NameCensus.

UK surname

Bosley

Derived from a place name meaning "Bosel's clearing" in Old English, referring to a person from that location.

In the 1881 census there were 700 people recorded with the Bosley surname, ranking it #5,189 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,065, ranked #5,486, down from #5,189 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Vale of White Horse, Monmouthshire and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bosley is 1,184 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.1%.

1881 census count

700

Ranked #5,189

Modern count

1,065

2016, ranked #5,486

Peak year

1998

1,184 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bosley had 700 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,189 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,065 in 2016, ranked #5,486.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,091 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bosley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bosley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bosley 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 503 #4,971
1861 historical 444 #5,826
1881 historical 700 #5,189
1891 historical 860 #4,765
1901 historical 945 #4,951
1911 historical 1,091 #4,253
1997 modern 1,117 #4,999
1998 modern 1,184 #4,936
1999 modern 1,158 #5,077
2000 modern 1,142 #5,105
2001 modern 1,107 #5,142
2002 modern 1,138 #5,135
2003 modern 1,102 #5,176
2004 modern 1,086 #5,246
2005 modern 1,074 #5,238
2006 modern 1,048 #5,357
2007 modern 1,050 #5,391
2008 modern 1,050 #5,433
2009 modern 1,068 #5,461
2010 modern 1,080 #5,517
2011 modern 1,063 #5,530
2012 modern 1,077 #5,383
2013 modern 1,076 #5,484
2014 modern 1,093 #5,426
2015 modern 1,083 #5,418
2016 modern 1,065 #5,486

Geography

Back to top

Where Bosleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford and Ledbury (except for Parkhold), Donnington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Vale of White Horse, Monmouthshire, South Oxfordshire and West Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford Somerset
5 Ledbury (except for Parkhold), Donnington Herefordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Vale of White Horse 015 Vale of White Horse
2 Monmouthshire 003 Monmouthshire
3 South Oxfordshire 012 South Oxfordshire
4 West Somerset 003 West Somerset
5 West Somerset 004 West Somerset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bosley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bosley

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bosley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bosley 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bosley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bosley 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

Bosley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bosley

The surname Bosley is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name Bosley, a village in the county of Cheshire, England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "bor" meaning "a dwelling" and "leah" meaning "a clearing in a wood."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bosley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1199, where a person named Richard de Bosledon is mentioned. This early spelling variation, "Bosledon," reflects the evolution of the name from the original place name.

The Bosley surname also appears in the Cartulary of Dieulacres Abbey, a medieval monastic record from Staffordshire, dating back to the 13th century. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region during that time period.

Interestingly, the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England, does not contain any direct references to the surname Bosley or its variants. However, it does mention the village of Bosley itself, indicating the existence of the place name from which the surname later derived.

One notable historical figure with the surname Bosley was Sir John Bosley (c. 1465-1536), a member of the English gentry and a servant to King Henry VIII. He held the position of Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and was involved in various royal commissions during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual was Richard Bosley (1564-1624), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1619 until his death. He was known for his involvement in religious controversies of the time and his opposition to Puritanism.

In the realm of literature, Elizabeth Bosley (1720-1786) was a British poet and playwright who gained recognition for her works, including the tragedy "Calista" and the poem "The Discontented Solitary."

Moving to more recent times, Tom Bosley (1927-2010) was an American actor best known for his role as Howard Cunningham on the popular sitcom "Happy Days." He had a long and successful career in television and theater, earning numerous accolades for his performances.

Lastly, John Bosley (1944-2010) was a British actor and director who made significant contributions to the theater scene in London. He co-founded the renowned Hampstead Theatre Company and directed productions for various esteemed theater companies throughout his career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bosley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bosley 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. Berkshire leads with 132 Bosleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.64x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 132 25.64x
Somerset 111 10.06x
Middlesex 72 1.05x
Herefordshire 64 22.76x
Gloucestershire 42 3.12x
Staffordshire 36 1.56x
Surrey 36 1.08x
Warwickshire 23 1.33x
Cheshire 22 1.45x
Derbyshire 21 1.96x
Oxfordshire 20 4.72x
Glamorgan 15 1.26x
Kent 15 0.64x
Hampshire 12 0.85x
Devon 11 0.77x
Wiltshire 11 1.81x
Worcestershire 11 1.23x
Hertfordshire 7 1.48x
Suffolk 7 0.84x
Lancashire 6 0.07x
Monmouthshire 5 1.01x
Shropshire 5 0.84x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.96x
Essex 4 0.30x
Channel Islands 2 0.98x
Durham 2 0.10x
Lincolnshire 2 0.18x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 1.22x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thatcham in Berkshire leads with 35 Bosleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 441.36x.

Place Total Index
Thatcham 35 441.36x
Bosbury 23 991.38x
Bedminster 18 17.35x
Ledbury 18 186.34x
Kensington London 17 4.46x
Madeley 17 294.63x
Basildon 16 1032.26x
Brompton Ralph 16 1600.00x
Stogumber 15 513.70x
Birmingham 14 2.43x
Clotton Hoofield 12 1500.00x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 8.69x
Hartington Nether 11 1235.96x
Old Cleeve 10 253.81x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 4.07x
Walcot 10 17.01x
Ash Normandy 9 198.24x
East Woodhay 9 250.70x
Lambeth 9 1.51x
Lewknor 9 725.81x
Claines 8 32.55x
Milton 8 833.33x
Steventon 8 368.66x
Ashchurch 7 445.86x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.35x
Isleworth 7 22.96x
Roath 7 12.91x
Sandhurst 7 70.21x
St Marylebone London 7 1.91x
Wallingford St Mary Le 7 240.55x
Waltham St Lawrence 7 348.26x
Abinghall 6 952.38x
Bucklebury 6 223.88x
Bushey 6 53.33x
East Hagbourn 6 487.80x
Henley On Thames 6 69.12x
Hutton 6 740.74x
Pipe Lyde 6 1090.91x
St John Near Swansea 6 40.62x
Swindon 6 12.76x
Aston Ingham 5 543.48x
Beckenham 5 16.35x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 22.41x
Denchworth 5 943.40x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 20.32x
Hackney London 5 1.30x
Kingston 5 225.23x
Nettlebed 5 320.51x
Paddington London 5 1.98x
Stretton On Dunsmore 5 316.46x
Tavistock 5 30.75x
Bristol St James In 4 20.22x
Chieveley 4 146.52x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 12.24x
Farnham 4 15.40x
Hampstead Norris 4 123.84x
Hillingdon 4 18.30x
Kingston On Thames 4 4.98x
Kinver 4 59.97x
St Anne Soho London 4 10.21x
Wantage 4 48.72x
Aston 3 0.63x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 4.90x
Cookham 3 18.69x
Creech St Michael 3 109.09x
Halse 3 315.79x
Kempley 3 454.55x
Leyton 3 12.86x
Litchurch 3 6.94x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.06x
Milton In Gravesend 3 8.55x
Nettlecombe 3 428.57x
St Decumans Watchet 3 107.53x
Taunton St Mary 3 14.81x
Tilehurst 3 28.85x
Warminster 3 22.57x
Williton 3 81.08x
Yatton 3 697.67x
Tipton 2 2.82x
Weedon 2 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 34
Sarah 25
Ellen 16
Ann 15
Jane 13
Alice 11
Emma 11
Emily 10
Louisa 10
Annie 9
Eliza 9
Florence 9
Harriet 8
Edith 7
Kate 7
Ada 6
Caroline 6
Esther 5
Lucy 5
Bertha 4
Hannah 4
Charlotte 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
A. 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Christiana 2
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
June 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Rosehannah 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Celina 1
Elizth 1
Elizth. 1
Emiley 1
Janet 1
Jemima 1
Winniefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 38
George 28
Thomas 20
Joseph 19
Henry 16
James 16
Albert 11
Edward 11
Richard 9
Charles 8
Frederick 8
David 7
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Benjamin 5
Edwin 5
Samuel 5
Wm. 5
Frank 4
Ernest 3
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
Caleb 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
J. 2
Job 2
Jonathan 2
Mark 2
Arther 1
Bernard 1
C.Charles 1
Chas.A. 1
Christopher 1
Dennis 1
Frank. 1
Gabriel 1
Geo.Ernest 1
Isaac 1
J.R. 1
Jeremiah 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
M.G. 1
Morris 1

FAQ

Bosley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bosley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 700 people were recorded with the Bosley surname. That placed it at #5,189 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bosley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,065 in 2016. That gives Bosley a modern rank of #5,486.

What does the Bosley surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Bosel's clearing" in Old English, referring to a person from that location.

What does the Bosley map show?

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