UK surname
A surname derived from the Middle English word "buque," meaning "deer" or "buck."
In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Buckey surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 49, ranked #34,957, down from #22,745 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buckey is 168 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.5%.
1881 census count
76
Ranked #22,745
Modern count
49
2016, ranked #34,957
Peak year
1891
168 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Buckey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Buckey 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 | 63 | #22,069 |
| 1861 | historical | 102 | #20,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 76 | #22,745 |
| 1891 | historical | 168 | #16,937 |
| 1901 | historical | 85 | #24,636 |
| 1911 | historical | 135 | #19,058 |
| 1997 | modern | 84 | #29,106 |
| 1998 | modern | 77 | #30,289 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 70 | #31,180 |
| 2001 | modern | 68 | #31,195 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 60 | #32,446 |
| 2004 | modern | 62 | #32,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 62 | #32,708 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 65 | #33,303 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 67 | #33,713 |
| 2011 | modern | 56 | #34,450 |
| 2012 | modern | 57 | #34,452 |
| 2013 | modern | 55 | #34,628 |
| 2014 | modern | 56 | #34,601 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 49 | #34,957 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey, St John Hackney, Michaelstone-y-Vedw and St Matthew Bethnal Green. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Michaelstone-y-Vedw | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Buckey 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 Buckey, 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 Buckey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Buckey 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, Buckey 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 Buckey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Buckey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BUCKEY is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "bucca" meaning a male goat or buck, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. It is believed to have originated in the county of Lancashire during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Chancery Rolls of 1324, which mention a John de Buckelei. This suggests that the name was initially spelled as "Buckelei" or a similar variation before evolving into the modern form of "BUCKEY".
The name may have been derived from a place name, possibly referring to a meadow or clearing where male goats or bucks were commonly found. Several villages and hamlets in Lancashire, such as Buckley and Buckley's Green, share similar names and could be related to the surname's origins.
During the 16th century, the BUCKEY name appears in various records across Lancashire and neighboring counties. Notably, a William BUCKEY was mentioned in the Wills and Inventories of Chester, dated 1572.
In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Sir John BUCKEY (1618-1687), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the reign of Charles II. Sir John's descendants continued to hold positions of influence in the region for several generations.
Another notable figure bearing the BUCKEY surname was Robert BUCKEY (1704-1780), a renowned clockmaker from Lancashire. His intricate clocks and timepieces were highly sought after and can be found in various museums and private collections.
In the 19th century, the name spread across the British Isles, with several BUCKEY families emigrating to North America and other parts of the world. One such individual was James BUCKEY (1825-1901), a Scottish-born merchant who established a successful trading company in Canada.
Other notable individuals with the BUCKEY surname include: - Samuel BUCKEY (1756-1832), an English botanist and naturalist known for his extensive study of the flora and fauna of Lancashire. - Elizabeth BUCKEY (1878-1963), an American writer and poet, known for her works depicting life in rural New England. - William BUCKEY (1905-1987), a British architect renowned for his innovative designs and contributions to the modernist movement.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buckey 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. Middlesex leads with 44 Buckeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 44 | 5.94x |
| Surrey | 11 | 3.05x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 1.02x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.61x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.22x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.32x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.27x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.68x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.96x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.00x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 14 Buckeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bethnal Green London | 14 | 43.48x |
| Mile End New Town London | 12 | 821.92x |
| Bermondsey | 6 | 27.20x |
| Shoreditch London | 6 | 18.67x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 10.56x |
| Castleton | 5 | 56.95x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 7.49x |
| Islington London | 3 | 4.18x |
| Whitechapel London | 3 | 41.04x |
| Aston | 2 | 3.89x |
| Cawthorne In Wortley | 2 | 666.67x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 8.96x |
| Southampton St Mary | 2 | 20.94x |
| Spitalfields London | 2 | 35.91x |
| Storeton | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Colne Engaine | 1 | 769.23x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 21.74x |
| North Collingham | 1 | 416.67x |
| Shadwell London | 1 | 48.31x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.68x |
| Watford | 1 | 25.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Buckey 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 Buckey 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 Buckey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Silk Weaver | 7 |
| Cigar Maker | 2 |
| Greengrocer | 2 |
| Painter | 2 |
| Stone Quarry Man | 2 |
| Brass Sounder | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachman (Dom) | 1 |
| Coffee House Keeper | 1 |
| Coffee House Keeper Wife | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Gen Serv Dom | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Home Duties | 1 |
| Housekeeper (L H) | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Junior Clerk | 1 |
| Leather Cutter (Currier) | 1 |
| Leather Press Man (Cut) | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Retired Farm Bailif | 1 |
| Sailor | 1 |
| Stationers Cutter | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Tea Cooper | 1 |
| Tea T... | 1 |
| Ticket Cutter | 1 |
| Tobacco Stripper | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Visitor (Not Registered) | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
| Weaver Silk | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Buckey surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 49 in 2016. That gives Buckey a modern rank of #34,957.
A surname derived from the Middle English word "buque," meaning "deer" or "buck."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Buckey 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.