NameCensus.

UK surname

Boyde

A surname derived from the Old French "boide" meaning a stout or strong person.

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Boyde surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 168, ranked #21,984, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Barra. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Hackney and South Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boyde is 276 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.1%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

168

2016, ranked #21,984

Peak year

1861

276 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boyde had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016, ranked #21,984.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 276 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Boyde surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boyde surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boyde 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 220 #9,671
1861 historical 276 #9,052
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 258 #12,440
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 183 #15,811
1997 modern 162 #20,107
1998 modern 165 #20,423
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 153 #21,520
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 154 #21,308
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 159 #21,148
2007 modern 169 #20,562
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 176 #20,632
2010 modern 176 #21,101
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 174 #21,561
2015 modern 171 #21,729
2016 modern 168 #21,984

Geography

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Where Boydes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Barra and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Hackney, South Northamptonshire, Bedford and Islington. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Barra Inverness
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 017 Powys
2 Hackney 020 Hackney
3 South Northamptonshire 002 South Northamptonshire
4 Bedford 007 Bedford
5 Islington 013 Islington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boyde

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boyde

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Boyde, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Boyde surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Boyde 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Boyde is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Boyde is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boyde falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Boyde

The surname BOYDE is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "boga" meaning "a bow" and "hyd" meaning "a hide of land." This suggests that the name likely referred to an archer or someone who owned a hide of land suitable for archery.

The earliest known recording of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a person named Bouid is listed as a landowner in Lincolnshire. Over time, the spelling evolved to include variations such as Boyde, Boid, and Boyde.

In the 13th century, records show a William Boyde living in Buckinghamshire, while a John Boyde was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. During the 14th century, the name appeared in various locations across England, including Essex, Gloucestershire, and Northamptonshire.

One notable figure bearing the surname BOYDE was Sir Robert Boyde, a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in the late 16th century. He was born around 1540 and played a significant role in the English Reformation under Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of note was James Boyde, a Scottish mathematician and philosopher born in 1661. He made contributions to the field of calculus and was a contemporary of Sir Isaac Newton.

In the 18th century, Samuel Boyde, born in 1708, was a renowned English engraver and painter. His works included portraits of notable figures such as John Wesley and George Whitefield.

The name BOYDE also has connections to places like Boydtown, a village in Lincolnshire, and Boyde Hall, an estate in Essex that dates back to the 15th century.

Throughout history, variations of the surname BOYDE have been recorded in various parts of England, as well as in Scotland and Ireland, indicating the name's widespread presence across the British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boyde families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boyde 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. Isle of Man leads with 158 Boydes recorded in 1881 and an index of 215.91x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 158 215.91x
Lancashire 35 0.75x
Berkshire 30 10.14x
Hampshire 22 2.72x
Lanarkshire 18 1.41x
Kent 15 1.12x
Middlesex 14 0.36x
Sussex 14 2.11x
Ayrshire 12 4.07x
Inverness-shire 11 9.35x
Fife 8 3.43x
Renfrewshire 8 2.62x
Stirlingshire 7 4.82x
Surrey 7 0.36x
Cumberland 6 1.77x
Dunbartonshire 6 5.67x
Durham 5 0.43x
Essex 4 0.51x
Warwickshire 4 0.40x
Wiltshire 4 1.15x
Derbyshire 3 0.49x
Midlothian 2 0.38x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.27x
Buteshire 1 4.19x
Cornwall 1 0.22x
Devon 1 0.12x
Flintshire 1 0.94x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.75x
Norfolk 1 0.17x
Northumberland 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 2.13x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Wigtownshire 1 1.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ballaugh in Isle of Man leads with 46 Boydes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3511.45x.

Place Total Index
Ballaugh 46 3511.45x
German Peel 18 427.55x
Maughold 17 300.89x
Onchan 17 80.65x
Lezayre 15 457.32x
German 12 300.75x
Barra 11 374.15x
Bride 11 1100.00x
Midgham 10 2500.00x
Botolphs 9 6923.08x
Foots Cray 9 350.19x
Eversley 8 860.22x
Michael 8 536.91x
White Waltham 8 720.72x
Dunfermline 7 19.51x
Kilbarchan 7 75.43x
St George Hanover Square 7 10.08x
Basingstoke 6 64.59x
Old Kilpatrick 6 47.96x
Riccarton Hurlford 6 116.05x
Accrington 5 11.76x
Arlecdon 5 55.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 6.73x
Malew 5 78.25x
Reading St Lawrence 5 78.99x
Barony 4 1.24x
Barrow In Furness 4 6.29x
Binfield 4 176.21x
Birmingham 4 1.21x
Denny 4 51.75x
Glasgow 4 1.77x
Gorton 4 9.10x
Govan 4 1.27x
Rowde 4 248.45x
Rushen 4 80.81x
Silchester 4 625.00x
Streatham 4 13.68x
Toxteth Park 4 2.53x
West Ham 4 2.33x
Broughton In Salford 3 7.02x
Carluke 3 25.93x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 28.12x
Muiravonside 3 81.30x
Steyning 3 133.33x
Stonehouse 3 69.44x
Ayr 2 14.37x
Charlton 2 22.40x
Colne 2 14.36x
Croydon 2 1.88x
Kensington London 2 0.91x
Liverpool 2 0.70x
Lonan 2 45.15x
South Leith 2 3.37x
St Clement Danes London 2 24.51x
St Quivox 2 20.06x
Westminster St John 2 4.17x
Westoe 2 3.01x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.99x
Blackley 1 12.20x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 2.69x
Buxton 1 19.16x
Calstock 1 11.43x
Douglas 1 94.34x
Froxfield 1 107.53x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 1.97x
Holywell 1 7.52x
Hove 1 3.43x
Inch 1 19.61x
Newabbey 1 81.97x
Newnham 1 204.08x
Newton On Ayr 1 11.33x
Plymstock 1 23.26x
Portsea 1 0.63x
Prestwich 1 8.57x
Rothesay 1 8.65x
Sonning 1 30.58x
Southwick 1 9.01x
Straiton 1 59.52x
Whittington 1 36.76x
Willesden 1 2.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Isabella 10
Jane 10
Elizabeth 9
Ann 8
Catherine 7
Ellen 6
Margaret 6
Sarah 6
Alice 5
Anne 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Anna 3
Catharine 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Esther 3
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Caroline 2
Cath. 2
Christian 2
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Georgina 2
Kate 2
Minnie 2
Barbara 1
Cathrine 1
Chartole 1
Dorothy 1
Elisa 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isaballa 1
Kesiah 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Mable 1
Margarett 1
Margarsh 1
Margretta 1
Margt. 1
Margt.J. 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 28
William 26
James 14
Thomas 9
George 8
Henry 7
Robert 7
Edward 6
Arthur 4
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Chas. 1
D. 1
Earoyman 1
Ed. 1
Edw. 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Jas. 1
Jos. 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Thos.E. 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willie 1
Wm.H. 1
Wm.Robert 1

FAQ

Boyde surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boyde surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Boyde surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boyde surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016. That gives Boyde a modern rank of #21,984.

What does the Boyde surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French "boide" meaning a stout or strong person.

What does the Boyde map show?

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