NameCensus.

UK surname

Buckle

An occupational surname referring to one who made buckles or related items.

In the 1881 census there were 3,263 people recorded with the Buckle surname, ranking it #1,384 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,357, ranked #1,564, down from #1,384 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, Mid Suffolk and St Edmundsbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buckle is 4,719 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.5%.

1881 census count

3,263

Ranked #1,384

Modern count

4,357

2016, ranked #1,564

Peak year

1998

4,719 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Buckle had 3,263 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,384 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,357 in 2016, ranked #1,564.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,593 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Buckle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Buckle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Buckle 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 1,915 #1,509
1861 historical 1,963 #1,486
1881 historical 3,263 #1,384
1891 historical 3,571 #1,344
1901 historical 4,156 #1,353
1911 historical 4,593 #1,124
1997 modern 4,556 #1,437
1998 modern 4,719 #1,444
1999 modern 4,675 #1,465
2000 modern 4,681 #1,456
2001 modern 4,571 #1,460
2002 modern 4,613 #1,480
2003 modern 4,489 #1,477
2004 modern 4,488 #1,480
2005 modern 4,350 #1,504
2006 modern 4,380 #1,499
2007 modern 4,383 #1,511
2008 modern 4,387 #1,517
2009 modern 4,434 #1,535
2010 modern 4,505 #1,547
2011 modern 4,414 #1,550
2012 modern 4,315 #1,559
2013 modern 4,414 #1,554
2014 modern 4,448 #1,555
2015 modern 4,403 #1,554
2016 modern 4,357 #1,564

Geography

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Where Buckles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, Mid Suffolk and St Edmundsbury. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 004 Selby
2 Mid Suffolk 008 Mid Suffolk
3 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
4 Mid Suffolk 005 Mid Suffolk
5 St Edmundsbury 009 St Edmundsbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Buckle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Buckle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Buckle, 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 Buckle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Buckle 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Buckle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Buckle is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Buckle falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Buckle

The surname Buckle originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "bycele," meaning a buckle or clasp. It may have been an occupational name for someone who made or sold buckles, which were important accessories for securing clothing, belts, and armor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Buckle can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a William Buckle. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insights into the surnames and occupations of the time.

The name Buckle also appears in various historical records and manuscripts, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a John Buckle is listed. These rolls were tax records that often documented the names of individuals living in various counties.

During the 14th century, the surname Buckle was found in several locations across England, including the counties of Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. This suggests that the name had spread to different regions, possibly due to trade or migration.

One notable individual with the surname Buckle was John Buckle, a prominent merchant who lived in Bristol, England, during the late 15th century. He was involved in the wine trade and served as the city's mayor in 1481.

In the 16th century, the Buckle surname was associated with several places in England, including Bucklebury in Berkshire and Bucklesham in Suffolk. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in various regions.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir Christopher Buckle (1597-1664), an English politician and member of Parliament who represented Northamptonshire during the reign of King Charles I.

During the 17th century, the Buckle surname appeared in various parish records and court documents across England, indicating its continued presence and spread throughout the country.

One notable individual from this period was Rev. John Buckle (1645-1719), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works and served as the rector of Fittleton in Wiltshire.

In the 18th century, the surname Buckle was found in various parts of England, as well as in Scotland and Ireland, suggesting that it had spread beyond its original English origins.

A prominent figure from this time was Sir Mordaunt Martin Buckle (1741-1817), an English naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became an admiral in the Royal Navy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Buckle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buckle 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. Yorkshire leads with 895 Buckles recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.84x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 895 2.84x
Suffolk 298 7.70x
Middlesex 281 0.88x
Surrey 206 1.33x
Hampshire 184 2.82x
Norfolk 170 3.48x
Gloucestershire 156 2.50x
Durham 131 1.39x
Lancashire 106 0.28x
Berkshire 85 3.56x
Buckinghamshire 77 4.01x
Oxfordshire 64 3.26x
Essex 51 0.81x
Midlothian 47 1.10x
Kent 46 0.42x
Bedfordshire 44 2.67x
Worcestershire 42 1.01x
Northamptonshire 28 0.94x
Staffordshire 27 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 26 1.29x
Sussex 22 0.41x
Cheshire 21 0.30x
Lincolnshire 20 0.39x
Rutland 18 7.71x
Westmorland 18 2.58x
Northumberland 17 0.36x
Cumberland 16 0.58x
Somerset 16 0.31x
Derbyshire 15 0.30x
Herefordshire 14 1.07x
Warwickshire 14 0.17x
Devon 12 0.18x
Glamorgan 11 0.20x
Monmouthshire 11 0.48x
Hertfordshire 9 0.41x
Lanarkshire 8 0.08x
Leicestershire 8 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.19x
Wiltshire 8 0.28x
Renfrewshire 7 0.28x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.49x
Dorset 4 0.19x
Brecknockshire 3 0.47x
Royal Navy 3 0.79x
Shropshire 3 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.27x
Berwickshire 1 0.26x
Orkney 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 70 Buckles recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.94x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 70 3.94x
Portsea 65 5.09x
Cheltenham 38 7.90x
Lambeth 36 1.30x
Dunnington In York 34 420.27x
Long Crendon 34 264.39x
Wortley In Bramley 34 13.63x
Abingdon St Helen 30 43.00x
Islington London 30 0.97x
Bramley In Bramley 27 22.39x
Battersea 26 2.22x
Scarborough 26 9.08x
West Ham 26 1.88x
Gate Fulford 25 33.99x
Stockton On Tees 25 5.48x
Kensington London 24 1.36x
Millbrook 23 14.01x
Bethnal Green London 22 1.59x
Armley 19 13.67x
Camberwell 19 0.94x
Great Ribston Cum 19 904.76x
Newington 19 1.62x
Thirsk 19 52.27x
Barking 18 89.78x
Elmswell 18 217.39x
Great Yarmouth 18 4.45x
Barningham 17 371.18x
Diss 17 40.57x
Thompson 17 433.67x
Tottenham 17 3.36x
Barrowford Booth 16 38.33x
Bury St Edmunds St James 16 15.47x
Darlington 16 4.38x
Horton In Bradford 16 3.25x
Bishopwearmouth 15 1.85x
Eryholme 15 746.27x
Headingley Cum Burley 15 7.40x
Hunslet 15 3.05x
Peterborough 15 6.93x
Sculcoates 15 3.00x
St George Hanover Square 15 2.68x
St Marylebone London 15 0.88x
St Pancras London 15 0.59x
Little Cressingham 14 619.47x
Banstead 13 30.97x
Bermondsey 13 1.37x
Burley In Wharfdale 13 46.73x
Drayton 13 192.02x
Hendon 13 11.37x
Huddersfield 13 2.83x
Ipswich St Mathew 13 11.98x
Rougham 13 146.40x
Scotton In 13 410.09x
Tewkesbury 13 23.36x
York St Cuthbert 13 45.08x
Bowling 12 3.85x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 0.70x
Exton 12 168.78x
Gateshead 12 1.69x
Harthill Cum Woodall 12 99.42x
Holbeck 12 5.75x
Knaresborough 12 24.25x
Merton 12 648.65x
Oxford St Thomas 12 13.10x
Southwark St George Martyr 12 1.88x
Sutton Courtney 12 121.83x
Tottington 12 387.10x
Wycombe 12 8.38x
Blunham 11 98.65x
Bristol St James St Paul 11 5.29x
Bures St Mary 11 116.40x
Christchurch 11 7.78x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 11 12.53x
Hordle 11 97.00x
South Leith 11 2.30x
Waddesdon 11 119.96x
Wetheringsett Cum 11 97.78x
York St Maurice 11 18.54x
Bingley 10 4.98x
Green Hammerton 10 311.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 204
Elizabeth 129
Sarah 110
Annie 70
Jane 67
Emma 60
Ann 58
Eliza 53
Alice 51
Ellen 48
Hannah 46
Emily 37
Caroline 29
Margaret 28
Martha 26
Kate 24
Louisa 22
Edith 21
Fanny 21
Harriet 20
Agnes 19
Charlotte 19
Maria 19
Esther 15
Clara 14
Ada 12
Anna 12
Florence 12
Frances 11
Catherine 10
Isabella 10
Lucy 10
Minnie 10
Anne 9
Rose 9
Amelia 8
Grace 8
Julia 8
Rebecca 8
Beatrice 7
Eleanor 7
Lilly 7
Maud 7
Rosa 7
Ethel 6
Gertrude 6
Laura 6
Lydia 6
Ruth 6
Sophia 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 197
William 197
George 128
Thomas 96
James 90
Charles 67
Henry 65
Robert 62
Joseph 53
Arthur 45
Walter 34
Edward 33
Richard 31
Frederick 28
Alfred 26
Harry 24
Francis 19
Albert 14
Samuel 14
Frank 13
David 12
Matthew 12
Stephen 12
Ernest 11
Fred 10
Herbert 9
Benjamin 8
Christopher 8
Tom 8
Isaac 6
Amos 5
Geo. 5
Lewis 5
Philip 5
Chas. 4
Claude 4
Edmund 4
Israel 4
Arnold 3
Daniel 3
Frederic 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Jas. 3
Percy 3
Peter 3
Reuben 3
Robt. 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3

FAQ

Buckle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Buckle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,263 people were recorded with the Buckle surname. That placed it at #1,384 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Buckle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,357 in 2016. That gives Buckle a modern rank of #1,564.

What does the Buckle surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to one who made buckles or related items.

What does the Buckle map show?

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