NameCensus.

UK surname

Bothwell

A locational surname referring to various places in Scotland, likely derived from Gaelic meaning "dwelling place by the stream."

In the 1881 census there were 330 people recorded with the Bothwell surname, ranking it #9,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 503, ranked #9,950, down from #9,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Rutland and Forth, Braehead and Auchengray.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bothwell is 535 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.4%.

1881 census count

330

Ranked #9,088

Modern count

503

2016, ranked #9,950

Peak year

1998

535 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bothwell had 330 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 503 in 2016, ranked #9,950.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 424 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bothwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bothwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bothwell 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 251 #8,761
1861 historical 290 #8,686
1881 historical 330 #9,088
1891 historical 389 #9,085
1901 historical 424 #9,102
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 506 #9,218
1998 modern 535 #9,118
1999 modern 535 #9,175
2000 modern 524 #9,295
2001 modern 512 #9,288
2002 modern 519 #9,390
2003 modern 511 #9,338
2004 modern 502 #9,497
2005 modern 494 #9,527
2006 modern 479 #9,788
2007 modern 499 #9,574
2008 modern 492 #9,771
2009 modern 506 #9,759
2010 modern 521 #9,752
2011 modern 491 #10,094
2012 modern 498 #9,886
2013 modern 505 #9,949
2014 modern 511 #9,927
2015 modern 502 #9,972
2016 modern 503 #9,950

Geography

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Where Bothwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, London parishes and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Rutland, Forth, Braehead and Auchengray, Cove South and Harborough. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 London parishes London 3
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
2 Rutland 001 Rutland
3 Forth, Braehead and Auchengray South Lanarkshire
4 Cove South Aberdeen City
5 Harborough 003 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bothwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bothwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bothwell, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Bothwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bothwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bothwell 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

Bothwell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bothwell falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bothwell

The surname Bothwell originates from Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the place name Bothwell, which is a town situated in South Lanarkshire, near the city of Glasgow. The name Bothwell itself is believed to come from the Gaelic words "both" meaning "a dwelling" and "well" referring to a spring or stream, suggesting that the name refers to a settlement built near a well or water source.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bothwell surname appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of historical documents containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence. The Ragman Rolls mention a "Walter de Bothwell" from the town of Bothwell.

The Bothwell family was influential in Scotland during the medieval period. One notable member was James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell (1536-1578), who was a Scottish nobleman and the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Bothwell played a significant role in the turbulent events surrounding Mary's reign, including her forced abdication and imprisonment.

Another prominent figure with the Bothwell surname was Adam Bothwell (1527-1593), who was a Scottish reformer and Protestant theologian. He was a prominent figure during the Scottish Reformation and served as the minister of the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh.

In the 16th century, the Bothwell family had strong ties to the town of Bothwell, and their name was associated with the Bothwell Castle, a medieval fortress located near the town. The castle played a role in several significant historical events, including the Wars of Scottish Independence and the Jacobite Risings.

Other notable individuals with the Bothwell surname include:

1. Francis Bothwell (1599-1654), a Scottish minister and Principal of the University of Edinburgh. 2. John Bothwell (1585-1637), a Scottish theologian and writer who served as the minister of Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh. 3. William Bothwell (1654-1707), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. 4. Thomas Bothwell (1744-1823), a Scottish-born American soldier who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. 5. James Bothwell (1822-1886), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry and founded the town of Bothwell, Ontario, in Canada.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bothwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bothwell 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 118 Bothwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.58x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 118 39.58x
Lanarkshire 56 5.38x
Middlesex 31 0.96x
Angus 26 8.72x
Lancashire 16 0.42x
Surrey 13 0.83x
Devon 11 1.64x
Ayrshire 10 4.15x
Renfrewshire 10 4.01x
Yorkshire 7 0.22x
Durham 6 0.63x
Kincardineshire 6 15.31x
Monmouthshire 5 2.15x
Suffolk 3 0.77x
Wiltshire 3 1.05x
Lincolnshire 2 0.39x
Sussex 2 0.37x
Cornwall 1 0.27x
Cumberland 1 0.36x
Midlothian 1 0.23x
Somerset 1 0.19x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 45 Bothwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.67x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 45 80.67x
Aberdeen Old Machar 31 49.81x
Barony 26 9.87x
Govan 18 6.99x
Inverurie 11 326.41x
Topsham 10 316.46x
Kilwinning 9 115.68x
St Pancras London 9 3.47x
Finchley 8 64.83x
New Deer 8 148.15x
North Meols 8 21.40x
Abroath St Vigeans 7 569.11x
Liff Benvie 7 15.46x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 10.81x
Banchory Devenick 6 163.93x
Brechin 6 51.19x
Halifax 6 12.81x
Houghton Le Spring 5 75.53x
Keithhall 5 510.20x
Lambeth 5 1.78x
Port Glasgow 5 41.46x
St Vigeans 5 31.06x
St Woollos 5 19.25x
Cambusnethan 3 12.98x
Dalserf 3 28.87x
Hamilton 3 10.33x
Hammersmith London 3 3.78x
Horningsham 3 333.33x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 22.56x
Kintore 3 115.83x
Newhills 3 49.18x
Bothwell 2 7.08x
Burnley 2 6.22x
Cathcart 2 14.81x
Hackney London 2 1.11x
Islington London 2 0.64x
Meldrum 2 79.68x
Paddington London 2 1.69x
Skene 2 101.01x
Tullynessle Forbes 2 183.49x
West Greenock 2 4.47x
Ballantrae 1 62.89x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.30x
Bourtie 1 196.08x
Brighton 1 0.91x
Coventry St Michael 1 3.83x
Dawdon 1 8.49x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.58x
Ellon 1 24.39x
Glasgow 1 0.54x
Great Hale 1 128.21x
Harefield 1 60.24x
Hastings St Leonards 1 12.53x
High Bickington 1 131.58x
Hornsey 1 2.46x
Hulme 1 1.25x
Huntly 1 20.62x
Kensington London 1 0.56x
Langfield 1 17.92x
Liverpool 1 0.43x
Lochee 1 37.59x
Methlick 1 41.84x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.46x
Oyne 1 94.34x
Paisley Middle Church 1 6.89x
Pendleton In Salford 1 2.20x
Salford 1 0.89x
Sennen 1 123.46x
St Benedict Lincoln 1 144.93x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.76x
Turriff 1 20.79x
Walcot 1 3.62x
Walton On Hill 1 4.83x
Wimbledon 1 5.68x
Workington 1 6.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Charlotte 4
Margaret 4
Sarah 4
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Isabella 2
(Mrs) 1
Agnes 1
Agness 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Margret 1
Octavia 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 9
George 8
John 5
Frederick 4
William 3
Edward 2
Hugh 2
Robert 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Calvert 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Ethelbert 1
Joseph 1
Kirk 1
Luke 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Bothwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bothwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 330 people were recorded with the Bothwell surname. That placed it at #9,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bothwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 503 in 2016. That gives Bothwell a modern rank of #9,950.

What does the Bothwell surname mean?

A locational surname referring to various places in Scotland, likely derived from Gaelic meaning "dwelling place by the stream."

What does the Bothwell map show?

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