NameCensus.

UK surname

Botham

A Anglo-Saxon surname derived from the Old English place name "Botham," meaning a settlement or homestead.

In the 1881 census there were 784 people recorded with the Botham surname, ranking it #4,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,225, ranked #4,864, down from #4,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Brampton and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Derbyshire Dales and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Botham is 1,326 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.3%.

1881 census count

784

Ranked #4,738

Modern count

1,225

2016, ranked #4,864

Peak year

1998

1,326 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Botham had 784 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,225 in 2016, ranked #4,864.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,181 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Botham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Botham surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Botham 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 588 #4,351
1861 historical 525 #4,992
1881 historical 784 #4,738
1891 historical 871 #4,716
1901 historical 993 #4,797
1911 historical 1,181 #3,966
1997 modern 1,210 #4,676
1998 modern 1,326 #4,473
1999 modern 1,312 #4,562
2000 modern 1,305 #4,561
2001 modern 1,266 #4,592
2002 modern 1,304 #4,557
2003 modern 1,243 #4,660
2004 modern 1,240 #4,671
2005 modern 1,223 #4,679
2006 modern 1,245 #4,628
2007 modern 1,246 #4,665
2008 modern 1,261 #4,633
2009 modern 1,278 #4,683
2010 modern 1,289 #4,740
2011 modern 1,272 #4,741
2012 modern 1,254 #4,727
2013 modern 1,276 #4,732
2014 modern 1,272 #4,778
2015 modern 1,249 #4,808
2016 modern 1,225 #4,864

Geography

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Where Bothams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Brampton, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, St Werburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, Derbyshire Dales, Ryedale, Derby and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Brampton Derbyshire
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 049 Manchester
2 Derbyshire Dales 009 Derbyshire Dales
3 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
4 Derby 009 Derby
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 017 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Botham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Botham

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Botham is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Botham is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Botham 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 Botham 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 Botham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Botham

The surname Botham has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 9th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words 'botl' and 'ham', which together mean 'dwelling by the building'. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was 'Botelham' in the Domesday Book of 1086, a manuscript record of a survey of much of England and parts of Wales.

In the 12th century, the name was found in various records and manuscripts, often spelled as 'Botham' or 'Boteham'. These spellings suggest that the name was associated with people who lived in places called Botham or Boteham, which were likely small settlements or hamlets.

The first recorded person with the surname Botham was William de Boteham, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1194. Another early instance of the name is Robert de Botham, who was recorded in the Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire in 1273.

During the Middle Ages, the Botham surname was found in various counties across England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Staffordshire. Some notable individuals with the name include John Botham, who was born in Yorkshire in 1460 and served as a Member of Parliament for Beverley in 1491, and Thomas Botham, born in Lincolnshire in 1542, who was a prominent landowner and local magistrate.

In the 17th century, the Botham family appeared to have settled in Lancashire, where they were involved in various trades and professions. One notable figure from this period was Richard Botham, born in 1623, who was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Preston in 1679.

Another significant individual with the surname Botham was Sir William Botham, born in Lancashire in 1723. He was a prominent politician and served as the Member of Parliament for Wigan from 1768 to 1790. His son, also named William Botham, was born in 1755 and followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a Member of Parliament for Wigan from 1790 to 1806.

While the surname Botham has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, as a result of migration and settlement patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Botham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Botham 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. Derbyshire leads with 247 Bothams recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.63x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 247 20.63x
Yorkshire 177 2.34x
Staffordshire 74 2.87x
Lancashire 69 0.76x
Middlesex 43 0.56x
Nottinghamshire 33 3.20x
Essex 30 1.99x
Surrey 18 0.48x
Durham 13 0.57x
Suffolk 10 1.07x
Cheshire 9 0.53x
Shropshire 8 1.21x
Anglesey 5 3.69x
Herefordshire 5 1.59x
Lanarkshire 5 0.20x
Lincolnshire 5 0.41x
Worcestershire 5 0.50x
Hampshire 4 0.26x
Leicestershire 4 0.47x
Warwickshire 4 0.21x
Kent 3 0.12x
Norfolk 3 0.26x
Northamptonshire 3 0.42x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.43x
Somerset 2 0.16x
Berkshire 1 0.17x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.32x
Dorset 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. Brampton in Derbyshire leads with 35 Bothams recorded in 1881 and an index of 209.08x.

Place Total Index
Brampton 35 209.08x
Wirksworth 28 257.12x
Tibthorpe 21 2837.84x
Youlgreave 16 462.43x
Sandiacre 14 327.87x
Broughton In Salford 12 14.46x
Chesterfield 11 24.50x
Kirkburn Battleburn 10 2564.10x
Ruswarp 10 118.62x
Ardsley 9 103.09x
Bramhall 9 128.76x
Burton Upon Trent 9 14.90x
Cromford 9 319.15x
Derby St Alkmund 9 25.08x
Derby St Werburgh 9 13.02x
Morton 9 391.30x
Moss Side 9 18.85x
Radbourne 9 1363.64x
St George Hanover Square 9 6.68x
Sudbury All Sts 9 316.90x
Basford 8 16.84x
Dronfield 8 52.15x
East Ham 8 28.55x
Everton 8 2.77x
Foston Scropton 8 579.71x
Halstead 8 45.43x
Newton 8 11.44x
Gorton 7 8.21x
Paddington London 7 2.49x
Thornton In Pocklington 7 1707.32x
West Ham 7 2.10x
Wrockwardine 7 48.18x
Anslow 6 600.00x
Braintree 6 44.25x
Clayton 6 32.35x
Derby St Michael 6 239.04x
Doveridge 6 329.67x
Great Driffield 6 38.59x
Kensington London 6 1.41x
Marston Upon Dove 6 155.84x
Pickering 6 62.89x
Shoreditch London 6 1.81x
Southcoates 6 14.26x
West Derby 6 2.26x
Alfreton 5 13.74x
Amlwch 5 39.19x
Beverley St Martin 5 39.53x
Brimington 5 55.01x
Burton Extra 5 33.78x
Cauldon 5 588.24x
Crook Billy Row 5 17.16x
Dalziel 5 18.79x
Gradley 5 103.73x
Hartlepool 5 15.46x
Holy Trinity 5 2.74x
Islington London 5 0.67x
Kingswinford 5 5.33x
Lambeth 5 0.75x
Lichfield St Chad 5 86.06x
Liverpool 5 0.91x
Newington 5 1.77x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.88x
Redbourne 5 520.83x
Rotherham 5 11.70x
Sheffield 5 2.07x
Skipsea 5 480.77x
Stapleford 5 59.74x
Watton 5 595.24x
Whittington 5 30.18x
Wombwell 5 22.62x
Woodmansey Cum Beverley 5 352.11x
Barton Under Needwood 4 85.29x
Caverswall 4 29.81x
Church Gresley 4 21.00x
Dale Abbey 4 373.83x
Fulham London 4 3.61x
Middlesbrough 4 4.05x
Newbold Dunston 4 35.15x
Nuthall 4 103.36x
Offcote Underwood 4 320.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 46
Sarah 34
Elizabeth 32
Ann 22
Hannah 20
Annie 18
Alice 14
Eliza 13
Emily 12
Jane 12
Emma 11
Margaret 7
Harriet 6
Martha 6
Ada 5
Charlotte 5
Louisa 5
Amelia 4
Caroline 4
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Agnes 3
Ellen 3
Frances 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Matilda 3
Allice 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Elizh. 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Lydia 2
Minnie 2
Adeline 1
Betty 1
Eleanor 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Hetty 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 53
William 52
George 30
Thomas 26
Charles 18
Henry 17
Joseph 16
James 15
Richard 14
Arthur 12
Robert 12
Alfred 10
Frank 7
Harry 7
David 6
Frederick 6
Herbert 6
Samuel 6
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Albert 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Eli 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Hugh 2
Hy. 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Willie 2
Alan 1
Allan 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.White 1
Harrold 1
Johnathan 1
Josh 1
Josiah 1
Leo. 1
Matthew 1
Milner 1
Wm.Robt. 1

FAQ

Botham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Botham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 784 people were recorded with the Botham surname. That placed it at #4,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Botham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,225 in 2016. That gives Botham a modern rank of #4,864.

What does the Botham surname mean?

A Anglo-Saxon surname derived from the Old English place name "Botham," meaning a settlement or homestead.

What does the Botham map show?

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