NameCensus.

UK surname

Buckham

A locational name derived from a place called Buckham, possibly in Somerset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 347 people recorded with the Buckham surname, ranking it #8,811 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 337, ranked #13,552, down from #8,811 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Horton and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside, Northumberland and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buckham is 442 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.9%.

1881 census count

347

Ranked #8,811

Modern count

337

2016, ranked #13,552

Peak year

1891

442 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Buckham had 347 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,811 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016, ranked #13,552.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 442 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Buckham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Buckham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Buckham 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 303 #7,590
1861 historical 283 #8,866
1881 historical 347 #8,811
1891 historical 442 #8,179
1901 historical 394 #9,579
1911 historical 441 #8,638
1997 modern 322 #12,914
1998 modern 337 #12,859
1999 modern 345 #12,755
2000 modern 343 #12,746
2001 modern 335 #12,759
2002 modern 331 #13,115
2003 modern 312 #13,467
2004 modern 307 #13,685
2005 modern 308 #13,590
2006 modern 317 #13,376
2007 modern 311 #13,703
2008 modern 314 #13,720
2009 modern 319 #13,832
2010 modern 331 #13,769
2011 modern 327 #13,754
2012 modern 320 #13,868
2013 modern 324 #13,961
2014 modern 334 #13,749
2015 modern 332 #13,705
2016 modern 337 #13,552

Geography

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Where Buckhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Horton, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Tyneside, Northumberland, Doncaster and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Horton Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Tyneside 013 South Tyneside
2 Northumberland 020 Northumberland
3 Doncaster 037 Doncaster
4 Sunderland 030 Sunderland
5 Northumberland 003 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Buckham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Buckham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Buckham, 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 Buckham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Buckham 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Buckham 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

Buckham is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Buckham

The surname Buckham is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, deriving from the place name Buckham, a village in the county of Buckinghamshire. The name itself is derived from the Old English words "bucc" and "ham," meaning "buck" and "homestead" or "village," respectively, suggesting it may have been a settlement associated with deer or hunting grounds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Buckham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bocheham." This entry indicates the presence of individuals bearing this surname in the region during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, historical records mention a John de Bucham, a prominent figure who held lands in Buckinghamshire. Additionally, a Richard Buckham is documented as a landowner in the same county during the 14th century, further solidifying the association of this surname with the region.

The name Buckham underwent various spelling variations throughout its history, such as Buckeham, Buckham, and Bucham, reflecting the evolving nature of language and regional dialects. These variations can be found in various historical documents and records from different parts of England.

Notable individuals with the surname Buckham include:

1. William Buckham (c. 1540 - 1600), an English scholar and clergyman who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. 2. Richard Buckham (c. 1600 - 1670), an English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works. 3. John Buckham (c. 1670 - 1745), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford. 4. Thomas Buckham (c. 1800 - 1865), a British explorer and naturalist known for his expeditions to South America and his contributions to the study of tropical flora and fauna. 5. Elizabeth Buckham (1835 - 1912), a prominent English suffragette and advocate for women's rights, who played a significant role in the early feminist movement.

While the surname Buckham has its roots in the English countryside, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have migrated over the centuries. However, its origins can be traced back to the historic county of Buckinghamshire and the medieval village that bore its name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Buckham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buckham 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. Durham leads with 93 Buckhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.26x.

County Total Index
Durham 93 9.26x
Northumberland 69 13.74x
Middlesex 24 0.71x
Roxburghshire 20 32.72x
Yorkshire 20 0.60x
Lancashire 17 0.42x
Surrey 15 0.91x
Berwickshire 12 29.36x
Kent 12 1.04x
Devon 10 1.42x
Selkirkshire 10 32.75x
Suffolk 7 1.70x
Herefordshire 6 4.34x
Essex 4 0.60x
Midlothian 4 0.88x
Norfolk 3 0.58x
Sussex 3 0.53x
Cumberland 2 0.69x
Dorset 2 0.90x
Oxfordshire 2 0.96x
Radnorshire 2 7.34x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Glamorgan 1 0.17x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Monmouthshire 1 0.41x
Peeblesshire 1 6.30x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x
Worcestershire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Usworth in Durham leads with 24 Buckhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 450.28x.

Place Total Index
Usworth 24 450.28x
Lanchester 20 1086.96x
Cowpen 14 121.11x
Cranshaws 11 9166.67x
Westgate 11 35.37x
Selkirk 10 116.28x
Stoke Damerel 10 20.34x
Wolsingham 10 109.29x
Elswick 9 22.46x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 26.68x
Newington 7 5.61x
Ryton 7 198.30x
Benwell 6 109.29x
Ipswich St Peter 6 108.50x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 23.05x
Oxnam 6 759.49x
Whitwood 6 126.32x
Bowden 5 561.80x
Byker 5 20.15x
Cheetham 5 16.74x
Crailing 5 675.68x
Hammersmith London 5 6.01x
Harton 5 125.94x
Linthrope 5 793.65x
Satley 5 862.07x
Westoe 5 8.78x
Crayford 4 79.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 2.20x
Hulme 4 4.78x
Prudhoe 4 114.61x
Shildon 4 49.57x
St Giles In Fields London 4 24.15x
St Luke London 4 7.39x
Winlaton 4 41.54x
Alnwick 3 34.76x
Jedburgh 3 50.08x
Lambeth 3 1.02x
Leominster 3 52.36x
Linthorpe 3 15.03x
Manchester 3 1.67x
Preston 3 30.18x
Swanscombe 3 58.03x
Battersea 2 1.61x
Bishopwearmouth 2 2.32x
Bromley London 2 2.69x
Coxlodge 2 52.36x
Gateshead 2 2.66x
Great Wakering 2 134.23x
Hereford St Nicholas 2 106.38x
Middlesbrough 2 4.59x
Milton In Gravesend 2 11.58x
Norwich St Julian 2 91.32x
Openshaw 2 10.66x
Portland 2 16.79x
Preston Quarter 2 24.57x
Rhayader 2 194.17x
Sevenoaks 2 21.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.94x
St Pancras London 2 0.74x
Stockton On Tees 2 4.13x
Whitburn 2 85.47x
Willesden 2 6.29x
Birkdale 1 9.87x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.52x
Colchester St Botolph 1 17.64x
Darlington 1 2.58x
Drypool 1 19.53x
Eckford 1 94.34x
Henley On Thames 1 23.42x
Holywell 1 38.76x
Lauder 1 44.25x
Llantillio Pertholey 1 69.93x
Norwich St James 1 24.57x
Oxford St Ebbe 1 16.31x
Romford 1 9.50x
Scarborough 1 3.29x
St Clement Danes London 1 14.33x
Swansea Town 1 2.08x
Tottenham 1 1.86x
Uxbridge 1 25.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 20
George 18
James 10
Robert 10
Edward 7
Thomas 7
Joseph 6
Charles 4
Henry 4
Frank 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Michael 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Cecil 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Harold 1
Horatio 1
J. 1
Jno. 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Willm.Michael 1

FAQ

Buckham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Buckham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 347 people were recorded with the Buckham surname. That placed it at #8,811 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Buckham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016. That gives Buckham a modern rank of #13,552.

What does the Buckham surname mean?

A locational name derived from a place called Buckham, possibly in Somerset, England.

What does the Buckham map show?

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