NameCensus.

UK surname

Buckingham

Habitational surname referring to someone from Buckingham, England, meaning "homestead of Bucca's people."

In the 1881 census there were 3,978 people recorded with the Buckingham surname, ranking it #1,141 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,106, ranked #1,324, down from #1,141 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ensham, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Central Bedfordshire and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buckingham is 5,472 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.4%.

1881 census count

3,978

Ranked #1,141

Modern count

5,106

2016, ranked #1,324

Peak year

1999

5,472 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Buckingham had 3,978 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,141 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,106 in 2016, ranked #1,324.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,454 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Buckingham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Buckingham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Buckingham 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 2,539 #1,168
1861 historical 2,805 #1,041
1881 historical 3,978 #1,141
1891 historical 4,363 #1,085
1901 historical 4,810 #1,174
1911 historical 5,454 #957
1997 modern 4,996 #1,310
1998 modern 5,461 #1,239
1999 modern 5,472 #1,252
2000 modern 5,464 #1,252
2001 modern 5,340 #1,244
2002 modern 5,437 #1,248
2003 modern 5,242 #1,263
2004 modern 5,187 #1,273
2005 modern 5,066 #1,290
2006 modern 5,042 #1,298
2007 modern 5,047 #1,310
2008 modern 5,033 #1,320
2009 modern 5,156 #1,321
2010 modern 5,213 #1,334
2011 modern 5,123 #1,338
2012 modern 5,055 #1,327
2013 modern 5,190 #1,320
2014 modern 5,203 #1,322
2015 modern 5,160 #1,315
2016 modern 5,106 #1,324

Geography

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Where Buckinghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ensham, London parishes, Lambeth and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Central Bedfordshire and West Oxfordshire. 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 Ensham Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 013 North Devon
2 Central Bedfordshire 019 Central Bedfordshire
3 West Oxfordshire 011 West Oxfordshire
4 West Oxfordshire 010 West Oxfordshire
5 West Oxfordshire 008 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Buckingham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Buckingham

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Buckingham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Buckingham 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Buckingham 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

Buckingham is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Buckingham falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Buckingham 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 Buckingham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Buckingham

The surname Buckingham originated in England and dates back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Buckingham in Buckinghamshire. The name itself comes from the Old English words "bucca" meaning "male deer" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Bochingham". This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Bokyngham, Bukyngham, and Bokkyngham. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling that were common before the standardization of English orthography.

In the late 12th century, a notable figure named Walter de Buckingham served as Sheriff of Buckinghamshire and held lands in the area. His descendants continued to use the surname, which became more firmly associated with the town of Buckingham.

Another prominent individual with the name was Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (1478-1521), who played a significant role in the court of King Henry VIII. He was eventually executed for treason, but his family's association with the town of Buckingham helped establish the surname's prominence.

Other notable individuals with the surname Buckingham include:

1. George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628), a courtier and statesman during the reign of King James I. 2. John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby (1647-1720), a prominent English poet and statesman. 3. James Silk Buckingham (1786-1855), a British author and traveler who wrote extensively about his journeys. 4. William Alfred Buckingham (1804-1875), an English botanist and naturalist known for his work on ferns. 5. Marquis de Buckingham (1853-1913), a French aristocrat and racing driver who competed in the early days of motorsports.

Over time, the surname Buckingham has become widely distributed throughout England and other English-speaking countries, with many families tracing their lineage back to the historic town and county of Buckinghamshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Buckingham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buckingham 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. Middlesex leads with 703 Buckinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.81x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 703 1.81x
Devon 430 5.30x
Oxfordshire 381 15.84x
Surrey 278 1.47x
Cornwall 261 5.92x
Warwickshire 190 1.93x
Kent 181 1.36x
Bedfordshire 169 8.38x
Suffolk 132 2.78x
Essex 131 1.70x
Buckinghamshire 106 4.50x
Hertfordshire 93 3.46x
Norfolk 86 1.44x
Yorkshire 85 0.22x
Gloucestershire 84 1.10x
Lancashire 82 0.18x
Berkshire 73 2.50x
Hampshire 57 0.71x
Somerset 51 0.81x
Northamptonshire 46 1.26x
Worcestershire 45 0.88x
Leicestershire 40 0.93x
Staffordshire 39 0.30x
Cheshire 26 0.30x
Glamorgan 23 0.34x
Durham 22 0.19x
Derbyshire 19 0.31x
Monmouthshire 18 0.64x
Nottinghamshire 17 0.32x
Caernarfonshire 16 1.02x
Channel Islands 16 1.39x
Lanarkshire 15 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 13 0.53x
Dorset 13 0.51x
Wiltshire 12 0.35x
Sussex 11 0.17x
Lincolnshire 9 0.14x
Royal Navy 4 0.86x
Cumberland 3 0.09x
Flintshire 3 0.29x
Northumberland 3 0.05x
Shropshire 2 0.06x
Denbighshire 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.06x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hailey in Oxfordshire leads with 76 Buckinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 449.97x.

Place Total Index
Hailey 76 449.97x
Kensington London 71 3.28x
St Marylebone London 62 2.98x
Lambeth 60 1.77x
St Pancras London 56 1.79x
Islington London 55 1.46x
Eynsham 50 328.52x
Luton 46 13.18x
Paddington London 46 3.21x
Camberwell 44 1.77x
Birmingham 42 1.28x
North Hill 40 283.09x
St George Hanover Square 39 5.68x
Toddington 39 134.90x
Newington 38 2.64x
Maidstone 35 8.84x
Aston 34 1.26x
Battersea 34 2.37x
North Marston 33 379.31x
Chalgrave 32 274.44x
West Ham 32 1.89x
Bethnal Green London 26 1.54x
Ensham 26 208.67x
Leighton Buzzard 26 29.97x
Bow London 25 5.04x
Greenwich 25 4.03x
Hackney London 25 1.15x
Kenwyn 25 21.68x
Plymouth St Andrew 25 4.00x
Twitchen 25 915.75x
Fulham London 23 4.07x
Hendon 23 16.42x
Portsea 23 1.47x
Foleshill 22 21.29x
Leicester St Margaret 22 2.09x
Cumnor 21 155.79x
Chelsea London 20 1.70x
Coventry St Michael 20 6.34x
Hitchin 20 16.51x
Ilfracombe 20 23.97x
North Molton 20 126.58x
Enfield 19 7.44x
Hampstead London 19 3.13x
Oxford St Thomas 19 16.93x
Plymouth Charles The 18 5.04x
Barrow In Furness 17 2.71x
Bermondsey 17 1.47x
Calstock 17 19.66x
Chittlehampton 17 85.04x
Cowley 17 22.65x
Crediton 17 22.13x
Hethersett 17 112.29x
Radcliffe 17 7.63x
Redenhall 17 73.09x
Lewisham 16 2.26x
Minchinhampton 16 26.29x
Molland 16 239.52x
Oxford St Giles 16 13.95x
Westminster St John 16 3.37x
Barnstaple 15 11.79x
Hammersmith London 15 1.56x
Knowstone 15 265.49x
Landrake 15 153.06x
Northmoor 15 375.94x
Walthamstow 15 5.42x
Exmoor 14 335.73x
Oving 14 272.90x
Shipton Under Wychwood 14 90.44x
Southill 14 207.72x
Wootton 14 97.15x
Callington 13 50.60x
Coventry Holy Trinity 13 4.43x
Holwell 13 807.45x
Orford 13 85.02x
Southwark St George Martyr 13 1.66x
Watford 13 6.25x
Great Yarmouth 12 2.42x
Padstow 12 40.96x
Paignton 12 19.46x
Rodborough 12 32.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 256
Elizabeth 157
Sarah 125
Eliza 92
Emma 79
Ann 69
Annie 64
Ellen 64
Jane 64
Alice 55
Emily 48
Hannah 42
Florence 35
Fanny 32
Louisa 30
Ada 29
Charlotte 28
Edith 28
Clara 26
Maria 26
Kate 24
Harriet 23
Caroline 21
Susan 20
Lucy 19
Catherine 18
Grace 18
Rose 17
Rebecca 16
Martha 14
Amelia 13
Julia 13
Frances 12
Agnes 11
Anne 11
Harriett 11
Maud 11
Sophia 11
Elizth. 10
Jessie 10
Lydia 10
Rosa 10
Esther 9
Laura 9
May 9
Ruth 9
Susanna 9
Bessie 8
Minnie 8
Selina 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 244
John 198
James 147
George 146
Thomas 103
Henry 88
Charles 78
Joseph 55
Frederick 52
Alfred 43
Arthur 36
Walter 36
Edward 32
Albert 31
Richard 31
Robert 31
Harry 30
Samuel 27
Benjamin 17
Frank 15
Ernest 13
Edwin 12
Herbert 12
Geo. 11
Wm. 10
Francis 9
Daniel 8
David 8
Fred 8
Fredk. 7
Caleb 6
Elijah 6
Fredrick 6
Stephen 6
Sydney 6
Chas. 5
Jonathan 5
Mark 5
Thos. 5
Edgar 4
Edwd. 4
Eli 4
Hugh 4
Josiah 4
Leonard 4
Percy 4
Saml. 4
Tom 4
Willm. 4
Reginald 3

FAQ

Buckingham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Buckingham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,978 people were recorded with the Buckingham surname. That placed it at #1,141 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Buckingham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,106 in 2016. That gives Buckingham a modern rank of #1,324.

What does the Buckingham surname mean?

Habitational surname referring to someone from Buckingham, England, meaning "homestead of Bucca's people."

What does the Buckingham map show?

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