NameCensus.

UK surname

Bousfield

A locational surname referring to someone from a place containing a dwelling or bower.

In the 1881 census there were 597 people recorded with the Bousfield surname, ranking it #5,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,033, ranked #5,649, up from #5,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Orton and Brough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, County Durham and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bousfield is 1,102 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.0%.

1881 census count

597

Ranked #5,858

Modern count

1,033

2016, ranked #5,649

Peak year

1999

1,102 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bousfield had 597 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,033 in 2016, ranked #5,649.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 816 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bousfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bousfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bousfield 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 370 #6,426
1861 historical 422 #6,086
1881 historical 597 #5,858
1891 historical 571 #6,665
1901 historical 617 #6,917
1911 historical 816 #5,395
1997 modern 1,087 #5,127
1998 modern 1,092 #5,295
1999 modern 1,102 #5,278
2000 modern 1,098 #5,275
2001 modern 1,073 #5,275
2002 modern 1,084 #5,339
2003 modern 1,045 #5,398
2004 modern 1,014 #5,531
2005 modern 982 #5,626
2006 modern 991 #5,598
2007 modern 971 #5,743
2008 modern 982 #5,732
2009 modern 1,008 #5,727
2010 modern 1,054 #5,634
2011 modern 1,055 #5,564
2012 modern 1,041 #5,545
2013 modern 1,046 #5,629
2014 modern 1,061 #5,583
2015 modern 1,042 #5,612
2016 modern 1,033 #5,649

Geography

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Where Bousfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Orton, Brough, London parishes and Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, County Durham, Stockton-on-Tees and Northumberland. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Orton Westmorland
3 Brough Westmorland
4 London parishes London 2
5 Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 007 Eden
2 Eden 006 Eden
3 County Durham 066 County Durham
4 Stockton-on-Tees 014 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Northumberland 019 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bousfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bousfield

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

Bousfield 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

Bousfield falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bousfield

The surname Bousfield is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "bus" meaning a bush or thicket, and "feld" meaning a field or clearing. The name likely originated as a topographic surname, given to someone who lived near or worked in a bushy field or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Busfelde." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in England.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings such as "Busfeld" and "Bousfeld" in records from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, indicating that these were areas where the name was particularly prevalent.

One notable historical figure with the surname Bousfield was Sir Robert Bousfield (c. 1523-1592), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another early example is John Bousfield (c. 1450-1515), a English priest and scholar who served as the Rector of St. Peter's Church in York.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, including entries for Thomas Bousfield (1635-1699), a farmer from Nottinghamshire, and William Bousfield (1620-1688), a merchant from London.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Bousfield was Sir Henry Bousfield (1832-1902), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British Empire, for his bravery in action.

In the 19th century, the name was also found in the United States, with records showing individuals such as John Bousfield (1810-1878), a farmer from Ohio, and James Bousfield (1825-1904), a carpenter from New York.

While the surname Bousfield is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and has been carried by notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bousfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bousfield 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. Yorkshire leads with 133 Bousfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.34x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 133 2.34x
Westmorland 117 92.98x
Durham 109 6.40x
Middlesex 62 1.08x
Lancashire 31 0.46x
Cumberland 25 5.07x
Northumberland 18 2.11x
Essex 14 1.24x
Surrey 13 0.47x
Kent 12 0.61x
Cheshire 8 0.63x
Oxfordshire 8 2.26x
Derbyshire 7 0.78x
Hampshire 4 0.34x
Sussex 4 0.41x
Bedfordshire 3 1.01x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.87x
Gloucestershire 3 0.27x
Brecknockshire 2 1.75x
Channel Islands 2 1.18x
Hertfordshire 2 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.26x
Roxburghshire 2 1.93x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.55x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 1.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bowes in Yorkshire leads with 33 Bousfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Bowes 33 2500.00x
Orton 32 851.06x
Houghton Le Spring 21 178.27x
St George In East London 17 31.56x
York Holy Trinity 14 285.71x
Islington London 12 2.16x
Stockton On Tees 12 14.61x
Westgate 11 20.85x
Hetton Le Hole 10 46.32x
Bishopwearmouth 9 6.16x
Great Musgrave 9 2500.00x
Kirkby Lonsdale 9 264.71x
Ravenstonedale 9 514.29x
Shildon 9 65.74x
Brough 8 650.41x
Chinnor 8 326.53x
Heckmondwike 8 43.84x
Lee 8 28.20x
Wennington 8 2051.28x
Brandon Byshottles 7 32.80x
Coundon Grange 7 187.17x
Dalton In Richmond 7 1707.32x
Norton 7 111.82x
Soulby 7 1296.30x
Toxteth Park 7 3.04x
York St Mary Castlegate 7 419.16x
Cotherston 6 480.00x
Elswick 6 8.82x
Enfield 6 15.97x
Hammersmith London 6 4.25x
Kirkby Stephen 6 184.05x
Leeds 6 1.87x
Preston 6 3.30x
Sculcoates 6 6.67x
Baildon 5 46.82x
Bishop Auckland 5 21.88x
Brough Sowerby 5 1923.08x
Chellaston 5 510.20x
Eston 5 40.45x
Helmington Row 5 63.05x
Morland 5 684.93x
South Cowton 5 2272.73x
Welton Melton 5 301.20x
Wreay 5 1388.89x
Camberwell 4 1.09x
Chester St Bridget 4 185.19x
Hackney London 4 1.25x
Kendal 4 17.36x
Kensington London 4 1.26x
Knaresborough 4 44.89x
Mallerstang 4 754.72x
Middlesbrough 4 5.41x
Muker 4 243.90x
Southampton St Mary 4 5.42x
St Cuthbert W O 4 16.65x
St Cuthbert W O Brisco 4 714.29x
St Mary Within 4 64.94x
Stainton 4 526.32x
Stalmine With Staynall 4 408.16x
Asby 3 309.28x
Bedford St Mary 3 39.27x
Crosscanonby 3 18.40x
Cublington 3 588.24x
Greatham 3 208.33x
Harrow 3 34.29x
Ingleton 3 625.00x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 9.02x
Paddington London 3 1.42x
Paglesham 3 297.03x
Pilling 3 94.04x
Sedburgh 3 127.12x
Wandsworth 3 5.44x
York St Mary 3 12.77x
Bow London 2 2.74x
Ewell 2 33.96x
Mansfield 2 7.49x
Nateby 2 588.24x
Shadforth 2 60.61x
St George Hanover Square 2 1.98x
Stock 2 166.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Jane 26
Elizabeth 25
Ann 16
Margaret 16
Sarah 16
Annie 12
Hannah 8
Isabella 7
Alice 6
Emily 5
Frances 5
Agnes 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Edith 3
Fanny 3
A. 2
Adelaide 2
Agnese 2
Barbara 2
Bertha 2
Bridget 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Dorothy 2
Esther 2
Hilda 2
Isabel 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Lydia 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Agness 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
John 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 41
William 38
Thomas 28
Robert 26
James 18
George 14
Henry 9
Edward 7
Richard 7
Christopher 6
Frederick 6
Arthur 5
Jonathan 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Wm. 4
Samuel 3
A. 2
Adam 2
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
E. 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
H. 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Matthew 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Chas.B. 1
Christ. 1
Cuthbert 1
Edmund 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Leslie 1
Mark 1
Miles 1
Norclift 1
Oliver 1
Richd. 1

FAQ

Bousfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bousfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 597 people were recorded with the Bousfield surname. That placed it at #5,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bousfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,033 in 2016. That gives Bousfield a modern rank of #5,649.

What does the Bousfield surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place containing a dwelling or bower.

What does the Bousfield map show?

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