UK surname
An English topographic surname derived from Old French "borne", meaning a boundary or territorial limit.
In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Bournes surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #20,127 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochester, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bournes is 139 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.8%.
1881 census count
97
Ranked #20,127
Modern count
71
2016, ranked #33,633
Peak year
1861
139 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bournes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bournes surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 83 | #19,181 |
| 1861 | historical | 139 | #16,263 |
| 1881 | historical | 97 | #20,127 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 82 | #25,019 |
| 1911 | historical | 93 | #23,492 |
| 1997 | modern | 74 | #30,218 |
| 1998 | modern | 80 | #29,966 |
| 1999 | modern | 73 | #30,856 |
| 2000 | modern | 84 | #29,706 |
| 2001 | modern | 87 | #29,161 |
| 2002 | modern | 82 | #30,181 |
| 2003 | modern | 77 | #30,762 |
| 2004 | modern | 80 | #30,679 |
| 2005 | modern | 80 | #30,842 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 79 | #31,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 79 | #31,957 |
| 2009 | modern | 75 | #32,733 |
| 2010 | modern | 81 | #32,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 82 | #32,449 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 74 | #33,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 71 | #33,633 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochester, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Oldswinford and Tenterden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester | Kent |
| 2 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Oldswinford | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Tenterden | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bournes surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bournes, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bournes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bournes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bournes is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bournes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bournes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bournes originated in England during the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French words 'bourne' meaning 'stream' or 'boundary', referring to someone who lived near a stream or boundary marker. The name was originally spelled as 'Bourne', 'Bourn', or 'Burne'.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bournes can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1195, where it is listed as 'de Burna'. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a John de Burne from Cambridgeshire. These early records suggest that the name was prevalent in the eastern counties of England during the Middle Ages.
The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the name Bournes. However, it does mention several place names derived from the Old English word 'burna', such as Burne in Lincolnshire and Burna in Huntingdonshire, indicating that the name may have originated from these locations.
In the 14th century, the name Bournes was found in various spellings, including 'Bourne', 'Bourn', and 'Burne'. One notable bearer of the name was John Bourne (c. 1330-1399), an English clergyman and author who wrote the influential work 'Pupilla Oculi'.
During the 16th century, the Bournes family became prominent in Lincolnshire. Sir John Bournes (c. 1500-1573) was a Member of Parliament and served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1557. His son, John Bournes (c. 1530-1598), was also a Member of Parliament and served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1585.
Another notable figure with the surname Bournes was Benjamin Bourne (1642-1725), an English mapmaker and engraver known for his work on county maps and atlases. He was born in Northamptonshire and produced several influential works, including "A New and Accurate Map of Northamptonshire" in 1675.
In the 18th century, Edward Bourne (1734-1800) was a prominent English antiquarian and topographer. He was born in Shropshire and is best known for his work "The History of Newcastle upon Tyne", published in 1736.
The Bournes surname has been carried by various individuals throughout history, with roots stretching back to medieval England and a connection to geographical features such as streams and boundaries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bournes surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 23 Bournes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 23 | 7.13x |
| Staffordshire | 15 | 4.70x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.89x |
| Sussex | 10 | 6.27x |
| Worcestershire | 10 | 8.10x |
| Surrey | 9 | 1.95x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.74x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 2.52x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 2.35x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.07x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.67x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 15 Bournes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.42x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kingswinford | 15 | 129.42x |
| Lye | 9 | 436.89x |
| Croydon | 8 | 31.26x |
| Tenterden | 8 | 701.75x |
| Crayford | 7 | 496.45x |
| Great Crosby | 5 | 163.40x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 5 | 147.06x |
| Aston | 4 | 6.09x |
| Hove | 4 | 57.14x |
| Penhurst | 3 | 10000.00x |
| Radford | 3 | 46.30x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.52x |
| Burwash | 2 | 270.27x |
| Everton | 2 | 5.59x |
| Friern Barnet | 2 | 96.15x |
| Leyton Low | 2 | 52.63x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 5.75x |
| Windle | 2 | 31.65x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 16.78x |
| Ashford | 1 | 31.85x |
| Blatchinworth | 1 | 39.06x |
| Burwell | 1 | 138.89x |
| Caterham | 1 | 49.02x |
| Charlton Kings | 1 | 78.13x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.90x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 9.63x |
| Rye | 1 | 65.79x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.31x |
| Upperswinford | 1 | 95.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bournes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Sarah | 7 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Mary | 4 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Antonea | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elen | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Helena | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Jno. | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Marie | 1 |
| Olive | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Rhoda | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bournes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bournes households.
FAQ
In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Bournes surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Bournes a modern rank of #33,633.
An English topographic surname derived from Old French "borne", meaning a boundary or territorial limit.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bournes bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.