NameCensus.

UK surname

Bos

A Dutch toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a forest or wooded area.

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Bos surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 181, ranked #20,955, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Surrey Heath, Stoke-on-Trent and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bos is 181 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1911.1%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

181

2016, ranked #20,955

Peak year

2016

181 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bos had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016, ranked #20,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bos surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bos surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bos 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 13 #30,970
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 146 #22,202
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 132 #23,230
2002 modern 132 #23,680
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 115 #25,740
2005 modern 121 #24,947
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 177 #20,874
2012 modern 163 #21,989
2013 modern 179 #21,028
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 180 #20,997
2016 modern 181 #20,955

Geography

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Where Bos' 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 Surrey Heath, Stoke-on-Trent, Charnwood, Mendip and Wealden. 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 Surrey Heath 006 Surrey Heath
2 Stoke-on-Trent 001 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Charnwood 007 Charnwood
4 Mendip 007 Mendip
5 Wealden 007 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bos

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bos

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Bos surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bos 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Bos is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bos 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

Bos falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bos

The surname "Bos" is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the Dutch word "bos," which means "forest" or "woods." The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a forested area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Bos" can be found in a Dutch census record from the year 1248, which mentions a "Jan van den Bos" residing in the town of Dordrecht. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the 13th century.

In the late 14th century, a nobleman named Dirk Bos (1350-1418) is mentioned in several historical texts as a prominent figure in the Hoekse and Kabeljauwse Wars, a series of conflicts between rival political factions in Holland. Dirk Bos is noted for his role as a military commander and his involvement in various battles and sieges during this tumultuous period.

The name "Bos" also appears in the famous Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry "Bos" is listed among the tenants in the county of Norfolk, suggesting that individuals bearing this surname had already made their way to England by the late 11th century.

Another notable figure with the surname "Bos" was the Dutch painter Hieronymus Bos (1550-1628), who was renowned for his religious and allegorical paintings during the Dutch Golden Age. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across Europe, and he is considered a significant contributor to the development of Dutch art in the 16th and 17th centuries.

In the 18th century, the Dutch botanist Lambertus Bos (1670-1717) gained recognition for his contributions to the study of plant life. He is particularly known for his work on the classification and description of various plant species found in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia).

Over the centuries, the surname "Bos" has also been spelled in various ways, such as "Bosch," "Bossche," and "Bosschaert," reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. These alternative spellings can be found in historical records and documents from different parts of the Netherlands and neighboring regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bos families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bos 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 Bos' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.85x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 3.85x
Fife 1 21.65x
Hampshire 1 6.25x
Kent 1 3.76x
Northamptonshire 1 13.62x
Sussex 1 7.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 2 Bos' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.46x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 2 26.46x
Bridewell Precinct London 1 10000.00x
Burntisland 1 769.23x
Deal 1 434.78x
Eastbourne 1 163.93x
Portsea 1 31.95x
Warkworth 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Frances 1
Johanna 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1
Ian 1
John 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 Bos households.

FAQ

Bos surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bos surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Bos surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bos surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016. That gives Bos a modern rank of #20,955.

What does the Bos surname mean?

A Dutch toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a forest or wooded area.

What does the Bos map show?

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