NameCensus.

UK surname

Bosco

An Italian occupational surname referring to a person who worked in or owned a forest or wood.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Bosco surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillingdon, Northampton and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bosco is 118 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 833.3%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

2010

118 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bosco had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 23 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Bosco surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bosco surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bosco 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
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 23 #30,923
1997 modern 60 #31,629
1998 modern 68 #31,181
1999 modern 77 #30,427
2000 modern 73 #30,881
2001 modern 72 #30,813
2002 modern 79 #30,499
2003 modern 75 #30,994
2004 modern 79 #30,799
2005 modern 86 #30,094
2006 modern 89 #30,027
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Boscos 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 Hillingdon, Northampton, Bedford, Westminster and North Lincolnshire. 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 Hillingdon 015 Hillingdon
2 Northampton 030 Northampton
3 Bedford 009 Bedford
4 Westminster 018 Westminster
5 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bosco

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bosco

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Bosco surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bosco household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bosco is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bosco 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

Bosco falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bosco is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Bosco

The surname Bosco is of Italian origin, deriving from the Italian word "bosco" meaning "wood" or "forest." Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

In the early days, the surname Bosco was likely used to identify individuals who lived near or worked in woodlands or forests. It may have been an occupational surname for those involved in forestry, woodcutting, or related trades.

The name Bosco is found in historical records from various regions of Italy, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. One notable early mention is in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval documents from the Campania region, which includes references to individuals bearing the surname Bosco in the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bosco was Giovanni Bosco (1815-1888), an Italian Catholic priest and educator who founded the Salesian Society and dedicated his life to educating and assisting underprivileged youth. He is widely venerated as Saint John Bosco.

Another prominent figure was Umberto Bosco (1885-1958), an Italian literary critic and scholar, known for his work on Italian literature and his contributions to the study of Dante's works.

In the realm of art, the name Bosco is associated with the renowned Italian painter, draftsman, and printmaker Giuseppe Maria Crespi (1665-1747), who was also known as "Lo Spagnuolo" or "Il Bosco" due to his fondness for depicting woodland scenes.

One cannot overlook the significance of the Bosco family in the history of Italian wine. The Bosco family from Piedmont has been producing exceptional wines since the late 18th century, with their vineyards and winery playing a crucial role in the development of the Barolo wine region.

Another notable figure was Pietro Bosco (1834-1923), an Italian architect and engineer who was instrumental in the construction of several important landmarks in Turin, including the Mole Antonelliana, one of the city's most iconic buildings.

While the surname Bosco originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to Italian migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the Italian peninsula.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bosco families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bosco 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 4 Boscos recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 4 3.42x
Staffordshire 4 10.14x
Yorkshire 2 1.73x
Kent 1 2.51x
Norfolk 1 5.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Colwich in Staffordshire leads with 4 Boscos recorded in 1881 and an index of 4444.44x.

Place Total Index
Colwich 4 4444.44x
St Pancras London 4 42.51x
Sheffield 2 54.20x
Deptford St Paul 1 32.47x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
A. 1
Joey 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Howard 1
Jefferson 1
L. 1
Leopold 1
Lestard 1
Mastrilio 1
Signor 1
Walter 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 Bosco households.

FAQ

Bosco surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bosco surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Bosco surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bosco surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Bosco a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Bosco surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to a person who worked in or owned a forest or wood.

What does the Bosco map show?

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