UK surname
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Bōsa's stick," likely referring to a boundary marker.
In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Bostick surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 31, ranked #35,942, down from #18,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Bulwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bostick is 109 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.6%.
1881 census count
109
Ranked #18,793
Modern count
31
2016, ranked #35,942
Peak year
1881
109 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bostick surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bostick surname density by area, 1881 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 | 52 | #23,915 |
| 1861 | historical | 98 | #21,388 |
| 1881 | historical | 109 | #18,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 78 | #27,035 |
| 1901 | historical | 46 | #29,047 |
| 1911 | historical | 44 | #28,454 |
| 1997 | modern | 37 | #33,964 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 38 | #34,146 |
| 2001 | modern | 38 | #34,004 |
| 2002 | modern | 37 | #34,390 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 31 | #35,260 |
| 2006 | modern | 30 | #35,526 |
| 2007 | modern | 33 | #35,461 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 30 | #35,967 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 29 | #36,058 |
| 2015 | modern | 30 | #35,979 |
| 2016 | modern | 31 | #35,942 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Bulwell and St George the Martyr. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Bulwell | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bostick 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 Bostick, 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 Bostick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bostick 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, Bostick 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 Bostick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bostick, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bostick is believed to have originated in England. It is derived from the Old English words "bosc" meaning a bush or thicket, and "toc" meaning a piece of land. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a bushy area or wooded land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bostick dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bostoc". This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in parts of England.
In the 13th century, the name was also found in various forms such as "Bostoke" and "Bostocc" in medieval records from counties like Norfolk and Suffolk. These areas were known for their dense woodlands, further supporting the connection between the name and its meaning.
The Bostick surname has been present in various parts of England for centuries. One notable figure was Sir John Bostick, who lived in the late 15th century and served as a member of the King's Council during the reign of Henry VII.
Another early record of the name is found in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a Thomas Bostick was recorded as being born in 1612.
In the 17th century, the Bostick family established themselves in the county of Lancashire, where they were landowners and prominent members of the local community. One member, Robert Bostick (1642-1718), served as a magistrate and was known for his involvement in local affairs.
During the 18th century, the Bostick name gained recognition in literary circles with the writer and poet Mary Bostick (1726-1798), who published several works of poetry and prose that were well-received in her time.
As the centuries progressed, the Bostick name continued to spread across various regions of England, with families settling in areas like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. This dispersion also led to variations in spelling, such as "Bostick", "Bostwick", and "Bostock".
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bostick 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 42 Bosticks recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.31x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | 42 | 29.31x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 1.50x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.79x |
| Surrey | 10 | 1.93x |
| Derbyshire | 8 | 4.81x |
| Leicestershire | 7 | 5.94x |
| Devon | 6 | 2.71x |
| Bedfordshire | 3 | 5.45x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.85x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.26x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 2.49x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.59x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.00x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkby In Ashfield in Nottinghamshire leads with 25 Bosticks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1633.99x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkby In Ashfield | 25 | 1633.99x |
| Bulwell | 11 | 352.56x |
| Bethnal Green London | 8 | 17.32x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 8 | 37.40x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 7 | 24.36x |
| Glossop Dale | 6 | 77.02x |
| Prescot | 6 | 263.16x |
| Stoke Damerel | 6 | 38.73x |
| Westminster St John | 5 | 38.61x |
| Sturton | 4 | 2105.26x |
| Bedford St Paul | 3 | 79.37x |
| Ellel | 3 | 461.54x |
| Chesterfield | 2 | 32.05x |
| Congleton | 2 | 49.38x |
| Elswick | 2 | 15.85x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 5.40x |
| Gresford Gwersyllt | 1 | 80.00x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.08x |
| Little Bolton | 1 | 6.17x |
| North Hyckeham | 1 | 588.24x |
| Oundle | 1 | 89.29x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.56x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.76x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 9.54x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 17.18x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bostick 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 Bostick 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 Bostick households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 22 |
| Coal Miner | 9 |
| Cotton Weaver | 5 |
| At Baking Powder Factory | 2 |
| F W Knitter | 2 |
| Housewife | 2 |
| Labrour | 2 |
| Menagerie Manager | 2 |
| Plasterer | 2 |
| ((Servant)) | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Box Maker | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Serv | 1 |
| Farmer (30 Ac) | 1 |
| Gen Dealer | 1 |
| General Shop | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Hosiery Mender | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Joiner & Builder Emp 1 Man | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Menagerie Proprietress | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Night Coffee Stall Keeper | 1 |
| Saleswoman | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Silk Winder | 1 |
| Stone Quarry Man | 1 |
| Tailoress (Army Clothes Stores) | 1 |
| Tinker (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Workhouse Cook (Dom) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Bostick surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 31 in 2016. That gives Bostick a modern rank of #35,942.
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Bōsa's stick," likely referring to a boundary marker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bostick 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.