NameCensus.

UK surname

Bosanko

A surname of Croatian origin, meaning "short or small person".

In the 1881 census there were 139 people recorded with the Bosanko surname, ranking it #16,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 170, ranked #21,801, down from #16,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Illogan and Wendron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bosanko is 189 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.3%.

1881 census count

139

Ranked #16,228

Modern count

170

2016, ranked #21,801

Peak year

1998

189 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bosanko had 139 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016, ranked #21,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 178 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Bosanko surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bosanko surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bosanko 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 90 #22,312
1881 historical 139 #16,228
1891 historical 178 #16,264
1901 historical 155 #17,704
1911 historical 89 #23,922
1997 modern 186 #18,448
1998 modern 189 #18,737
1999 modern 187 #18,999
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 171 #19,770
2002 modern 181 #19,463
2003 modern 172 #19,893
2004 modern 177 #19,662
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 171 #20,131
2007 modern 170 #20,471
2008 modern 167 #20,901
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 170 #21,560
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 166 #21,683
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 173 #21,639
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 170 #21,801

Geography

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Where Bosankos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Illogan, Wendron, Gwennap and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf and Copeland. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 Wendron Cornwall
4 Gwennap Cornwall
5 Camborne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 010 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Copeland 008 Copeland
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 014 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 007 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 026 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bosanko

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bosanko

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Bosanko surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bosanko household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Bosanko is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

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

Bosanko is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bosanko falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bosanko 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bosanko

The surname Bosanko has its origins in Cornwall, England, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Cornish place name "Bosvennen," which means "dwelling by the mine." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname lived near a mine or were involved in mining activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bosanko name can be found in the parish records of Gwennap, Cornwall, in the late 1500s. Over the centuries, various spellings were used, including Bosvennen, Bosvennan, and Bosvennon, before settling on the current form, Bosanko.

The Bosanko family played a significant role in the mining industry of Cornwall, with several members holding influential positions in local mining companies and organizations. One notable figure was John Bosanko (1788-1860), a prominent mining agent and purser who worked for several notable mining companies in the region.

Another individual of note was William Bosanko (1804-1881), a Cornish mining engineer and entrepreneur who helped establish several successful mining ventures in Cornwall and South Australia. His contributions to the mining industry and his entrepreneurial spirit made him a respected figure in both regions.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, as many Cornish miners and their families sought opportunities abroad, the Bosanko name spread to various parts of the world, particularly to mining communities in Australia, New Zealand, and North America. One such example is Richard Bosanko (1805-1886), a Cornish miner who immigrated to South Australia in the 1830s and became a prominent figure in the local mining community.

In addition to their involvement in mining, the Bosanko family also produced notable figures in other fields. For instance, Robert Bosanko (1841-1912) was a distinguished British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Throughout its history, the Bosanko surname has been closely associated with the mining industry and the Cornish heritage. While its origins can be traced back to a specific region in Cornwall, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of individuals who have contributed to various industries and communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bosanko families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bosanko 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. Cornwall leads with 110 Bosankos recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.67x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 110 71.67x
Durham 19 4.71x
Cumberland 5 4.28x
Middlesex 2 0.15x
Gloucestershire 1 0.38x
Warwickshire 1 0.29x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camborne in Cornwall leads with 40 Bosankos recorded in 1881 and an index of 632.91x.

Place Total Index
Camborne 40 632.91x
Wendron 24 1126.76x
Ryhope 17 607.14x
Gwennap 11 379.31x
Illogan 10 246.31x
Sithney 7 451.61x
St Just In Penwith 6 201.34x
Millom 5 139.66x
Roche 5 641.03x
Marazion 3 1666.67x
Bishopwearmouth 2 5.78x
Aston 1 1.06x
Bristol St Augustine 1 23.31x
Kensington London 1 1.33x
Paddington London 1 2.01x
Redruth 1 23.04x
St Buryan 1 158.73x
St Clement 1 62.50x
St Endellion 1 188.68x
Wombwell 1 25.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 6
Grace 5
Jane 5
Eliza 4
Edith 3
Sarah 3
Susan 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Bessie 2
Martha 2
A. 1
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Buritta 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Jacobah 1
Johanna 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mahala 1
Margaret 1
Marguerita 1
Mariam 1
Nanny 1
Phillpa 1
Priscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Selena 1
Ursila 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 9
Thomas 6
Henry 3
James 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Fredrick 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Alxr. 1
George 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Simon 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bosanko surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bosanko surname in 1881?

In 1881, 139 people were recorded with the Bosanko surname. That placed it at #16,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bosanko surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016. That gives Bosanko a modern rank of #21,801.

What does the Bosanko surname mean?

A surname of Croatian origin, meaning "short or small person".

What does the Bosanko map show?

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