NameCensus.

UK surname

Bosworth

A locational surname referring to any of several places in England meaning "Bosa's enclosure" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,763 people recorded with the Bosworth surname, ranking it #2,452 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,079, ranked #3,111, down from #2,452 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harborough, Kettering and Daventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bosworth is 2,573 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.9%.

1881 census count

1,763

Ranked #2,452

Modern count

2,079

2016, ranked #3,111

Peak year

1911

2,573 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bosworth had 1,763 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,452 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,079 in 2016, ranked #3,111.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,573 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bosworth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bosworth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bosworth 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 1,155 #2,443
1861 historical 1,076 #2,616
1881 historical 1,763 #2,452
1891 historical 1,877 #2,454
1901 historical 2,188 #2,466
1911 historical 2,573 #1,983
1997 modern 2,263 #2,743
1998 modern 2,383 #2,723
1999 modern 2,383 #2,741
2000 modern 2,365 #2,745
2001 modern 2,282 #2,772
2002 modern 2,336 #2,777
2003 modern 2,288 #2,765
2004 modern 2,253 #2,801
2005 modern 2,178 #2,860
2006 modern 2,181 #2,861
2007 modern 2,196 #2,869
2008 modern 2,202 #2,879
2009 modern 2,255 #2,888
2010 modern 2,259 #2,941
2011 modern 2,200 #2,971
2012 modern 2,141 #2,991
2013 modern 2,146 #3,039
2014 modern 2,128 #3,089
2015 modern 2,083 #3,124
2016 modern 2,079 #3,111

Geography

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Where Bosworths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Nottingham St Mary, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Ockbrook. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harborough, Kettering, Daventry, East Northamptonshire and Bassetlaw. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Ockbrook Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harborough 005 Harborough
2 Kettering 007 Kettering
3 Daventry 010 Daventry
4 East Northamptonshire 003 East Northamptonshire
5 Bassetlaw 003 Bassetlaw

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bosworth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bosworth

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bosworth 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

Bosworth 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

Bosworth falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bosworth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bosworth

The surname Bosworth has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "bos" and "worth," meaning "a farm or enclosure where cattle were kept." This suggests that the name originally referred to a location or settlement where cattle farming was a significant activity.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Bosworth can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Boseworth" and "Boseuurde," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname Bosworth was Richard de Bosworth, who was mentioned in records from Leicestershire in the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Bosworth (1789-1876), an English philologist and Anglo-Saxon scholar known for his seminal work, "A Dictionary of the Anglo-Saxon Language."

The name Bosworth is also closely associated with the historic Battle of Bosworth Field, which took place in 1485 and marked the end of the Wars of the Roses. This battle was fought near the village of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire, and the name Bosworth itself is derived from the Old English "Boseworth," meaning "Bosa's enclosure or farm."

Other notable individuals with the surname Bosworth include Joseph Bosworth (1789-1876), an English clergyman and Anglo-Saxon scholar; Newton Bosworth (1805-1856), an American inventor and manufacturer; and Brian Bosworth (born 1965), a former American football player and actor.

Throughout history, the surname Bosworth has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Bosworth Field, Bosworth Hall, and Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, all of which are located in Leicestershire, England. The name has also been spelled in various ways, including Bosworthe, Boswurth, and Boseworth, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bosworth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bosworth 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. Warwickshire leads with 226 Bosworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.21x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 226 5.21x
Leicestershire 219 11.48x
Northamptonshire 211 13.04x
Derbyshire 189 7.02x
Nottinghamshire 121 5.22x
Yorkshire 107 0.63x
Staffordshire 103 1.77x
Middlesex 101 0.59x
Surrey 74 0.88x
Lancashire 64 0.31x
Worcestershire 54 2.40x
Lincolnshire 47 1.71x
Essex 35 1.03x
Cambridgeshire 29 2.66x
Cheshire 27 0.71x
Huntingdonshire 25 7.32x
Bedfordshire 24 2.69x
Gloucestershire 17 0.50x
Norfolk 13 0.49x
Glamorgan 11 0.37x
Herefordshire 11 1.56x
Hampshire 8 0.23x
Rutland 7 5.54x
Shropshire 7 0.47x
Wiltshire 7 0.46x
Somerset 6 0.22x
Berkshire 3 0.23x
Oxfordshire 3 0.28x
Suffolk 3 0.14x
Sussex 3 0.10x
Devon 2 0.06x
Dorset 2 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.08x
Kent 1 0.02x
Monmouthshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 53 Bosworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.44x.

Place Total Index
Aston 53 4.44x
Nottingham St Mary 50 8.33x
Leicester St Margaret 47 10.10x
Birmingham 41 2.83x
Foleshill 37 81.05x
Ockbrook 27 236.01x
Benefield 23 827.34x
Anstey 22 291.78x
Derby St Werburgh 22 14.14x
Desborough 21 172.70x
Monks Coppenhall 21 14.65x
Church Gresley 20 46.66x
Rothwell 20 123.00x
Sheffield 20 3.68x
Little Steeping 19 1187.50x
Hunslet 18 6.77x
Daventry 17 74.24x
Great Staughton 17 256.41x
Wilne 17 275.53x
Worcester St John 17 63.34x
Nuneaton 16 31.83x
Warmington 16 394.09x
Great Malvern 15 31.99x
Kettering 15 22.91x
Welchesdam 14 1590.91x
West Derby 14 2.34x
Battersea 13 2.05x
Braybrooke 12 566.04x
Camberwell 12 1.09x
Loughborough 12 13.86x
Lutterworth 12 103.18x
Northampton Priory St 12 12.36x
Barking 11 11.07x
Castle Donnington 11 69.53x
Lenton 11 20.14x
Mansfield 11 13.71x
Northampton St Giles 11 17.84x
Shoreditch London 11 1.47x
Southwell 11 65.17x
St Pancras London 11 0.79x
Toxteth Park 11 1.59x
Heanor 10 24.82x
Islington London 10 0.60x
Kimberworth 10 10.57x
Lambeth 10 0.67x
Leicester All Sts 10 26.69x
Marston Moretaine 10 144.09x
Marton 10 454.55x
Oldham 10 1.52x
Oystermouth 10 43.14x
Wednesfield 10 11.70x
Coventry Holy Trinity 9 6.95x
Eastville 9 426.54x
Handsworth 9 19.96x
Kingswinford 9 4.27x
Long Eaton 9 25.31x
Northampton St Sepulchre 9 10.93x
Spondon 9 86.79x
Yoxall 9 117.49x
Crigglestone 8 48.72x
Holbeck 8 7.08x
Ilkeston 8 10.59x
Mile End Old Town London 8 2.18x
Monks Kirby 8 83.77x
Newton 8 5.08x
Northampton All Sts 8 14.57x
Saffron Walden 8 22.29x
Sawley 8 98.52x
St Marylebone London 8 0.87x
Warwick St Mary 8 21.24x
Willesden 8 4.93x
Wolstanton Chatterly 8 134.00x
Ashby De La Zouch 7 15.83x
Calke 7 2500.00x
Leicester St Mary 7 4.54x
Litchurch 7 6.46x
Market Harborough 7 81.21x
Marske In Guisbrough 7 23.12x
Shrewsbury St Mary 7 11.93x
Sutton St Edmunds 7 179.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 119
Sarah 74
Elizabeth 58
Ann 46
Annie 35
Eliza 32
Ellen 27
Jane 24
Alice 23
Emma 22
Emily 18
Harriet 16
Lucy 16
Ada 13
Hannah 13
Kate 13
Anne 12
Martha 12
Fanny 11
Edith 10
Florence 10
Amy 8
Catherine 8
Esther 8
Gertrude 8
Maria 8
Clara 7
Margaret 7
Selina 7
Harriett 6
Laura 6
Louisa 6
Susannah 6
Agnes 5
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Elizth. 5
Frances 5
Julia 5
Rebecca 5
Rose 5
Lizzie 4
Ruth 4
Betsy 3
Eleanor 3
Helena 3
Isabella 3
Lois 3
Sophia 3
Susan 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 115
William 105
Thomas 69
George 65
Charles 46
Henry 44
James 41
Joseph 40
Walter 23
Arthur 22
Frederick 22
Samuel 21
Harry 18
Alfred 15
Edward 15
David 14
Robert 12
Herbert 11
Albert 10
Edwin 10
Ernest 10
Fredk. 9
Richard 9
Frank 8
Reuben 7
Daniel 4
Eli 4
Rueben 4
Thos. 4
Tom 4
Abraham 3
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
Isaac 3
Jesse 3
Josiah 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Steward 2

FAQ

Bosworth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bosworth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,763 people were recorded with the Bosworth surname. That placed it at #2,452 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bosworth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,079 in 2016. That gives Bosworth a modern rank of #3,111.

What does the Bosworth surname mean?

A locational surname referring to any of several places in England meaning "Bosa's enclosure" in Old English.

What does the Bosworth map show?

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