NameCensus.

UK surname

Bristol

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived in or came from the city of Bristol, England.

In the 1881 census there were 224 people recorded with the Bristol surname, ranking it #11,970 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 334, ranked #13,640, down from #11,970 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Ombersley and Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ribble Valley, Kirklees and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bristol is 334 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.1%.

1881 census count

224

Ranked #11,970

Modern count

334

2016, ranked #13,640

Peak year

2016

334 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bristol had 224 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,970 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016, ranked #13,640.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 297 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Bristol surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bristol surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bristol 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 201 #10,364
1861 historical 177 #13,265
1881 historical 224 #11,970
1891 historical 297 #11,192
1901 historical 279 #12,225
1911 historical 293 #11,650
1997 modern 296 #13,646
1998 modern 302 #13,839
1999 modern 325 #13,257
2000 modern 313 #13,541
2001 modern 304 #13,619
2002 modern 313 #13,615
2003 modern 318 #13,291
2004 modern 311 #13,549
2005 modern 306 #13,657
2006 modern 304 #13,797
2007 modern 302 #13,997
2008 modern 302 #14,069
2009 modern 327 #13,599
2010 modern 330 #13,786
2011 modern 323 #13,868
2012 modern 314 #14,063
2013 modern 322 #14,037
2014 modern 321 #14,150
2015 modern 322 #14,023
2016 modern 334 #13,640

Geography

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Where Bristols are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Ombersley, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Kings Norton and East and West Tisbury, Wardour. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ribble Valley, Kirklees, Hammersmith and Fulham, Suffolk Coastal and Lambeth. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Ombersley Worcestershire
3 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
4 Kings Norton Worcestershire
5 East and West Tisbury, Wardour Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ribble Valley 001 Ribble Valley
2 Kirklees 035 Kirklees
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 004 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Suffolk Coastal 009 Suffolk Coastal
5 Lambeth 008 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bristol

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bristol

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Bristol surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Bristol 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bristol is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bristol 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

Bristol falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bristol is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bristol

The surname BRISTOL originated in the city of Bristol, located in the southwest of England. The city's name is derived from the Old English words "brycg" meaning "bridge" and "stow" meaning "place." This suggests that the surname may have initially referred to someone who lived near a bridge or a place associated with a bridge in Bristol.

The name BRISTOL first appeared in historical records in the 12th century. One early reference can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a person named "William de Bristoll." The use of the preposition "de" in this instance indicates that William was from Bristol.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the city of Bristol is recorded as "Bricstou" and "Bristou," further highlighting the historical roots of the surname's spelling variations.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname BRISTOL was John Bristol, a merchant and alderman who lived in Bristol during the 14th century. He played a prominent role in the city's governance and was mentioned in various local records from that time.

Another notable figure was Thomas Bristol, a wealthy merchant and ship owner from Bristol who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was involved in the lucrative wine trade and is believed to have been one of the wealthiest individuals in the city during his lifetime.

In the 16th century, a family of BRISTOLS owned estates in the nearby county of Somerset. This branch of the family produced several notable individuals, including Sir Walter Bristol, who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in the late 16th century.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a prominent Royalist soldier named Colonel Richard Bristol fought for King Charles I. He was involved in several major battles and was eventually captured by Parliamentarian forces in 1645.

Another individual of note was Reverend John Bristol, an Anglican clergyman who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He served as the rector of several parishes in Somerset and Gloucestershire and was known for his scholarship and writings on religious topics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bristol families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bristol 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 45 Bristols recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 45 1.74x
Cheshire 19 3.94x
Dorset 19 13.25x
Middlesex 17 0.78x
Nottinghamshire 17 5.77x
Warwickshire 15 2.72x
Derbyshire 12 3.51x
Kent 12 1.61x
Surrey 12 1.13x
Devon 8 1.76x
Staffordshire 8 1.08x
Worcestershire 6 2.10x
Wiltshire 5 2.59x
Gloucestershire 4 0.93x
Yorkshire 4 0.18x
Durham 3 0.46x
Glamorgan 3 0.79x
Norfolk 3 0.89x
Berkshire 2 1.22x
Brecknockshire 2 4.58x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.51x
Hampshire 2 0.45x
Lincolnshire 1 0.29x
Northumberland 1 0.31x
Oxfordshire 1 0.74x
Suffolk 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sutton In Ashfield in Nottinghamshire leads with 17 Bristols recorded in 1881 and an index of 266.04x.

Place Total Index
Sutton In Ashfield 17 266.04x
Aston 15 9.89x
Motcombe 13 1226.42x
Manchester 11 9.43x
Stockport 10 40.29x
Dukinfield 8 35.89x
Heaton Norris 8 54.20x
Newton 8 40.04x
Ashborne 7 300.43x
Witheridge 7 909.09x
Gillingham 6 243.90x
Merstham 6 882.35x
Salford 6 7.87x
Baslow With Bubnell 5 793.65x
East Tisbury 5 746.27x
Hornsey 5 18.10x
Kings Norton 5 19.55x
Rochester St Margaret 5 63.61x
St George Hanover Square 5 12.99x
Camberwell 4 2.87x
Chislehurst 4 100.00x
Rishton 4 131.58x
Royton 4 50.44x
St Pancras London 4 2.27x
Darlington 3 11.95x
Horton In Bradford 3 8.87x
Marham 3 535.71x
Newcastle Under Lyme 3 22.99x
Bexley 2 30.35x
Bitton Oldland 2 45.66x
Hay 2 123.46x
Hungerford 2 90.09x
Swansea Town 2 6.41x
West Derby 2 2.64x
Wolstanton 2 8.93x
Aldershot 1 6.67x
Aylesbury 1 17.09x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 2.48x
Bristol Temple 1 35.46x
Calverton 1 243.90x
Calwich 1 1111.11x
Castle Church 1 22.57x
Cheadle 1 10.86x
Crowhurst 1 312.50x
Cruwys Morchard 1 217.39x
Elswick 1 3.85x
Gillingham 1 6.51x
Hammersmith London 1 1.86x
Haslingden 1 9.31x
Ickworth 1 1428.57x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.91x
Little Hulton 1 23.31x
Llandaff 1 7.90x
Ombersley 1 62.89x
Oxford St Giles 1 15.53x
Southampton 1 285.71x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 10.57x
St Botolph Lincoln 1 39.84x
St Marylebone London 1 0.86x
Tadcaster West 1 58.48x
West Bromwich 1 2.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 10
James 9
Thomas 9
Charles 8
Joseph 6
George 5
Henry 5
Samuel 4
Edward 3
Albert 2
Anthony 2
Bernard 2
Clement 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Wm. 2
Alford 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
C. 1
Charley 1
Donald 1
Esmond 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fredric 1
Gervase 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Lars 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Matt 1
Percival 1
Rebecca 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bristol surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bristol surname in 1881?

In 1881, 224 people were recorded with the Bristol surname. That placed it at #11,970 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bristol surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016. That gives Bristol a modern rank of #13,640.

What does the Bristol surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived in or came from the city of Bristol, England.

What does the Bristol map show?

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