NameCensus.

UK surname

Boult

A variant of the English surname Bolt or Boult, derived from a nickname meaning bowlegged.

In the 1881 census there were 493 people recorded with the Boult surname, ranking it #6,848 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 746, ranked #7,323, down from #6,848 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle, Craven and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boult is 788 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.3%.

1881 census count

493

Ranked #6,848

Modern count

746

2016, ranked #7,323

Peak year

2000

788 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boult had 493 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,848 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016, ranked #7,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 720 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Boult surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boult surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boult 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 356 #6,636
1861 historical 273 #9,134
1881 historical 493 #6,848
1891 historical 463 #7,902
1901 historical 593 #7,137
1911 historical 720 #5,933
1997 modern 704 #7,217
1998 modern 778 #6,912
1999 modern 786 #6,901
2000 modern 788 #6,857
2001 modern 776 #6,807
2002 modern 778 #6,933
2003 modern 759 #6,945
2004 modern 771 #6,872
2005 modern 753 #6,935
2006 modern 761 #6,903
2007 modern 769 #6,918
2008 modern 764 #6,999
2009 modern 776 #7,059
2010 modern 762 #7,301
2011 modern 774 #7,133
2012 modern 750 #7,226
2013 modern 761 #7,257
2014 modern 757 #7,317
2015 modern 742 #7,364
2016 modern 746 #7,323

Geography

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Where Boults are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle, Craven, Teignbridge, Helensburgh West and Rhu and South Norfolk. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 008 Pendle
2 Craven 003 Craven
3 Teignbridge 010 Teignbridge
4 Helensburgh West and Rhu Argyll and Bute
5 South Norfolk 014 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boult

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boult

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

Boult is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boult falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boult is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Boult

The surname Boult originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "bolt," which referred to a bolt or arrow used as a projectile. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for an archer or a maker of bolts.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England, there are several entries for people with the name Bolt or variations such as Bolt and Boult. These early records indicate that the name was present in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Boult was William Boult, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1229. Another early record is that of John Boult, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

Over the centuries, the name Boult has been associated with various place names in England, such as Boltby in North Yorkshire and Bolton in Greater Manchester. The name may have originated from these locations or taken on variations based on the local dialect.

In terms of notable individuals with the surname Boult, there are several prominent figures throughout history:

1. John Boult (c. 1605-1679), an English actor and playwright during the Restoration period. 2. Sir Adrian Cedric Boult (1889-1983), a renowned English conductor who was knighted for his services to music. 3. Ella Boult (1887-1971), a British artist and sculptor known for her portraits and figure studies. 4. William Boult (1805-1882), an English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire in the early days of the sport. 5. Henry Trevenen Boult (1829-1892), a British civil engineer who worked on various railway projects in India.

The surname Boult has endured through the ages, with its origins rooted in the history of England and its occupational and geographical connections. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boult families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boult 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. Middlesex leads with 98 Boults recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.03x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 98 2.03x
Staffordshire 94 5.77x
Lancashire 52 0.91x
Surrey 45 1.91x
Norfolk 36 4.85x
Berkshire 27 7.45x
Yorkshire 18 0.38x
Kent 16 0.97x
Somerset 16 2.06x
Devon 14 1.39x
Cheshire 13 1.22x
Gloucestershire 13 1.37x
Oxfordshire 11 3.69x
Hampshire 9 0.91x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.71x
Derbyshire 4 0.53x
Durham 4 0.28x
Essex 4 0.42x
Northumberland 3 0.42x
Cornwall 2 0.37x
Hertfordshire 2 0.60x
Shetland 2 4.06x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.49x
Ross-shire 1 0.75x
Royal Navy 1 1.74x
Suffolk 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.12x
Westmorland 1 0.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 30 Boults recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.36x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 30 17.36x
Lambeth 20 4.75x
Toxteth Park 18 9.28x
Paddington London 14 7.89x
St Pancras London 13 3.34x
Great Yarmouth 12 19.51x
Camberwell 11 3.57x
Wolstanton 11 22.22x
Stafford St Mary 10 43.35x
Chelsea London 9 6.19x
Hammersmith London 9 7.57x
St Marylebone London 9 3.49x
West Derby 9 5.37x
Bedminster 8 10.95x
Bray 8 75.12x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 8.97x
Cheadle 8 102.17x
Exeter Heavitree 8 106.81x
Greenwich 8 10.41x
Moulton St Mary 8 2000.00x
Wavertree 8 43.62x
Acton 7 24.73x
Burnham 7 118.04x
Christchurch 7 32.62x
Halvergate 7 875.00x
Winkfield 7 116.47x
Birkenhead 6 7.06x
Bromley London 6 5.65x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 20.80x
Oxford St Ebbe 6 68.34x
Reading St Giles 6 16.87x
Richmond 6 18.20x
Sculcoates 6 7.91x
Stone 6 28.78x
Trentham 6 43.29x
Beaconsfield 5 185.19x
Eltham 5 51.81x
St George Hanover Square 5 5.88x
Burslem 4 8.57x
Calverley Cum Farsley 4 29.43x
Cookham 4 35.40x
Derby St Werburgh 4 9.16x
Gorton 4 7.43x
Hackney London 4 1.48x
Islington London 4 0.85x
Longdon 4 176.99x
Shoreditch London 4 1.91x
Wolverhampton 4 3.19x
Woodford 4 37.07x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 6.59x
Dorking 3 18.99x
Hook 3 28.49x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 8.06x
Norwich St Julian 3 95.85x
Sale 3 22.94x
Tranmere 3 7.66x
Upottery 3 247.93x
Wednesbury 3 7.37x
Winterton 3 229.01x
Barrow In Furness 2 2.57x
Bermondsey 2 1.39x
Bristol St Augustine 2 13.09x
Budock 2 48.66x
Coln St Dennis 2 625.00x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.57x
East Barnet 2 30.30x
East Budleigh 2 42.19x
Fawley 2 63.69x
Goole 2 24.94x
Great Lumley 2 81.30x
Iffley 2 79.37x
Kensington London 2 0.75x
Lerwick Gulberwick 2 26.21x
Rotherfield Greys 2 63.29x
Skerton 2 42.55x
Warfield 2 60.79x
Westminster St Margaret 2 8.59x
Whitechapel London 2 4.20x
Worsley 2 5.66x
Stapleton 1 5.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 16
Louisa 11
Ellen 9
Alice 8
Eliza 8
Ann 7
Florence 7
Annie 6
Clara 6
Hannah 5
Harriet 5
Helen 5
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Amelia 4
Anne 4
Jane 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Minnie 3
Susanah 3
Bertha 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Georgina 2
Rebecca 2
S.Ann 2
Selina 2
Albertine 1
Amy 1
Barthl 1
Bessy 1
Elizth. 1
Emiley 1
Emmiline 1
Esther 1
Eunice 1
Jessie 1
Judith 1
Julia 1
Thuisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 25
William 22
John 18
George 16
Henry 14
James 12
Alfred 11
Joseph 9
Charles 8
Frederick 8
Edward 6
Albert 5
Francis 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Robert 4
Edwin 3
Walter 3
Abrahm. 2
Benjamin 2
Bertie 2
Christopher 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Gerald 1
Gordon 1
Hafar 1
Harald 1
Harold 1
Kendrick 1
Kolkart 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Melbourne 1
Mortimer 1
Mr. 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Boult surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boult surname in 1881?

In 1881, 493 people were recorded with the Boult surname. That placed it at #6,848 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boult surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016. That gives Boult a modern rank of #7,323.

What does the Boult surname mean?

A variant of the English surname Bolt or Boult, derived from a nickname meaning bowlegged.

What does the Boult map show?

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