NameCensus.

UK surname

Boyden

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "Boia's valley" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 570 people recorded with the Boyden surname, ranking it #6,099 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 749, ranked #7,298, down from #6,099 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, South Kesteven and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boyden is 898 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.4%.

1881 census count

570

Ranked #6,099

Modern count

749

2016, ranked #7,298

Peak year

1911

898 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boyden had 570 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,099 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 749 in 2016, ranked #7,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 898 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boyden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boyden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boyden 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 351 #6,715
1861 historical 329 #7,748
1881 historical 570 #6,099
1891 historical 634 #6,101
1901 historical 816 #5,532
1911 historical 898 #4,961
1997 modern 784 #6,645
1998 modern 803 #6,731
1999 modern 801 #6,782
2000 modern 780 #6,913
2001 modern 761 #6,917
2002 modern 776 #6,950
2003 modern 758 #6,953
2004 modern 734 #7,135
2005 modern 718 #7,177
2006 modern 745 #7,018
2007 modern 754 #7,023
2008 modern 745 #7,139
2009 modern 753 #7,226
2010 modern 775 #7,200
2011 modern 748 #7,322
2012 modern 774 #7,050
2013 modern 773 #7,169
2014 modern 769 #7,219
2015 modern 751 #7,297
2016 modern 749 #7,298

Geography

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Where Boydens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, South Kesteven, Fenland and Colchester. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 003 Ryedale
2 South Kesteven 015 South Kesteven
3 Fenland 010 Fenland
4 Colchester 001 Colchester
5 South Kesteven 016 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boyden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boyden

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Boyden 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

Boyden is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Boyden

The surname Boyden is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "boga" and "denu," meaning "dweller by the bend or curve" or "dweller in the valley."

One of the earliest known records of the name Boyden can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a census-like document from 1273, which lists a Robert de Bogedene. This suggests that the name was initially used as a place name, referring to someone who lived near a particular geographical feature.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Bogdene, Bogedene, and Bogeden, reflecting the variations in local dialects and scribal practices of the time. The Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327 include a reference to a John de Bogedene, providing further evidence of the name's early use.

During the 15th century, the surname Boyden started to become more standardized in its spelling, likely due to the increasing influence of written records and the establishment of more consistent naming conventions. One notable individual from this period was John Boyden, born in 1456 in Shropshire, who served as a member of the local gentry.

In the 16th century, the Boyden family had established a presence in several counties across England. Thomas Boyden (1520-1584), a landowner from Oxfordshire, was involved in a legal dispute over property rights, which is documented in court records from the time.

As the centuries progressed, the Boyden surname spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. William Boyden (1638-1710), a merchant from Norfolk, was among the early settlers in the American colonies, arriving in Massachusetts in 1663.

Other notable individuals bearing the Boyden surname include:

1. Seth Boyden (1779-1870), an American inventor and manufacturer credited with several innovations in the production of patent leather and malleable iron.

2. Uriah Atherton Boyden (1804-1879), an American inventor and mechanical engineer, best known for his patented turbine water wheel design.

3. Elbridge Boyden (1810-1898), an American architect and builder who designed several prominent structures in Massachusetts, including the Worcester County Courthouse and the Mechanics Hall in Worcester.

4. Rudolph Boyden (1818-1900), a British artist and engraver, known for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting scenes from the English countryside.

5. Willard Boyden (1864-1928), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boyden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boyden 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 120 Boydens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.15x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 120 2.15x
Essex 89 8.09x
Staffordshire 58 3.08x
Suffolk 53 7.81x
Cambridgeshire 35 9.92x
Lincolnshire 29 3.26x
Kent 26 1.37x
Surrey 25 0.92x
Lancashire 21 0.32x
Norfolk 18 2.10x
Shropshire 18 3.74x
Yorkshire 18 0.33x
Northumberland 12 1.45x
Warwickshire 12 0.85x
Derbyshire 7 0.80x
Hampshire 5 0.44x
Gloucestershire 4 0.37x
Northamptonshire 4 0.76x
Sussex 4 0.43x
Durham 3 0.18x
Devon 2 0.17x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.63x
Worcestershire 2 0.28x
Denbighshire 1 0.48x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Colchester St Peter in Essex leads with 19 Boydens recorded in 1881 and an index of 431.82x.

Place Total Index
Colchester St Peter 19 431.82x
Hackney London 18 5.76x
Whittlesey St Mary St 17 137.99x
St Pancras London 16 3.57x
Lavenham 15 422.54x
Stoke Newington London 13 29.97x
Deeping St James 12 380.95x
Islington London 11 2.04x
Lawshall 11 723.68x
Pemberton 11 41.75x
Whitgreave 11 3793.10x
Colchester St Martin 10 497.51x
Lambeth 10 2.06x
Ratcliffe London 10 32.51x
West Ham 10 4.12x
Shoreditch London 9 3.73x
Stamford St George 9 225.00x
West Whelpington 9 6428.57x
Wisbech St Peter 9 50.88x
Brewood 8 147.60x
Fordham 8 350.88x
Horton In Bradford 8 9.28x
Lexden 8 181.41x
Milwich 8 769.23x
Tottenham 8 9.02x
Claylane 7 57.76x
East Mersea 7 1296.30x
Edgbaston 7 16.07x
Penkridge 7 144.33x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.48x
Charing 6 233.46x
Docking 6 223.05x
Fornham All Sts 6 740.74x
Messing 6 437.96x
Whepstead 6 512.82x
Wolverhampton 6 4.15x
Bromley London 5 4.08x
Camberwell 5 1.41x
Cannock 5 15.24x
Clee With Weelsby 5 25.64x
Folkestone 5 13.56x
Mile End Old Town London 5 4.22x
Portsea 5 2.23x
Southwold 5 124.38x
Stanton Upon Hine Heath 5 393.70x
Walthamstow 5 12.64x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 7.78x
Colchester St Giles 4 36.83x
Fingringhoe 4 1000.00x
Minster In Sheppey 4 12.71x
St Luke London 4 4.48x
Stoke Upon Tern 4 224.72x
Strood 4 36.90x
Westbury On Trym 4 10.81x
Bromley 3 10.36x
Colchester St Mary At 3 76.92x
Croydon 3 1.99x
Great Bentley 3 172.41x
Great Yarmouth 3 4.23x
Kingston On Thames 3 4.60x
Methwold 3 108.30x
Moreton Say 3 241.94x
Newchurch 3 5.55x
North Chapel 3 198.68x
St Maryle Wigford 3 43.35x
Stafford St Mary 3 11.27x
Stretton 3 681.82x
Tyrley 3 205.48x
Wellington 3 11.09x
Westgate 3 5.85x
Westminster St Margaret 3 11.16x
Willington 3 31.35x
Aston 2 0.52x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 11.04x
Cheetham 2 4.06x
Kings Norton 2 3.07x
Liverpool 2 0.50x
Pocklington 2 38.39x
St Martin In Fields 2 6.00x
Thurston 2 150.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 31
George 28
James 20
Henry 16
Thomas 16
Charles 11
Samuel 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Frederick 7
Walter 7
Harry 6
Robert 5
Ernest 4
Albert 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Elias 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Joseph 2
Noah 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
David 1
Earnie 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Forxdu 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Jerome 1
Laurence 1
Louis 1
Loyter 1
March 1
Marshall 1
Nichols 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Robt. 1
Saml 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Stanton 1
Steven 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Boyden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boyden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 570 people were recorded with the Boyden surname. That placed it at #6,099 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boyden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 749 in 2016. That gives Boyden a modern rank of #7,298.

What does the Boyden surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "Boia's valley" in Old English.

What does the Boyden map show?

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