NameCensus.

UK surname

Boulter

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Boulder.

In the 1881 census there were 1,498 people recorded with the Boulter surname, ranking it #2,796 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,015, ranked #3,197, down from #2,796 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wigston, Magna and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Oadby and Wigston and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boulter is 2,207 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.5%.

1881 census count

1,498

Ranked #2,796

Modern count

2,015

2016, ranked #3,197

Peak year

1911

2,207 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boulter had 1,498 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,796 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,015 in 2016, ranked #3,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,207 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boulter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boulter surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Boulter 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 1,040 #2,696
1861 historical 872 #3,189
1881 historical 1,498 #2,796
1891 historical 1,703 #2,655
1901 historical 2,069 #2,588
1911 historical 2,207 #2,278
1997 modern 2,033 #3,018
1998 modern 2,131 #3,001
1999 modern 2,163 #2,985
2000 modern 2,103 #3,035
2001 modern 2,090 #2,995
2002 modern 2,112 #3,032
2003 modern 2,017 #3,091
2004 modern 2,028 #3,078
2005 modern 1,987 #3,105
2006 modern 1,968 #3,139
2007 modern 2,005 #3,124
2008 modern 2,025 #3,114
2009 modern 2,062 #3,134
2010 modern 2,091 #3,159
2011 modern 2,083 #3,132
2012 modern 2,041 #3,138
2013 modern 2,089 #3,123
2014 modern 2,084 #3,150
2015 modern 2,037 #3,181
2016 modern 2,015 #3,197

Geography

Back to top

Where Boulters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wigston, Magna, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Oadby and Wigston, North Norfolk and East Staffordshire. 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 Wigston, Magna Leicestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 001 Blaenau Gwent
2 Blaenau Gwent 007 Blaenau Gwent
3 Oadby and Wigston 005 Oadby and Wigston
4 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
5 East Staffordshire 015 East Staffordshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Boulter

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Boulter

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Boulter is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Boulter is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boulter falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Boulter

The surname Boulter has its origins in England, specifically in the counties of Hampshire and Berkshire, where it first appeared in the 13th century. The name derives from the Old English word "bultere," which referred to a miller or a person who sifted flour using a bolting cloth.

In medieval England, the milling of grain was a crucial industry, and those involved in this trade often took on surnames related to their occupation. The earliest recorded instance of the name Boulter dates back to 1275, when a Richard le Bultere was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire.

The Boulter name is also found in early tax records and parish registers, such as the Subsidy Rolls of 1332, where a John Boulter is listed in Sussex. In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Bolter, Boulter, and Boultoure, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the Boulter surname was Sir Edmund Boulter (1640-1728), an English merchant and Member of Parliament. He served as the Sheriff of London in 1707 and was knighted in 1714 for his services to the Crown.

Another prominent individual was Hugh Boulter (1672-1742), an Anglican priest who became the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland in 1724. He played a significant role in the ecclesiastical affairs of Ireland during the 18th century.

In the realm of literature, Matthew Boulter (1579-1629) was an English poet and clergyman who authored several works, including "Monumenta Pietatis et Literaria" and "The Poets Panegerick."

The name Boulter also has connections to place names, such as Boulter's Lock on the River Thames in Berkshire, named after a local miller or lock-keeper with the surname Boulter.

John Boulter (1768-1843) was a notable English engineer and inventor who patented several improvements in the design and construction of watermills and windmills, further strengthening the connection between the Boulter name and the milling trade.

While the Boulter surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, with families bearing this name now found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Boulter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boulter 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 241 Boulters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.63x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 241 1.63x
Leicestershire 230 14.03x
Norfolk 127 5.59x
Surrey 104 1.44x
Wiltshire 91 6.96x
Gloucestershire 87 3.00x
Worcestershire 68 3.52x
Hampshire 64 2.11x
Kent 51 1.01x
Oxfordshire 42 4.60x
Herefordshire 35 5.77x
Somerset 34 1.43x
Yorkshire 29 0.20x
Lancashire 26 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 24 2.68x
Derbyshire 24 1.04x
Essex 22 0.75x
Berkshire 21 1.89x
Suffolk 20 1.11x
Sussex 20 0.80x
Devon 18 0.58x
Warwickshire 18 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.07x
Isle of Man 10 3.64x
Royal Navy 10 5.67x
Cheshire 9 0.28x
Glamorgan 9 0.35x
Northamptonshire 9 0.65x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.45x
Northumberland 7 0.32x
Cornwall 6 0.36x
Hertfordshire 6 0.59x
Brecknockshire 5 1.69x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.84x
Monmouthshire 5 0.47x
Radnorshire 5 4.19x
Staffordshire 4 0.08x
Dorset 3 0.31x
Shropshire 3 0.23x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.32x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigston Magna in Leicestershire leads with 70 Boulters recorded in 1881 and an index of 321.84x.

Place Total Index
Wigston Magna 70 321.84x
Leicester St Margaret 56 14.01x
Leicester St Mary 40 30.20x
Lambeth 36 2.79x
Islington London 32 2.23x
Ditchingham 29 533.09x
Shoreditch London 26 4.06x
Wootton Bassett 23 202.29x
Hackney London 20 2.41x
Portsea 20 3.37x
Trunch 18 789.47x
Great Yarmouth 16 8.49x
St Marylebone London 15 1.90x
Belgrave 14 37.84x
Bristol St James St Paul 14 14.48x
Clerkenwell London 14 4.01x
West Ham 14 2.17x
Paddington London 13 2.39x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 4.39x
Burford 12 151.52x
Fakenham 12 107.14x
Bedminster 11 4.92x
Chelsea London 11 2.47x
Croydon 11 2.75x
Farmborough 11 257.01x
Kirton 11 344.83x
Pirbright 11 300.55x
St George Hanover Square 11 4.22x
Chippenham 10 36.46x
Datchet 10 163.40x
Kempsey 10 136.61x
Kington 10 66.62x
Leamington Priors 10 10.90x
Melksham 10 44.03x
Mile End Old Town London 10 3.18x
Onchan 10 12.64x
Royal Navy 10 6.64x
White Waltham 10 240.38x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.40x
Bristol St Augustine 9 19.23x
Heigham 9 7.37x
Lewisham 9 3.35x
Oldham 9 1.59x
Tonbridge 9 4.95x
Corsham 8 41.93x
Deptford St Paul 8 2.06x
Devizes St John 8 81.47x
Feckenham 8 36.20x
Fulham London 8 3.73x
Gloucester Barton St 8 47.06x
Hill Moor 8 467.84x
Leicester All Sts 8 24.84x
Redenhall 8 90.60x
Southampton St Mary 8 4.20x
Bexley 7 15.69x
Coyty Lower 7 41.87x
Cramlington 7 24.07x
East Drayton 7 648.15x
Headington 7 49.37x
Hereford St Owen 7 34.95x
Long Eaton 7 22.91x
Peterborough 7 6.95x
Southwark Christchurch 7 10.10x
Swanton Abbott 7 273.44x
Ashe 6 600.00x
Castlemorton 6 158.73x
Cheltenham 6 2.68x
Devizes St Mary 6 45.39x
Droitwich St Nicholas 6 83.80x
Egham 6 13.56x
Maugersbury 6 215.83x
Newent 6 40.71x
Southampton St Michael 6 60.12x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 2.02x
St Luke London 6 2.53x
Tooting Graveney 6 29.93x
Wentworth 6 612.24x
West Derby 6 1.17x
Whitechapel London 6 4.12x
Winkfield 6 32.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 86
John 73
Thomas 47
George 45
James 37
Joseph 30
Charles 26
Edward 25
Alfred 24
Henry 24
Frederick 19
Albert 14
Arthur 14
Richard 14
Harry 13
Walter 13
Robert 12
Samuel 11
Benjamin 8
Geo. 8
Herbert 8
Francis 7
Frank 7
Fredrick 7
Thos. 7
Ernest 6
Isaac 6
Percy 6
Edwin 5
Fred 5
Wm. 5
Edmund 4
Philip 4
Chas. 3
David 3
Edgar 3
Fredk. 3
Aaron 2
Alexander 2
Daniel 2
Edwd. 2
Horace 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Leonard 2
Louis 2
Oscar 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Utah 2

FAQ

Boulter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boulter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,498 people were recorded with the Boulter surname. That placed it at #2,796 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boulter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,015 in 2016. That gives Boulter a modern rank of #3,197.

What does the Boulter surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Boulder.

What does the Boulter map show?

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