NameCensus.

UK surname

Botting

An occupational surname deriving from the Middle English word "bote" meaning boat, likely referring to a boatman.

In the 1881 census there were 1,126 people recorded with the Botting surname, ranking it #3,540 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,094, ranked #5,359, down from #3,540 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Brighton and Balcombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Horsham, Chichester and Mid Sussex.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Botting is 1,553 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.8%.

1881 census count

1,126

Ranked #3,540

Modern count

1,094

2016, ranked #5,359

Peak year

1911

1,553 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Botting had 1,126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,540 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,094 in 2016, ranked #5,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,553 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Botting surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Botting surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Botting 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 681 #3,816
1861 historical 552 #4,768
1881 historical 1,126 #3,540
1891 historical 1,137 #3,744
1901 historical 1,458 #3,496
1911 historical 1,553 #3,120
1997 modern 1,266 #4,500
1998 modern 1,306 #4,551
1999 modern 1,277 #4,673
2000 modern 1,253 #4,726
2001 modern 1,217 #4,747
2002 modern 1,232 #4,790
2003 modern 1,178 #4,879
2004 modern 1,182 #4,872
2005 modern 1,121 #5,058
2006 modern 1,128 #5,028
2007 modern 1,143 #5,011
2008 modern 1,137 #5,075
2009 modern 1,168 #5,059
2010 modern 1,214 #4,991
2011 modern 1,193 #5,010
2012 modern 1,121 #5,203
2013 modern 1,135 #5,230
2014 modern 1,143 #5,226
2015 modern 1,126 #5,244
2016 modern 1,094 #5,359

Geography

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Where Bottings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Brighton and Balcombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Horsham, Chichester, Mid Sussex and Wealden. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Brighton Sussex
4 Balcombe Sussex
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Horsham 009 Horsham
2 Chichester 006 Chichester
3 Mid Sussex 007 Mid Sussex
4 Wealden 009 Wealden
5 Horsham 007 Horsham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Botting

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Botting

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Botting surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Botting household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Botting is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Botting is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Botting

The surname Botting is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "botung," which means a dwelling or a small settlement. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to identify someone who lived in a particular hamlet or village.

One of the earliest known records of the surname Botting can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Botingis," which is likely a variant spelling of the modern Botting.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Botting has appeared in various historical documents and records, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Bottinge, Botyn, and Botyngge. These variations were common during the Middle Ages, as spelling was not standardized, and names were often recorded phonetically.

One notable individual with the surname Botting was John Botting, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the city of Bristol and owned several properties in the area. Another early bearer of the name was William Botting, a farmer from the village of Steyning in Sussex, who was mentioned in parish records dating back to the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name Botting was associated with several places, such as Botting Hill in Kent and Botting Farm in Gloucestershire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, suggesting that the Botting family had established settlements or owned land in these areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Botting in North America can be traced back to the late 17th century, when a family of Bottings settled in the colony of Virginia. Over the subsequent centuries, the name spread across various regions of the United States and Canada, with notable individuals bearing the surname emerging in various fields.

Among the more famous individuals with the surname Botting was Sir Alfred Botting (1856-1936), a British civil engineer and architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Old Bailey criminal court. Another prominent figure was Ernest Botting (1891-1968), a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.

Other individuals with the surname Botting who have left their mark on history include Reginald Botting (1901-1972), a British writer and historian known for his works on the English countryside, and Dorothy Botting (1920-2017), a Canadian artist and painter renowned for her landscape paintings depicting the natural beauty of British Columbia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Botting families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Botting 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. Sussex leads with 613 Bottings recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.25x.

County Total Index
Sussex 613 33.25x
Surrey 213 4.00x
Kent 131 3.51x
Middlesex 84 0.77x
Berkshire 12 1.46x
Buckinghamshire 10 1.51x
Hampshire 9 0.40x
Warwickshire 9 0.33x
Glamorgan 8 0.42x
Yorkshire 6 0.06x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.58x
Dorset 4 0.56x
Lancashire 3 0.02x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.43x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Norfolk 2 0.12x
Anglesey 1 0.52x
Devon 1 0.04x
Durham 1 0.03x
Essex 1 0.05x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Somerset 1 0.06x
Suffolk 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 110 Bottings recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.57x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 110 29.57x
Cuckfield 52 279.27x
Lindfield 37 474.97x
Shorne 31 939.39x
Balcombe 29 881.46x
Billingshurst 27 447.02x
Horsham 27 75.40x
Slaugham 25 419.46x
Camberwell 23 3.29x
Shipley 19 454.55x
Storrington 19 375.49x
Fletching 18 218.18x
St Marylebone London 18 3.08x
Rainham 16 156.10x
Hove 15 18.54x
Lambeth 15 1.57x
Wisborough Green 15 242.33x
Ardingly 14 238.91x
Clapham 14 10.24x
Cranleigh 14 179.49x
Crawley 14 828.40x
Milton In Gravesend 12 21.45x
Nutfield 12 297.77x
Rudgwick 12 285.04x
St Pancras London 12 1.36x
Preston 10 31.07x
Sutton Valence 10 235.85x
Walmer 10 61.65x
Birmingham 9 0.98x
Clayton 9 129.50x
Dorking 9 25.15x
Kensington London 9 1.48x
Withyam 9 114.07x
Croydon 8 2.70x
East Grinstead 8 30.65x
Hackney London 8 1.30x
Hurstpierpoint 8 77.97x
Kingston On Thames 8 6.25x
Reading St Giles 8 9.93x
Stoke 8 31.82x
Upton Cum Chalvey 8 30.37x
Wiston 8 683.76x
Carshalton 7 34.33x
West Tarring 7 255.47x
Westmeston 7 573.77x
Aberdare 6 4.59x
Broadwater 6 14.19x
Guildford St Mary 6 91.60x
Henfield 6 84.75x
Leatherhead 6 44.98x
Lodsworth 6 235.29x
Nuthurst 6 196.72x
Penge 6 8.59x
Southwick 6 61.54x
St Martha 6 659.34x
Warlingham 6 138.57x
West Dean 6 218.98x
West Grinstead 6 107.91x
Woodmancote 6 461.54x
Acton 5 7.80x
Ashurst 5 602.41x
Betchworth 5 76.10x
Chertsey 5 14.52x
Enfield 5 6.97x
Hampstead London 5 2.94x
Ringmer 5 96.15x
Rusper 5 248.76x
St George Hanover Square 5 2.60x
Streatham 5 6.16x
Tonbridge 5 3.72x
West Hoathly 5 86.36x
Westminster St Margaret 5 9.48x
Albury 4 82.30x
Battersea 4 0.99x
East Chiltington 4 258.06x
Fetcham 4 224.72x
Horsted Keynes 4 93.02x
Lyndhurst 4 65.15x
St Andrewthe Less 4 5.06x
Upper Beeding 4 174.67x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 69
George 49
John 49
Henry 42
Thomas 29
James 23
Edward 21
Richard 16
Arthur 15
Harry 15
Alfred 14
Charles 12
Frederick 10
Joseph 10
Stephen 10
Frank 9
Albert 8
Walter 8
Benjamin 7
Ernest 7
Herbert 6
Robert 6
David 5
Edwin 5
Leonard 4
Abraham 3
Allen 3
Amos 3
Edgar 3
Fred 3
Michael 3
Peter 3
Ambrose 2
Cecil 2
Francis 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Horace 2
Infant 2
Lewis 2
Moses 2
Reginald 2
Samuel 2
Chas. 1
Chas.T. 1
Ehraim 1
Eli 1
Felix 1
Hugh 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Botting surname: questions and answers

How common was the Botting surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,126 people were recorded with the Botting surname. That placed it at #3,540 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Botting surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,094 in 2016. That gives Botting a modern rank of #5,359.

What does the Botting surname mean?

An occupational surname deriving from the Middle English word "bote" meaning boat, likely referring to a boatman.

What does the Botting map show?

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