NameCensus.

UK surname

Boyland

A locational surname referring to someone from an area with a concentration of boyaux (archaic French for a narrow defile or pass).

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Boyland surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 611, ranked #8,591, up from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Chard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, South Somerset and Port Glasgow Upper East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boyland is 670 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 130.6%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

611

2016, ranked #8,591

Peak year

1999

670 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boyland had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 611 in 2016, ranked #8,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 388 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Boyland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boyland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boyland 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 175 #11,542
1861 historical 202 #11,906
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 347 #9,894
1901 historical 348 #10,484
1911 historical 388 #9,497
1997 modern 629 #7,868
1998 modern 668 #7,753
1999 modern 670 #7,761
2000 modern 661 #7,833
2001 modern 618 #8,104
2002 modern 619 #8,262
2003 modern 593 #8,407
2004 modern 595 #8,403
2005 modern 590 #8,378
2006 modern 579 #8,509
2007 modern 600 #8,358
2008 modern 603 #8,382
2009 modern 608 #8,509
2010 modern 622 #8,542
2011 modern 611 #8,558
2012 modern 619 #8,387
2013 modern 630 #8,421
2014 modern 635 #8,411
2015 modern 617 #8,541
2016 modern 611 #8,591

Geography

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Where Boylands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Chard, London parishes, Stockland and Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, South Somerset, Port Glasgow Upper East, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central and Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Chard Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Stockland Devon
5 Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 005 East Devon
2 South Somerset 023 South Somerset
3 Port Glasgow Upper East Inverclyde
4 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
5 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boyland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boyland

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Boyland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Boyland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Boyland 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

Boyland is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Boyland

The surname Boyland finds its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have evolved from an Old English place name referring to a "boy's land" or a small landholding owned by a young man or boy. This surname is derived from the words "boya" (boy) and "land" (land or territory).

The earliest recorded instances of the Boyland surname can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275 mention a Robert de Boyland, while the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1315 list a William de Boyland.

In the 16th century, the Boyland surname appeared in the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1558, which recorded a John Boyland. Around the same time, the Visitation of Berkshire in 1566 documented a family with the Boyland name.

One notable figure in history bearing the Boyland surname was Sir John Boyland (1563-1644), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Andover in 1624 and 1625. Another individual of note was Thomas Boyland (1630-1685), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stoke Newington in London.

In the 18th century, the Boyland surname was found in various parish records and local histories. For instance, the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, mention a William Boyland who was born in 1712. Additionally, the History of Norfolk published in 1781 references a family named Boyland residing in the county.

Other notable individuals with the Boyland surname include John Boyland (1774-1840), an English engraver and artist known for his landscape paintings, and Charles Boyland (1820-1888), a British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Over the centuries, variations in the spelling of the Boyland surname have emerged, such as Boylan, Boylen, Byland, and Bylond, reflecting regional dialects and scribal errors in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boyland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boyland 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 55 Boylands recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.15x.

County Total Index
Devon 55 10.15x
Hampshire 53 9.93x
Lancashire 32 1.04x
Somerset 31 7.39x
Surrey 16 1.26x
Lanarkshire 15 1.78x
Durham 8 1.03x
Renfrewshire 8 3.96x
Monmouthshire 7 3.72x
Glamorgan 6 1.32x
Montgomeryshire 6 10.05x
Yorkshire 6 0.23x
Essex 5 0.97x
Middlesex 4 0.15x
Cumberland 3 1.34x
Dorset 2 1.17x
Royal Navy 2 6.44x
Sussex 2 0.46x
Berkshire 1 0.51x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.91x
Cheshire 1 0.17x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x
Northumberland 1 0.26x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 48 Boylands recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.88x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 48 45.88x
Stockland 21 2692.31x
Chard 20 393.70x
Glasgow 9 6.02x
Lambeth 9 3.96x
Liverpool 6 3.20x
Llanllwchaiarn 6 231.66x
Membury 6 1034.48x
Woodbury 6 372.67x
Cotleigh 5 3333.33x
Gelligaer 5 48.26x
Great Bolton 5 12.22x
Kirkdale 5 9.62x
Moss Side 5 30.75x
Panteg 5 168.35x
Taunton St Mary 5 64.94x
Ardwick 4 14.35x
Broad Clist 4 213.90x
East Greenock 4 20.99x
Everton 4 4.06x
Govan 4 1.92x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 11.92x
Heworth 4 26.20x
Leyton 4 45.15x
Selby 4 74.21x
Stoke Damerel 4 10.54x
Abbey 3 9.74x
Bermondsey 3 3.87x
Newington 3 3.12x
Offwell 3 1000.00x
Portsmouth 3 24.41x
Walcot 3 13.43x
Yarcombe 3 483.87x
Barony 2 0.94x
Bedminster 2 5.08x
Honiton 2 66.67x
Ifield 2 109.29x
Royal Navy 2 7.54x
Southampton St Mary 2 5.96x
St Cuthbert W O 2 18.30x
Wimborne Minster 2 72.46x
Cardiff St John 1 6.75x
Chelsea London 1 1.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.04x
Dewsbury 1 3.78x
Henbury 1 40.16x
Islington London 1 0.40x
Leeds 1 0.69x
Llanedy 1 48.31x
Llanvihangel Pontymoile 1 303.03x
Lower Machen 1 107.53x
Manchester 1 0.72x
Mearns 1 28.25x
Pembroke St Mary 1 9.38x
Reading St Mary 1 6.39x
St Mary Within 1 35.71x
St Marylebone London 1 0.72x
St Pancras London 1 0.48x
Stapleford Tawney 1 500.00x
Stockport 1 3.38x
Topsham 1 39.06x
Toxteth Park 1 0.96x
Tynemouth 1 4.82x
Walton On Thames 1 17.15x
Weston Super Mare 1 9.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Annie 5
Alice 4
Fanny 4
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Minnie 2
Amy 1
Angla 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Celia 1
Charlote 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
E. 1
Emm 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Hollis 1
Isabella 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Priscilla 1
Rosenar 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 15
William 14
George 13
John 12
Samuel 7
Charles 5
Henry 5
Thomas 5
Herbert 4
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Patrick 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Hugh 2
Louis 2
Wm. 2
Abel 1
Aruther 1
Daniel 1
Eli 1
Eugine 1
Frank 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Joe 1
Joel 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Raymond 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Vincent 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Boyland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boyland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Boyland surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boyland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 611 in 2016. That gives Boyland a modern rank of #8,591.

What does the Boyland surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from an area with a concentration of boyaux (archaic French for a narrow defile or pass).

What does the Boyland map show?

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