NameCensus.

UK surname

Bovey

A surname originating from Bovey Tracey in Devon, England, referring to someone from that area.

In the 1881 census there were 352 people recorded with the Bovey surname, ranking it #8,718 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 416, ranked #11,533, down from #8,718 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Kingsteignton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torbay and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bovey is 462 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.2%.

1881 census count

352

Ranked #8,718

Modern count

416

2016, ranked #11,533

Peak year

1911

462 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bovey had 352 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,718 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 416 in 2016, ranked #11,533.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 462 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bovey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bovey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bovey 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 287 #7,909
1861 historical 327 #7,788
1881 historical 352 #8,718
1891 historical 413 #8,638
1901 historical 447 #8,746
1911 historical 462 #8,329
1997 modern 412 #10,759
1998 modern 436 #10,663
1999 modern 442 #10,606
2000 modern 419 #11,028
2001 modern 404 #11,142
2002 modern 422 #11,002
2003 modern 417 #10,924
2004 modern 403 #11,224
2005 modern 390 #11,397
2006 modern 386 #11,537
2007 modern 399 #11,396
2008 modern 400 #11,468
2009 modern 430 #11,081
2010 modern 432 #11,262
2011 modern 439 #10,995
2012 modern 437 #10,915
2013 modern 426 #11,350
2014 modern 425 #11,432
2015 modern 415 #11,583
2016 modern 416 #11,533

Geography

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Where Boveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Kingsteignton, London parishes and Rattery. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torbay and Teignbridge. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 Kingsteignton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Rattery Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torbay 001 Torbay
2 Torbay 006 Torbay
3 Torbay 005 Torbay
4 Teignbridge 017 Teignbridge
5 Torbay 003 Torbay

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bovey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bovey

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bovey 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

Bovey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bovey

The surname Bovey is of English origin, derived from the village of Bovey Tracey in Devonshire, England. The name is believed to have originated in the 11th century, stemming from the Old English words "bua" meaning a bent or curved river, and "ey" meaning an island or dry ground.

The first recorded instance of the surname Bovey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Bouei." This historical record suggests that the name was already established in the region during the Norman Conquest of England.

During the Middle Ages, the Bovey family gained prominence in Devonshire, with several members holding positions of importance in the local community. One notable figure was Sir John Bovey, born in 1325, who served as a Knight of the Shire for Devonshire in the Parliament of 1376.

In the 16th century, the surname Bovey gained further recognition with the birth of William Bovey (1523-1609), a renowned English clergyman and scholar. He was appointed the Bishop of Llandaff in 1590 and later served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1598 until his death.

Another prominent individual bearing the Bovey surname was Sir Thomas Bovey (1658-1724), a successful merchant and politician from London. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1708 and played a significant role in the expansion of trade and commerce in the city.

The name Bovey can also be traced back to the village of Bovey Tracey itself, which was once a thriving center for the production of pottery and clay products. The Bovey family was likely involved in this industry, contributing to the local economy and shaping the cultural heritage of the region.

Throughout history, the Bovey surname has been associated with various locations in England, including Bovey Tracey in Devonshire, as well as smaller villages and hamlets bearing similar names, such as Bovey Heathfield and Bovey Coldridge.

While the surname Bovey is not as common as some other English surnames, it has left its mark on history through the contributions of notable individuals and its connection to the village of Bovey Tracey, a testament to the rich cultural heritage of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bovey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bovey 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. Devon leads with 240 Boveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.48x.

County Total Index
Devon 240 33.48x
Middlesex 41 1.19x
Surrey 24 1.43x
Cornwall 13 3.33x
Glamorgan 7 1.17x
Kent 7 0.60x
Lancashire 4 0.10x
Cheshire 2 0.26x
Derbyshire 2 0.37x
Gloucestershire 2 0.30x
Sussex 2 0.34x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.31x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.48x
Cumberland 1 0.34x
Durham 1 0.10x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 2.44x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 42 Boveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.48x.

Place Total Index
Tormoham 42 138.48x
Kingsteignton 24 1206.03x
Rattery 19 4042.55x
Newton Abbot St Mary 17 282.86x
Ipplepen 15 1530.61x
Plymouth St Andrew 13 23.54x
Brixham 10 120.34x
Hackney London 10 5.18x
Lambeth 10 3.33x
Croydon 8 8.59x
Marldon 8 1333.33x
St Ewe 8 677.97x
Bovey Tracey 7 278.88x
Penarth 7 119.45x
Acton 6 29.72x
Moreton Hampstead 6 324.32x
Paignton 6 110.09x
Wolborough 6 66.23x
Darenth 5 276.24x
Holy Trinity 5 333.33x
Plymouth Charles The 5 15.83x
St George Hanover Square 5 8.24x
Staverton 5 568.18x
Torbrian 5 2083.33x
Bermondsey 4 3.90x
Buckfastleigh 4 120.85x
Dartmouth Townstall 4 136.99x
Paddington London 4 3.16x
Plympton Maurice 4 296.30x
Sampford Spiney 4 833.33x
Hornsey 3 6.89x
Kenton 3 132.74x
North Bovey 3 576.92x
West Teignmouth 3 54.74x
Coffinswell 2 869.57x
Everton 2 1.54x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 27.36x
Highweek 2 78.13x
Littleham 2 38.17x
Plympton St Mary 2 48.31x
Ratcliffe London 2 10.52x
South Normanton 2 52.77x
St Erme 2 333.33x
St Pancras London 2 0.72x
St Stephen Coleman Street 2 165.29x
Stoke Gabriel 2 263.16x
Totnes 2 47.73x
Tottenham 2 3.65x
Toxteth Park 2 1.45x
Birmingham 1 0.35x
Breinton 1 181.82x
Brighton 1 0.85x
Broadhempston 1 149.25x
Camberwell 1 0.45x
Churchstow 1 232.56x
Clapham 1 2.32x
Dartmouth St Savior 1 117.65x
Enfield 1 4.43x
Erith 1 8.64x
Eton 1 21.19x
Feock 1 40.98x
Halling 1 64.94x
Hampstead London 1 1.86x
Harberton 1 61.35x
Ilsington 1 80.00x
Kensington London 1 0.52x
Marple 1 19.16x
Millom 1 11.00x
Newark Upon Trent 1 6.00x
Peterhead 1 5.93x
Royal Navy 1 2.85x
Shadwell London 1 10.37x
St Blazey 1 29.24x
St Marylebone London 1 0.54x
Stapleton 1 7.81x
Stranton 1 2.90x
Tywardreath 1 40.00x
Westbury On Trym 1 4.37x
Worleston 1 250.00x
Yealmpton 1 90.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 10
Susan 8
Annie 6
Edith 6
Eliza 6
Ann 5
Jane 5
Louisa 5
Charlotte 4
Alice 3
Bessie 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Millicent 2
Agusta 1
Anna 1
B.T.G. 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Diana 1
Dinah 1
E.M. 1
Eleanora 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Gemima 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Zeline 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 28
William 20
Frederick 9
Edward 8
Charles 7
George 7
Robert 7
Thomas 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 5
James 5
Francis 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Frank 2
Fred 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
A.E.W. 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Blindell 1
Charley 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Emanual 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jabez 1
Josiah 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Michael 1
Nicholas 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
W.H. 1
W.L.J.H. 1

FAQ

Bovey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bovey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 352 people were recorded with the Bovey surname. That placed it at #8,718 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bovey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 416 in 2016. That gives Bovey a modern rank of #11,533.

What does the Bovey surname mean?

A surname originating from Bovey Tracey in Devon, England, referring to someone from that area.

What does the Bovey map show?

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