NameCensus.

UK surname

Bounds

A surname referring to someone who lived near a boundary or on the outskirts of a settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 441 people recorded with the Bounds surname, ranking it #7,422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 692, ranked #7,773, down from #7,422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mildred, Old Castle Precincts, Kington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bounds is 706 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.9%.

1881 census count

441

Ranked #7,422

Modern count

692

2016, ranked #7,773

Peak year

1998

706 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bounds had 441 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 692 in 2016, ranked #7,773.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 615 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bounds surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bounds surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bounds 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 300 #7,650
1861 historical 282 #8,895
1881 historical 441 #7,422
1891 historical 504 #7,377
1901 historical 615 #6,942
1911 historical 605 #6,798
1997 modern 683 #7,380
1998 modern 706 #7,425
1999 modern 702 #7,500
2000 modern 670 #7,749
2001 modern 656 #7,744
2002 modern 679 #7,698
2003 modern 686 #7,505
2004 modern 693 #7,463
2005 modern 686 #7,472
2006 modern 672 #7,607
2007 modern 684 #7,568
2008 modern 668 #7,753
2009 modern 696 #7,673
2010 modern 698 #7,797
2011 modern 695 #7,733
2012 modern 671 #7,869
2013 modern 695 #7,763
2014 modern 695 #7,813
2015 modern 703 #7,693
2016 modern 692 #7,773

Geography

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Where Bounds' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mildred, Old Castle Precincts, Kington, London parishes and Ravensthorpe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Solihull. 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 St Mildred, Old Castle Precincts Kent
2 Kington Radnorshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Ravensthorpe Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 007 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Herefordshire 006 Herefordshire, County of
3 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 017 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Solihull 008 Solihull

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bounds

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bounds

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

Bounds 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bounds

The surname BOUNDS has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "bunde," which referred to a boundary or boundary marker. This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near a boundary or worked as a boundary surveyor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Richard de la Bunde is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the French influence on the name's evolution.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Bunde, Bounde, and Boundes, reflecting the fluidity of spelling during that time. One notable example is John de la Bunde, who is listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1248.

The BOUNDS surname also has connections to place names in England. For instance, there is a village called Bound's Green in the London Borough of Haringey, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname who owned land or resided in the area.

As the name spread throughout England, it gained further variations, including Bound, Boundes, and Boundys. In the 14th century, a John Boundys is recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

Several notable individuals have borne the BOUNDS surname throughout history. One example is Sir William Bounds (1563-1622), an English merchant and philanthropist who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1617. Another is Reverend Philip Bounds (1670-1747), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on theological subjects.

In the 19th century, Robert Bounds (1802-1884) was a British architect known for designing several churches and other buildings in London. Additionally, Edwin Bounds (1836-1900) was a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire from 1892 to 1900.

The BOUNDS surname has also been prominent in the United States. One notable figure was Samuel Bounds (1827-1911), an American Baptist preacher and author who wrote several influential books on prayer and spiritual life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bounds families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bounds 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. Herefordshire leads with 70 Bounds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.59x.

County Total Index
Herefordshire 70 39.59x
Northamptonshire 63 15.53x
Middlesex 58 1.35x
Radnorshire 45 129.35x
Shropshire 28 7.52x
Hampshire 23 2.60x
Surrey 18 0.86x
Sussex 15 2.06x
Yorkshire 12 0.28x
Lancashire 11 0.22x
Kent 10 0.68x
Wiltshire 10 2.62x
Cornwall 9 1.84x
Monmouthshire 8 2.57x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.38x
Warwickshire 8 0.74x
Cheshire 7 0.74x
Devon 7 0.78x
Leicestershire 6 1.26x
Derbyshire 4 0.59x
Brecknockshire 3 3.48x
Glamorgan 3 0.40x
Somerset 3 0.43x
Worcestershire 3 0.53x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.77x
Durham 2 0.16x
Berkshire 1 0.31x
Dorset 1 0.35x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 1.95x
Rutland 1 3.16x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Guilsborough in Northamptonshire leads with 25 Bounds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2336.45x.

Place Total Index
Guilsborough 25 2336.45x
Long Buckby 19 506.67x
Westminster St John 12 22.85x
Kensington London 11 4.59x
Kington 11 251.14x
Presteigne 11 497.74x
Ravensthorpe 11 1506.85x
Leominster 10 136.61x
Bitterley 9 612.24x
Hurstbourne Tarrant 9 725.81x
Portsea 9 5.20x
Gladestry 8 1600.00x
Pembridge 8 410.26x
Canterbury St Mildred 7 200.57x
Clun 7 265.15x
Hastings St Leonards 7 65.48x
Nottingham St Mary 7 4.66x
Old Radnor Walton 7 2592.59x
Salford 7 4.65x
Esher 6 204.08x
Hammersmith London 6 5.65x
Old Radnor 6 937.50x
Stanton Lacy 6 186.34x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 12.56x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.67x
Birmingham 5 1.38x
Fisherton De La Mere 5 1136.36x
Leicester St Margaret 5 4.29x
Llanfihangel Beguildy 5 340.14x
New Radnor 5 714.29x
Roche 5 201.61x
Watford 5 735.29x
Battersea 4 2.52x
Burrington 4 1333.33x
Camberwell 4 1.45x
East Stonehouse 4 22.62x
Hereford St Owen 4 68.49x
Humber 4 1052.63x
Aberdare 3 5.82x
Aberystruth 3 10.92x
Ballingham 3 476.19x
Bedwas 3 132.74x
Bodmin 3 37.13x
Brighton 3 2.05x
Derby St Alkmund 3 14.83x
Eaton 3 447.76x
Finchley 3 18.15x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 19.34x
Huntspill 3 105.63x
Kinsham 3 2142.86x
Monks Coppenhall 3 8.35x
Oldham 3 1.82x
Poplar London 3 3.69x
St Marylebone London 3 1.30x
St Peter Colebrook 3 241.94x
Stretton Grandison 3 1764.71x
Sutton Veney 3 280.37x
Wath On Dearne 3 35.21x
Weobley 3 230.77x
Bedworth 2 25.22x
Birley 2 869.57x
Bodenham 2 153.85x
Bow London 2 3.64x
Cobham 2 57.97x
Dinmore 2 6666.67x
Great Boughton 2 60.98x
Hackney London 2 0.83x
Hay 2 62.50x
Hollington 2 77.22x
Huntington In Kington 2 526.32x
Lee 2 9.36x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 2.89x
Risca 2 34.01x
St George In East London 2 4.93x
St Pancras London 2 0.58x
Stockton On Tees 2 3.23x
Stretford 2 3333.33x
Warminster 2 23.92x
Worcester St Martin 2 26.32x
Wortley In Bramley 2 5.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 20
Jane 17
Emma 15
Eliza 13
Sarah 13
Ellen 9
Annie 7
Emily 6
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Martha 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Eleanor 3
Louisa 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Ellenor 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Helena 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Allice 1
Amy 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Deanna 1
Esther 1
Eth 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Marey 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Nelly 1
Polly 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 42
William 32
George 18
Thomas 15
James 12
Charles 10
Edward 10
Alfred 7
Arthur 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Bryan 2
Chas. 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Samuel 2
Allan 1
Arnold 1
Benjn. 1
Cornelius 1
Falpth 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Harris 1
Hedley 1
Herbert 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Martin 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Rd. 1
Saml. 1
Samuell 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bounds surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bounds surname in 1881?

In 1881, 441 people were recorded with the Bounds surname. That placed it at #7,422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bounds surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 692 in 2016. That gives Bounds a modern rank of #7,773.

What does the Bounds surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who lived near a boundary or on the outskirts of a settlement.

What does the Bounds map show?

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