UK surname
A Dutch toponymic surname indicating an origin near a woods, forest, or bushy area.
In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Bost surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #30,609 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hitcham, Brettenham, Wingfield and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bost is 101 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.1%.
1881 census count
21
Ranked #30,609
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
101 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bost surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bost surname density by area, 1861 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 101 | #20,955 |
| 1881 | historical | 21 | #30,609 |
| 1891 | historical | 57 | #29,533 |
| 1901 | historical | 35 | #30,194 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hitcham, Brettenham, Wingfield, St Pancras, Bawburgh, Bowthorpe and Glasgow. 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 | Hitcham, Brettenham | Suffolk |
| 2 | Wingfield | Suffolk |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Bawburgh, Bowthorpe | Norfolk |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bost 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 Bost, 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 Bost surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bost 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, Bost 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 Bost is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bost, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BOST is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bost," which means a dwelling or a small farm. This suggests that the name may have been used to identify individuals who lived on a small farm or homestead.
The surname BOST was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall in the southwestern part of England. There are several variations of the spelling, including BOSTE, BOSTES, and BOAST, which can be found in historical records from these regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BOST can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which was a census-like record of landowners in England. The Hundred Rolls mention a certain "Willelmus Bost" who held land in Somerset.
In the 14th century, the surname BOST appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which were tax records. These rolls list several individuals with the surname BOST, including "Johannes Bost" from Devon and "Robertus Bost" from Somerset.
During the 16th century, the surname BOST was found in various Parish Registers and other historical documents. One notable individual was William Bost, who was born in Somerset around 1520 and served as a member of the local gentry.
In the 17th century, a certain Thomas Bost (1612-1678) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol, located in the county of Somerset. His descendants continued to use the BOST surname for several generations.
Another notable figure was John Bost (1720-1792), who was a successful farmer and landowner in the village of Chittlehampton, Devon. He played an important role in the local community and served as a church warden for several years.
In the 19th century, a well-known individual with the surname BOST was Sir Robert Bost (1825-1899), who was a successful businessman and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and used his wealth to support various charitable causes in his hometown of Taunton, Somerset.
While the surname BOST is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of English heritage, with roots tracing back to the medieval period and a history deeply intertwined with the counties of southwestern England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bost 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. Lanarkshire leads with 7 Bosts recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.57x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 7 | 10.57x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 9.68x |
| Surrey | 3 | 3.01x |
| Kent | 2 | 2.86x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 2.21x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 3.65x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 13.25x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 3.74x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Bosts recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.77x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 7 | 41.77x |
| Sambourn | 5 | 12500.00x |
| Newington | 3 | 39.68x |
| Chatham | 1 | 52.08x |
| Drymen | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 9.06x |
| Poulton Cum Seacombe | 1 | 192.31x |
| Redditch | 1 | 185.19x |
| Westerham | 1 | 625.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bost 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 Bost 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 Bost households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| A B R N | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Engineer (& M Maker) | 1 |
| Estate Carpenter | 1 |
| Groom Domestic | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Bost surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Bost a modern rank of #37,278.
A Dutch toponymic surname indicating an origin near a woods, forest, or bushy area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bost 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.