NameCensus.

UK surname

Bovington

In the 1881 census there were 196 people recorded with the Bovington surname, ranking it #13,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 285, ranked #15,286, down from #13,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes and Upton with Chalvey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Daventry, South Northamptonshire and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bovington is 331 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.4%.

1881 census count

196

Ranked #13,006

Modern count

285

2016, ranked #15,286

Peak year

1998

331 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bovington had 196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016, ranked #15,286.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 283 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bovington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bovington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bovington 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 100 #21,103
1881 historical 196 #13,006
1891 historical 252 #12,685
1901 historical 275 #12,332
1911 historical 283 #11,883
1997 modern 315 #13,111
1998 modern 331 #13,018
1999 modern 321 #13,362
2000 modern 308 #13,685
2001 modern 306 #13,565
2002 modern 299 #14,017
2003 modern 291 #14,100
2004 modern 286 #14,312
2005 modern 282 #14,368
2006 modern 280 #14,535
2007 modern 291 #14,347
2008 modern 303 #14,038
2009 modern 297 #14,519
2010 modern 299 #14,769
2011 modern 290 #14,933
2012 modern 280 #15,248
2013 modern 283 #15,401
2014 modern 284 #15,455
2015 modern 280 #15,485
2016 modern 285 #15,286

Geography

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Where Bovingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes, Upton with Chalvey and Woodburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Daventry, South Northamptonshire, Brighton and Hove, Rushmoor and South Norfolk. 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 Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
4 Woodburn Buckinghamshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Daventry 008 Daventry
2 South Northamptonshire 003 South Northamptonshire
3 Brighton and Hove 020 Brighton and Hove
4 Rushmoor 003 Rushmoor
5 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bovington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bovington

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Bovington is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bovington 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

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

1881 census detail

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Bovington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bovington 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 81 Bovingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.21x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 81 4.21x
Buckinghamshire 23 19.80x
Surrey 17 1.82x
Sussex 13 4.01x
Kent 10 1.53x
Warwickshire 10 2.06x
Berkshire 8 5.55x
Worcestershire 7 2.79x
Hampshire 6 1.52x
Suffolk 6 2.56x
Hertfordshire 4 3.02x
Shropshire 4 2.41x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Staffordshire 2 0.31x
Essex 1 0.26x
Midlothian 1 0.39x
Oxfordshire 1 0.84x
Royal Navy 1 4.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 20 Bovingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.74x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 20 10.74x
Farnham Royal 10 1449.28x
Ealing 8 46.59x
Enfield 8 63.44x
Hillingdon 8 130.51x
Lewisham 8 22.88x
Barnes 6 151.52x
Burnham 6 405.41x
Lambeth 6 3.58x
St Pancras London 6 3.88x
Warwick St Mary 6 142.52x
Withyam 6 431.65x
Clewer 5 84.60x
Farnborough 5 120.77x
Frant 5 217.39x
Hampton Wick London 5 354.61x
Harlington 5 495.05x
Henstead 5 1428.57x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 5 183.82x
Great Malvern 4 76.34x
Hemel Hempstead 4 67.00x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 68.61x
Warwick St Nicholas 4 112.68x
Datchet 3 379.75x
Hammersmith London 3 6.34x
Kensington London 3 2.81x
New Windsor 3 61.86x
Egham 2 34.78x
Hackney London 2 1.86x
Hastings St Mary 2 24.81x
Newington 2 2.82x
Paddington London 2 2.83x
Princes Risborough 2 128.21x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 2.91x
Stretford 2 15.94x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 43.20x
Worcester St Swithin 2 425.53x
Barking 1 9.01x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.20x
Bridewell Precinct London 1 555.56x
Caversham 1 42.19x
Chiswick 1 9.52x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.98x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 15.27x
Eldersfield 1 256.41x
Hampton London 1 31.65x
Portsea 1 1.30x
Royal Navy 1 5.11x
Sotterley 1 555.56x
St Martin In Fields 1 8.70x
St Marylebone London 1 0.97x
Sutton 1 14.77x
Walmer 1 35.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 14
John 10
William 10
Thomas 9
Joseph 5
Charles 4
James 4
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Philip 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Admiral 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Ewel 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Percy 1
Roland 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Bovington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bovington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 196 people were recorded with the Bovington surname. That placed it at #13,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bovington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016. That gives Bovington a modern rank of #15,286.

What does the Bovington map show?

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