UK surname
A surname derived from the German word "Buch" meaning beech tree.
In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Bucker surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #27,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Manchester and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bucker is 428 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.5%.
1881 census count
43
Ranked #27,575
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1861
428 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bucker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bucker surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 80 | #19,558 |
| 1861 | historical | 428 | #6,002 |
| 1881 | historical | 43 | #27,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 209 | #14,459 |
| 1901 | historical | 19 | #31,911 |
| 1911 | historical | 102 | #22,465 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Manchester, Portsmouth, Portsea, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Sunninghill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 4 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Sunninghill | Berkshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bucker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bucker, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bucker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bucker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bucker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bucker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bucker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BUCKER is believed to have originated in Germany during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "buck", meaning a male goat or ram. The name likely referred to an individual who was associated with the raising or herding of these animals, perhaps as a profession or trade.
The earliest recorded instances of the BUCKER surname can be traced back to various regions of present-day Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. In some historical documents, the name appears with slight variations in spelling, such as Bucker, Buccker, or Buckker, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.
One notable mention of the BUCKER name can be found in the chronicles of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Bucker is recorded as a prominent merchant and guild member in the early 16th century (circa 1520-1580). Additionally, the surname appears in the records of the University of Leipzig, where Johannes Bucker (1612-1681) was a renowned scholar and professor of theology.
In the 17th century, a branch of the BUCKER family migrated to the Netherlands, where they settled in the province of Friesland. One notable figure from this line was Pieter Bucker (1637-1701), a renowned artist and painter whose works are still displayed in several Dutch museums.
As the surname spread across Europe, it also found its way to England, where it was anglicized to the spelling "BUCKER". One of the earliest recorded instances of this spelling can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, where a William Bucker (1658-1724) is mentioned as a respected landowner and local magistrate.
Another notable bearer of the BUCKER name was Johann Friedrich Bucker (1722-1796), a German-born composer and musician who spent much of his career in the service of the Russian Imperial Court in St. Petersburg. His works were highly regarded and helped to establish the reputation of Russian classical music in the 18th century.
Throughout its history, the BUCKER surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, merchants, scholars, and artists, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who bore this name across different regions and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bucker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Berkshire leads with 8 Buckers recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | 8 | 25.42x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.43x |
| Surrey | 6 | 2.94x |
| Wiltshire | 6 | 16.19x |
| Cornwall | 5 | 10.54x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 3.78x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 3.24x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 2.43x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 2.33x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford On Avon in Wiltshire leads with 6 Buckers recorded in 1881 and an index of 504.20x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford On Avon | 6 | 504.20x |
| Reading St Giles | 6 | 194.17x |
| Falmouth | 5 | 297.62x |
| Nuneaton | 4 | 327.87x |
| Wandsworth | 3 | 74.26x |
| Witton Cum Twambrooks | 3 | 365.85x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 2 | 25.84x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 7.47x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 11.01x |
| Clewer | 1 | 77.52x |
| Dorking | 1 | 72.99x |
| East Ilsley | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Friern Barnet | 1 | 108.70x |
| Horsham | 1 | 72.99x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 11.21x |
| Portsea | 1 | 5.94x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 31.75x |
| St Stephen Coleman Street | 1 | 666.67x |
| St Thomas Winchester | 1 | 163.93x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bucker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bucker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Bucker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Beer House Keeper | 1 |
| Case Maker At Biscuit Factory | 1 |
| China Dealer | 1 |
| Colonial Broker | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Goldleaf Manufact | 1 |
| Governess (Sch) | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Head Waiter | 1 |
| Horse Hair Worker | 1 |
| Ladys Maid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Miliner | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Private (1/5 Regiment) | 1 |
| Salt Boiler | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Bucker surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Bucker a modern rank of #36,904.
A surname derived from the German word "Buch" meaning beech tree.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bucker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.