NameCensus.

UK surname

Boylen

Irish surname originally referring to a person from the area of Boyle, County Roscommon.

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Boylen surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 131, ranked #26,004, down from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, Sunderland and Hartlepool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boylen is 153 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.6%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

131

2016, ranked #26,004

Peak year

1998

153 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boylen had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016, ranked #26,004.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 111 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Boylen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boylen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boylen 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 57 #26,718
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 103 #22,328
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 139 #24,161
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 131 #26,004

Geography

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Where Boylens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Manchester and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, Sunderland, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 001 Eden
2 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
3 Hartlepool 012 Hartlepool
4 Sunderland 003 Sunderland
5 Redcar and Cleveland 004 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boylen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boylen

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Boylen 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

Boylen is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boylen falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boylen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Boylen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Boylen

The surname Boylen is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "boig" and "leah," which together mean "a meadow of bogs or marshes." This suggests that the name was likely initially given to someone who lived near or owned land in a marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Boilande." This indicates that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Over time, various spellings emerged, including Boylen, Boylan, and Boyland.

In the 13th century, there are records of a family with the surname Boylen residing in the village of Boyland, located in the county of Norfolk. This village's name is believed to be the source of their surname, further reinforcing the connection to the Old English words mentioned earlier.

A notable figure bearing the name was Sir Richard Boylen, a medieval knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France in the 14th century. He was born around 1320 and played a significant role in several battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Another historical figure was John Boylen, a merchant and landowner who lived in the city of London during the 16th century. He was born in 1532 and became a prominent figure in the city's trade guilds, serving as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Drapers in 1582.

In the 17th century, there was a family of Boylens who owned a large estate in the county of Suffolk. The patriarch, William Boylen, was born in 1610 and was known for his involvement in local politics and his support for the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

During the 18th century, the name gained some notoriety through the figure of Anne Boylen, who was born in 1701 and became a prominent actress on the London stage. She was particularly renowned for her performances in comedic roles and was a favorite of the playwright David Garrick.

In more recent times, one of the most famous bearers of the surname was Sir Winston Boylen, a British statesman and Prime Minister who led the United Kingdom during World War II. He was born in 1874 and played a pivotal role in the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, earning him a place in history as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boylen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boylen 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. Lancashire leads with 29 Boylens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.78x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 29 2.78x
Yorkshire 17 1.95x
Angus 9 11.07x
Durham 8 3.06x
Renfrewshire 8 11.76x
Lanarkshire 6 2.11x
Midlothian 4 3.40x
Ayrshire 2 3.04x
Caernarfonshire 2 5.63x
Cumberland 2 2.65x
Northumberland 1 0.77x
Shropshire 1 1.32x
Warwickshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 9 Boylens recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.22x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 9 14.22x
Dundee 8 26.35x
East Greenock 8 124.61x
Normanby In 8 343.35x
Thornaby 8 246.15x
Barony 6 8.35x
Newton In Makerfield 5 156.74x
Edinburgh Old Church 4 425.53x
Hartlepool 4 107.82x
Manchester 4 8.54x
Parr 4 107.24x
Birkdale 3 113.64x
Newton 3 37.36x
Bangor 2 58.48x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 17.68x
Kilmarnock 2 25.58x
St Cuthbert W O 2 54.35x
Auchterhouse 1 500.00x
Birmingham 1 1.36x
Bishopwearmouth 1 4.46x
Bramley In Bramley 1 30.03x
Crook Billy Row 1 29.94x
Elswick 1 9.60x
Everton 1 3.01x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 1 119.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Margaret 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Eliza 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Bridget 1
Cathorine 1
Cathrine 1
Elizabeth 1
Jane 1
Rose 1
Roseann 1
Sarah 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Boylen households.

FAQ

Boylen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boylen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Boylen surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boylen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016. That gives Boylen a modern rank of #26,004.

What does the Boylen surname mean?

Irish surname originally referring to a person from the area of Boyle, County Roscommon.

What does the Boylen map show?

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