NameCensus.

UK surname

Bottoms

Derived from a place name or a topographical feature, likely referring to someone living in a valley or dell.

In the 1881 census there were 526 people recorded with the Bottoms surname, ranking it #6,513 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 311, ranked #14,376, down from #6,513 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Whittington and Luton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Chesterfield and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bottoms is 742 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.9%.

1881 census count

526

Ranked #6,513

Modern count

311

2016, ranked #14,376

Peak year

1911

742 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bottoms had 526 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,513 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 311 in 2016, ranked #14,376.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 742 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bottoms surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bottoms surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bottoms 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 263 #8,439
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 526 #6,513
1891 historical 596 #6,422
1901 historical 623 #6,862
1911 historical 742 #5,785
1997 modern 401 #10,989
1998 modern 432 #10,737
1999 modern 414 #11,156
2000 modern 420 #10,998
2001 modern 408 #11,056
2002 modern 397 #11,497
2003 modern 388 #11,508
2004 modern 374 #11,843
2005 modern 361 #12,090
2006 modern 342 #12,652
2007 modern 325 #13,291
2008 modern 323 #13,462
2009 modern 333 #13,434
2010 modern 339 #13,523
2011 modern 328 #13,730
2012 modern 317 #13,960
2013 modern 323 #14,003
2014 modern 322 #14,113
2015 modern 318 #14,155
2016 modern 311 #14,376

Geography

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Where Bottoms' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Whittington, Luton, Clophill and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Chesterfield, Wiltshire, East Northamptonshire and Sunderland. 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 Whittington Derbyshire
3 Luton Bedfordshire
4 Clophill Bedfordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 009 Central Bedfordshire
2 Chesterfield 003 Chesterfield
3 Wiltshire 038 Wiltshire
4 East Northamptonshire 005 East Northamptonshire
5 Sunderland 009 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bottoms

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bottoms

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

London Fringe

Within London, Bottoms 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

Bottoms is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bottoms falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bottoms is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bottoms

The surname Bottoms is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a topographic name, derived from the Old English word 'botm' which referred to a valley or a low-lying area of land. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name lived in or near a valley or low-lying region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bottoms name dates back to the late 12th century, where it appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199. This document lists a person named Robertus de Bothem, indicating that the name was in use during this time period and potentially derived from a place called Bothem or a similar variation.

The Bottoms surname can also be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and property ownership in England compiled in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror. This historic document mentions a place called 'Bodemas' in Lincolnshire, which could be an early spelling or variant of the place name that gave rise to the Bottoms surname.

During the 13th century, a notable individual named William de Bottoms is recorded as being a landowner in the county of Derbyshire. Another early bearer of the name was John Bottoms, who was born around 1450 in Yorkshire and served as a member of the local militia.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Sir Thomas Bottoms (1503-1571) was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from London. He made significant contributions to the city and was a benefactor of several charitable organizations.

Moving into the 17th century, Samuel Bottoms (1619-1692) was an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of All Saints' Church in Northampton. His published works include several religious treatises and sermons.

Another notable figure was Sir William Bottoms (1735-1818), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

The Bottoms surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Bottoms Village in Derbyshire, Bottoms Farm in Yorkshire, and Bottoms Lane in Lincolnshire, further solidifying its connection to geographic locations and topographic features.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bottoms families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bottoms 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. Bedfordshire leads with 114 Bottoms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.83x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 114 42.83x
Lancashire 86 1.41x
Durham 52 3.40x
Derbyshire 51 6.34x
Cheshire 42 3.70x
Hertfordshire 37 10.44x
Yorkshire 37 0.73x
Surrey 23 0.92x
Northumberland 20 2.61x
Middlesex 18 0.35x
Northamptonshire 9 1.86x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.30x
Leicestershire 8 1.40x
Warwickshire 8 0.62x
Essex 3 0.30x
Lincolnshire 3 0.37x
Hampshire 2 0.19x
Kent 2 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.30x
Royal Navy 1 1.63x
Sussex 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. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 32 Bottoms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.44x.

Place Total Index
Luton 32 69.44x
Clophill 31 1589.74x
Battersea 22 11.63x
Ashton Under Lyne 19 14.25x
Little Bolton 14 17.85x
Glossop Dale 13 34.49x
Hitchin 13 81.30x
Whittington 12 107.72x
Ampthill 11 277.08x
Dukinfield 11 20.98x
Moorsley 11 670.73x
Bedlington 10 39.15x
Crook Billy Row 10 51.05x
Stoke Bruern 9 608.11x
Worksop 9 43.80x
Biggleswade 8 91.74x
Bramhall 8 170.21x
Leicester St Margaret 8 5.76x
Offley 8 346.32x
Upper Gravenhurst 8 1290.32x
Bradford 7 24.52x
Caddington 7 179.49x
Clifton 7 272.37x
Kensington London 7 2.45x
Pirton 7 351.76x
Sunderland Bridge 7 289.26x
Washington 7 109.20x
Worsbrough 7 46.89x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 7 312.50x
Ardwick 6 10.91x
Beswick 6 38.46x
Brandon Byshottles 6 31.32x
Cowpen 6 34.07x
Derby St Werburgh 6 12.91x
Shillington 6 153.06x
Aston 5 1.40x
Chapel En Le Frith 5 68.03x
Chesterfield 5 16.57x
Gomersal 5 21.03x
Heap 5 15.46x
Hendon 5 27.03x
Hipperholme Cum 5 22.34x
Spotland 5 7.37x
Stranton 5 9.71x
Watford 5 18.20x
Whiston 5 204.08x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 8.43x
Barrow In Furness 4 4.82x
Hopwood 4 50.19x
Manningham 4 6.37x
South Blyth Newsham 4 266.67x
Toxteth Park 4 1.94x
Usworth 4 49.26x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 3 56.71x
Birmingham 3 0.69x
Bowling 3 5.95x
Bredbury 3 45.66x
Cheadle 3 13.84x
Colne 3 16.51x
Great Longstone With 3 348.84x
Hemel Hempstead 3 18.79x
Spittlegate 3 26.39x
West Ham 3 1.34x
Church Gresley 2 15.61x
Mottram 2 38.91x
Openshaw 2 7.00x
Poynton 2 52.36x
St Pancras London 2 0.48x
Stayley 2 15.42x
Aldershot 1 2.83x
Alverstoke 1 2.62x
Bowdon 1 22.22x
Eastbourne 1 2.51x
Entwistle 1 166.67x
Haswell 1 9.12x
Horton In Bradford 1 1.26x
Hulme 1 0.79x
Manchester 1 0.36x
Portland 1 5.51x
Welwyn 1 32.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 25
Ann 12
Jane 10
Emma 9
Martha 9
Eliza 8
Alice 7
Annie 7
Hannah 7
Margaret 6
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Catherine 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Bertha 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Lousia 2
Mabel 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Annice 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lucella 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
William 24
James 22
Thomas 18
George 15
Charles 14
Samuel 14
Henry 11
Joseph 10
Robert 8
Arthur 6
Walter 6
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Benjamin 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Leonard 2
Noah 2
Bevis 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Hallam 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Joe 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Moss 1
Nath. 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Smith 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Vincent 1
Walker 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bottoms surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bottoms surname in 1881?

In 1881, 526 people were recorded with the Bottoms surname. That placed it at #6,513 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bottoms surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 311 in 2016. That gives Bottoms a modern rank of #14,376.

What does the Bottoms surname mean?

Derived from a place name or a topographical feature, likely referring to someone living in a valley or dell.

What does the Bottoms map show?

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