NameCensus.

UK surname

Buckles

An occupational surname for a maker of buckles, a type of fastener used on clothing and accessories.

In the 1881 census there were 175 people recorded with the Buckles surname, ranking it #13,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 218, ranked #18,481, down from #13,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dallinghoo, Campsea Ash and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Suffolk Coastal, Mid Suffolk and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buckles is 245 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.6%.

1881 census count

175

Ranked #13,982

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

2010

245 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Buckles had 175 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 231 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Buckles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Buckles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Buckles 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 175 #13,982
1891 historical 171 #16,733
1901 historical 216 #14,426
1911 historical 231 #13,636
1997 modern 233 #15,975
1998 modern 243 #15,993
1999 modern 235 #16,458
2000 modern 239 #16,239
2001 modern 228 #16,525
2002 modern 226 #16,939
2003 modern 214 #17,343
2004 modern 221 #17,066
2005 modern 214 #17,378
2006 modern 212 #17,612
2007 modern 216 #17,575
2008 modern 224 #17,337
2009 modern 234 #17,194
2010 modern 245 #17,013
2011 modern 241 #17,057
2012 modern 230 #17,479
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 234 #17,662
2015 modern 225 #18,050
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Buckles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dallinghoo, Campsea Ash, London parishes, Chesterfield and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Suffolk Coastal, Mid Suffolk, Ipswich and Hammersmith and Fulham. 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 Dallinghoo Suffolk
2 Campsea Ash Suffolk
3 London parishes London 1
4 Chesterfield Derbyshire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Suffolk Coastal 002 Suffolk Coastal
2 Mid Suffolk 011 Mid Suffolk
3 Suffolk Coastal 005 Suffolk Coastal
4 Ipswich 001 Ipswich
5 Hammersmith and Fulham 001 Hammersmith and Fulham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Buckles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Buckles

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

Buckles 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

Buckles falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Buckles

The surname Buckles has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "bucc," which means a male deer or buck, combined with the suffix "-les," indicating a small or diminutive form. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a place where deer were found or someone who had a connection to hunting or working with deer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Buckles can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "William Buckeles." This ancient record provides evidence that the name was already in use during the medieval period in England.

In the 14th century, the name Buckles appeared in various forms, such as "Bucle" and "Bukle," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era. For instance, the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 listed a "John Bucle."

The Buckles surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Bucklesham in Suffolk and Bucklebury in Berkshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or provided a basis for its adoption by families residing in those areas.

One notable individual with the surname Buckles was Sir Robert Buckles (c. 1560-1628), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in the early 17th century. Another prominent figure was John Buckles (1679-1748), a British mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

In the 18th century, the Buckles surname gained recognition through the accomplishments of Thomas Buckles (1720-1798), a renowned English clockmaker and inventor. His innovative designs and horological advancements earned him widespread recognition.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Buckles (1806-1882), a British architect and civil engineer responsible for designing several notable structures, including the Buckles Bridge in London.

Throughout its long history, the surname Buckles has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the diverse origins and experiences associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Buckles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buckles 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. Suffolk leads with 49 Buckles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.43x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 49 23.43x
Lancashire 40 1.96x
Nottinghamshire 19 8.21x
Warwickshire 15 3.46x
Derbyshire 11 4.09x
Middlesex 10 0.58x
Dorset 6 5.33x
Essex 6 1.77x
Yorkshire 6 0.35x
Monmouthshire 5 4.03x
Cheshire 3 0.79x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.93x
Denbighshire 1 1.54x
Hampshire 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 4.89x
Surrey 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 20 Buckles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.36x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 20 58.36x
Dallinghoo 12 6666.67x
Campsea Ash 11 4782.61x
Hasland 11 401.46x
Birmingham 10 6.93x
West Derby 8 13.43x
Hucknall Torkard 7 119.25x
Stratford St Mary 7 2333.33x
Hacheston 6 2307.69x
Parkstone 6 458.02x
Preston 6 11.01x
Romford 6 111.94x
Bredfield 5 2000.00x
Broughton In Salford 5 26.84x
Mansfield 5 62.42x
Matherne 5 1666.67x
Nuneaton 5 99.60x
Charsfield 4 1600.00x
Farnsfield 4 655.74x
Kensington London 4 4.19x
Shoreditch London 4 5.38x
Birkenhead 3 9.93x
Knottingley 3 100.33x
Hunslet 2 7.54x
Iver 2 149.25x
Acton 1 294.12x
Annesley 1 114.94x
Beeston 1 37.59x
Clapham 1 4.66x
Hasketon 1 357.14x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 14.10x
Llanrwst 1 44.64x
Netherton 1 434.78x
Paddington London 1 1.58x
Royal Navy 1 5.72x
Rufford 1 500.00x
Sculcoates 1 3.71x
Shanklin 1 95.24x
Whitechapel London 1 5.91x
Wickham Market 1 116.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 12
George 11
Charles 8
James 8
Thomas 8
William 8
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Anthony 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Edward 2
Thos. 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Eliz. 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Joseph 1
Philip 1
R. 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Titus 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Buckles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Buckles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 175 people were recorded with the Buckles surname. That placed it at #13,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Buckles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Buckles a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Buckles surname mean?

An occupational surname for a maker of buckles, a type of fastener used on clothing and accessories.

What does the Buckles map show?

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