particular borough or town.
The earliest known record of the surname Borough appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Burgensis," which was the Latin form of the word "borough."
In the 12th century, the name was often spelled "Burgh" or "Burg," reflecting the different dialects and regional variations in pronunciation. By the 13th century, the spelling "Borough" became more common, and it was used consistently throughout England.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Borough was Sir John Borough, who lived in the 14th century and served as a member of the English parliament. Another notable figure was Sir John Borough, who was born in 1457 and served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1515 to 1516.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Borough surname was particularly prevalent in the English counties of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, where many towns and villages carried the name "Borough" or variations of it, such as Boroughbridge and Boroughbury.
In the 18th century, a prominent individual with the surname Borough was Sir James Borough, an English naval officer and explorer who was born in 1751 and served as the Governor of Newfoundland from 1789 to 1791.
Another notable figure was Sir Edward Borough, who was born in 1636 and served as the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1689 to 1699.
The surname Borough has also been associated with various place names throughout England, including Borough Green in Kent, Borough Fen in Cambridgeshire, and Borough Hill in Bedfordshire, further reinforcing its connection to towns and settlements.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Borough 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. Derbyshire leads with 10 Boroughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.26x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 10 | 19.26x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.52x |
| Shropshire | 4 | 13.96x |
| Dorset | 3 | 13.79x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.24x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 4.62x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.61x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 4.99x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.47x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.30x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 25.32x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 3.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Derby St Werburgh in Derbyshire leads with 6 Boroughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 200.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derby St Werburgh | 6 | 200.00x |
| Rusholme | 6 | 571.43x |
| Chetwynd | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Derby St Alkmund | 4 | 256.41x |
| Parkstone | 2 | 800.00x |
| Stourbridge | 2 | 180.18x |
| Croydon | 1 | 11.15x |
| Forcett With Carkin | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Great Bedwin | 1 | 476.19x |
| Guiseley | 1 | 238.10x |
| North Marston | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Radipole | 1 | 666.67x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 29.59x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 1 | 58.82x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 5.65x |
| Wherwell | 1 | 1666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Borough surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Borough 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 Borough households.
FAQ
In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Borough surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Borough a modern rank of #37,599.
A surname derived from the Old English word "burh" referring to a fortified town or village.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Borough 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.