NameCensus.

UK surname

Boswell

From a place name meaning "Bosse's spring or stream," derived from the Old English personal name "Bosse" combined with "well."

In the 1881 census there were 2,800 people recorded with the Boswell surname, ranking it #1,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,170, ranked #1,305, up from #1,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, West Lindsey and Wyre Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boswell is 5,267 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.6%.

1881 census count

2,800

Ranked #1,593

Modern count

5,170

2016, ranked #1,305

Peak year

2010

5,267 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boswell had 2,800 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,170 in 2016, ranked #1,305.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,692 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boswell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boswell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boswell 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 1,523 #1,882
1861 historical 1,453 #1,951
1881 historical 2,800 #1,593
1891 historical 2,987 #1,574
1901 historical 3,692 #1,519
1911 historical 3,678 #1,421
1997 modern 4,890 #1,338
1998 modern 5,066 #1,343
1999 modern 5,129 #1,333
2000 modern 5,106 #1,332
2001 modern 5,017 #1,320
2002 modern 5,143 #1,318
2003 modern 5,028 #1,311
2004 modern 4,952 #1,328
2005 modern 4,878 #1,333
2006 modern 4,945 #1,321
2007 modern 4,992 #1,323
2008 modern 5,004 #1,328
2009 modern 5,143 #1,323
2010 modern 5,267 #1,320
2011 modern 5,154 #1,331
2012 modern 5,140 #1,306
2013 modern 5,196 #1,319
2014 modern 5,211 #1,318
2015 modern 5,166 #1,314
2016 modern 5,170 #1,305

Geography

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Where Boswells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, London parishes, Edinburgh, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Olney, Lavendon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, West Lindsey and Wyre Forest. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Olney, Lavendon Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 013 Pembrokeshire
2 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey
3 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire
4 West Lindsey 006 West Lindsey
5 Wyre Forest 013 Wyre Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boswell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boswell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Boswell, 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 Boswell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Boswell 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Boswell is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boswell is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boswell falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Boswell

The surname Boswell is of Scottish origin, originating from the lands of Bosseville or Bosville in Berwickshire, Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bos" meaning a dwelling or house, and "vill" meaning a farm or village, essentially translating to "farm dwelling."

The name can be traced back to the 12th century, with records indicating that a family bearing the name resided in the lands of Bosseville during that period. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, including a "Walter de Bosevill."

In the 13th century, the spelling of the name varied, with forms such as "Bosvile," "Bosewell," and "Boswell" being used. The Boswell family eventually established themselves as landowners and played a significant role in the history of the Scottish Borders region.

One notable member of the Boswell family was Sir Alexander Boswell (1775-1822), a Scottish song collector and editor who published a collection of Scottish ballads and songs. Another prominent figure was James Boswell (1740-1795), a Scottish biographer and diarist best known for his biography of Samuel Johnson, titled "The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.," published in 1791.

The Boswells also had a presence in England, with Sir William Boswell (1504-1592) serving as the English ambassador to the Netherlands and later as the Secretary of State under Queen Elizabeth I. Another member of the family, Sir William Boswell (1578-1650), was a Member of Parliament and a supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Boswell surname was in 1635 when Thomas Boswell settled in Virginia. The name also appears in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the late 17th century.

Throughout history, the Boswell surname has been associated with various professions, including writers, politicians, military leaders, and landowners. While the name originated in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, though its roots can be traced back to the ancient lands of Bosseville in the Scottish Borders.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boswell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boswell 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 302 Boswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 302 1.10x
Warwickshire 229 3.31x
Lancashire 226 0.69x
Surrey 198 1.48x
Staffordshire 151 1.63x
Sussex 128 2.77x
Cheshire 126 2.08x
Worcestershire 125 3.49x
Northamptonshire 112 4.34x
Yorkshire 111 0.41x
Lincolnshire 105 2.39x
Kent 77 0.82x
Hampshire 73 1.30x
Midlothian 58 1.58x
Norfolk 55 1.30x
Fife 49 3.02x
Oxfordshire 49 2.89x
Buckinghamshire 48 2.89x
Derbyshire 47 1.09x
Lanarkshire 45 0.51x
Durham 41 0.50x
Hertfordshire 35 1.85x
Nottinghamshire 33 0.89x
Gloucestershire 30 0.56x
Essex 27 0.50x
Leicestershire 26 0.85x
Ayrshire 24 1.17x
Somerset 23 0.52x
Flintshire 21 2.85x
Devon 19 0.33x
Monmouthshire 18 0.91x
Berkshire 17 0.83x
Angus 15 0.59x
Cumberland 15 0.64x
Pembrokeshire 13 1.49x
Dorset 12 0.67x
Huntingdonshire 12 2.20x
Clackmannanshire 10 4.41x
Glamorgan 10 0.21x
Bedfordshire 9 0.63x
Northumberland 8 0.20x
Perthshire 8 0.65x
Shropshire 8 0.34x
Herefordshire 7 0.62x
Isle of Man 7 1.37x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.24x
Cornwall 6 0.19x
Stirlingshire 6 0.59x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.29x
Cardiganshire 5 0.75x
Suffolk 5 0.15x
Anglesey 3 0.62x
Kinross-shire 3 4.33x
Channel Islands 2 0.25x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.27x
East Lothian 2 0.55x
Royal Navy 2 0.61x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.16x
Renfrewshire 1 0.05x
Roxburghshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 63 Boswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.73x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 63 2.73x
West Bromwich 42 7.92x
Heaton Norris 39 21.05x
Newington 39 3.85x
Olney 39 170.08x
Aston 35 1.84x
Mile End Old Town London 34 5.82x
Bethnal Green London 33 2.77x
Shoreditch London 31 2.61x
Islington London 30 1.13x
Louth 29 28.85x
Toxteth Park 29 2.63x
Evesham St Lawrence 28 147.14x
Oldbury 28 15.89x
Dunfermline 27 10.81x
Snitterfield 24 313.73x
Camberwell 23 1.31x
Deptford St Paul 23 3.19x
Kensington London 23 1.51x
Northampton Priory St 22 14.21x
Braunston 21 208.54x
Hawarden 21 36.25x
Neithrop 21 36.89x
St Pancras London 21 0.95x
Manchester 20 1.37x
Bishopwearmouth 19 2.71x
Stoke Upon Trent 19 1.94x
Wootton Wawen 19 87.20x
Eastbourne 18 8.46x
Kingsthorpe 18 62.76x
Bermondsey 17 2.08x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 17 1.15x
Govan 17 0.77x
Over 17 27.62x
Lambeth 16 0.67x
Ecclesall Bierlow 14 2.53x
Midhurst 14 92.35x
Rowley Regis 14 5.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 2.54x
Enfield 13 7.22x
Heigham 13 5.74x
Saline 13 144.61x
Warwick St Mary 13 21.65x
Wolverhampton 13 1.83x
Blackburn 12 1.39x
Bramhall 12 47.85x
Brighton 12 1.29x
Lea Ashton Ingol 12 55.53x
South Leith 12 2.90x
St Luke London 12 2.73x
Thorpe Next Norwich 12 26.85x
Birkenhead 11 2.28x
Broughton In Salford 11 3.70x
Chester St Oswald 11 10.03x
Cocking 11 202.58x
Evesham All Sts 11 65.91x
Great Grimsby 11 3.95x
Hertingfordbury 11 142.49x
Leeds 11 0.72x
Monks Coppenhall 11 4.81x
Old Cumnock 11 24.06x
Aberystruth 10 5.72x
Alcester 10 43.82x
Bottesford 10 308.64x
Bromley London 10 1.66x
Chapel En Le Frith 10 25.50x
Cheetham 10 4.12x
Garsington 10 174.52x
Hackney London 10 0.65x
Harborne 10 3.37x
Horncastle 10 22.09x
Leicester St Mary 10 4.07x
Rotherhithe 10 2.95x
Seaton 10 36.30x
Woolwich 10 2.89x
Dudley 9 2.07x
Great Comberton 9 454.55x
Hucknall Torkard 9 9.60x
Tormoham 9 3.73x
West Lynn 9 166.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 163
Elizabeth 97
Sarah 83
Jane 54
Ann 52
Ellen 46
Eliza 41
Alice 40
Emma 39
Emily 36
Annie 32
Hannah 31
Caroline 24
Florence 24
Charlotte 19
Harriet 18
Kate 18
Edith 17
Clara 16
Fanny 16
Louisa 16
Margaret 15
Maria 14
Ada 13
Julia 13
Anne 12
Harriett 12
Catherine 11
Rose 11
Martha 10
Lucy 9
Amelia 8
Jessie 8
Sophia 8
Susan 8
Frances 7
Matilda 7
Agnes 6
Beatrice 6
Isabella 6
Laura 6
Rebecca 6
Rosa 6
Gertrude 5
Barbara 4
Elizth. 4
Esther 4
Flora 4
Minnie 4
Henrietta 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 147
John 129
Thomas 84
George 77
James 72
Henry 64
Joseph 55
Charles 51
Edward 33
Alfred 31
Samuel 28
Arthur 27
Frederick 21
Walter 20
Albert 19
Harry 19
Richard 18
Frank 15
Ernest 12
Francis 12
Daniel 11
Edwin 11
Herbert 11
Chas. 9
Robert 9
Benjamin 7
Philip 7
Wm. 7
David 6
Joshua 6
Peter 6
Thos. 6
Sampson 5
Josiah 4
Abraham 3
Alexander 3
Eli 3
Jesse 3
Leonard 3
Mark 3
Rabbi 3
Ralph 3
Silvester 3
Willm. 3
Charley 2
Elias 2
Emanuel 2
Enos 2
Jas. 2
Job 2

FAQ

Boswell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boswell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,800 people were recorded with the Boswell surname. That placed it at #1,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boswell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,170 in 2016. That gives Boswell a modern rank of #1,305.

What does the Boswell surname mean?

From a place name meaning "Bosse's spring or stream," derived from the Old English personal name "Bosse" combined with "well."

What does the Boswell map show?

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