NameCensus.

UK surname

Bucknall

A habitational surname from a place name derived from Old English meaning "meadow by the brook".

In the 1881 census there were 775 people recorded with the Bucknall surname, ranking it #4,779 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,385, ranked #4,367, up from #4,779 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Burton-on-Trent and Bedworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Wolverhampton and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bucknall is 1,442 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.7%.

1881 census count

775

Ranked #4,779

Modern count

1,385

2016, ranked #4,367

Peak year

2011

1,442 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bucknall had 775 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,779 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,385 in 2016, ranked #4,367.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,124 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bucknall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bucknall surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bucknall 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 437 #5,632
1861 historical 492 #5,307
1881 historical 775 #4,779
1891 historical 782 #5,134
1901 historical 926 #5,033
1911 historical 1,124 #4,139
1997 modern 1,362 #4,226
1998 modern 1,437 #4,193
1999 modern 1,410 #4,277
2000 modern 1,423 #4,239
2001 modern 1,381 #4,259
2002 modern 1,440 #4,204
2003 modern 1,412 #4,196
2004 modern 1,414 #4,185
2005 modern 1,382 #4,234
2006 modern 1,366 #4,281
2007 modern 1,365 #4,318
2008 modern 1,383 #4,296
2009 modern 1,409 #4,310
2010 modern 1,432 #4,333
2011 modern 1,442 #4,266
2012 modern 1,396 #4,316
2013 modern 1,416 #4,329
2014 modern 1,423 #4,338
2015 modern 1,416 #4,323
2016 modern 1,385 #4,367

Geography

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Where Bucknalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Burton-on-Trent, Bedworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Lilleshall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Wakefield. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
3 Bedworth Warwickshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Lilleshall Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 033 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Wolverhampton 006 Wolverhampton
3 Dudley 017 Dudley
4 Wakefield 024 Wakefield
5 Dudley 025 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bucknall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bucknall

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

Bucknall is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bucknall 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 Bucknall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bucknall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bucknall

The surname BUCKNALL is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the county of Staffordshire. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the place name "Bucknall," which itself comes from the Old English words "bucc" meaning a buck or male deer, and "halh" meaning a nook or secluded valley.

The name BUCKNALL is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, the comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early reference suggests that the surname was already established in Staffordshire by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records as "de Bucknall," reflecting the common practice of using the preposition "de" to denote one's place of origin. Over time, the "de" was dropped, and the name evolved into its modern form.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the name was William de Bucknall, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Another notable figure was Sir William Bucknall, a prominent landowner and military commander during the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century.

In the 17th century, the BUCKNALL name gained prominence with the birth of Benjamin Bucknall (1619-1681), an English clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Wymondham in Norfolk. His son, John Bucknall (1661-1724), followed in his footsteps and became a respected Church of England clergyman.

The 18th century saw the rise of Nathaniel Bucknall (1709-1786), a renowned physician and medical writer who contributed significantly to the understanding of smallpox and inoculation methods. His work influenced the development of modern vaccination practices.

In the 19th century, the BUCKNALL name was associated with the arts and literature. Thomas Bucknall (1818-1897) was a notable English painter and engraver, known for his landscapes and portraits. Additionally, John Adey Repton Bucknall (1835-1908), a descendant of the renowned landscape gardener Humphry Repton, made his mark as a writer and art critic.

Throughout its history, the BUCKNALL surname has retained a strong connection to its Staffordshire roots, with many families tracing their lineage back to the original Bucknall villages and hamlets in the region. While the name has spread across England and beyond, its origins remain deeply rooted in the picturesque landscapes of Staffordshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bucknall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bucknall 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. Staffordshire leads with 147 Bucknalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.67x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 147 5.67x
Lincolnshire 93 7.58x
Nottinghamshire 65 6.28x
Shropshire 48 7.24x
Warwickshire 48 2.48x
Lancashire 47 0.52x
Derbyshire 43 3.58x
Gloucestershire 40 2.66x
Middlesex 39 0.51x
Durham 31 1.36x
Yorkshire 31 0.41x
Leicestershire 26 3.05x
Worcestershire 25 2.49x
Surrey 21 0.56x
Isle of Man 13 9.12x
Sussex 12 0.93x
Devon 9 0.56x
Cheshire 8 0.47x
Somerset 7 0.57x
Wiltshire 6 0.88x
Kent 5 0.19x
Suffolk 5 0.53x
Northamptonshire 4 0.55x
Westmorland 4 2.37x
Monmouthshire 3 0.54x
Glamorgan 2 0.15x
Hampshire 2 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.66x
Oxfordshire 1 0.21x
Rutland 1 1.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willenhall in Staffordshire leads with 42 Bucknalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.53x.

Place Total Index
Willenhall 42 86.53x
Bedworth 40 283.09x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 23 23.25x
Bisley 22 161.29x
Burton Upon Trent 22 36.29x
Castle Donnington 22 311.61x
Lilleshall 20 197.24x
Kingswinford 19 20.19x
Nottingham St Mary 17 6.35x
Bilsby 16 1194.03x
Islington London 14 1.88x
West Derby 14 5.25x
Newcastle Under Lyme 13 28.35x
Onchan 13 31.65x
Radford 13 24.73x
Kidderminster Foreign 12 84.69x
Worth 12 127.66x
Louth 11 39.10x
Oldham 11 3.74x
Snenton 11 27.05x
Barrow Upon Trent 9 967.74x
Church Gresley 9 47.07x
Lambeth 9 1.34x
Litchurch 9 18.61x
Wolverhampton 9 4.52x
Aby 7 752.69x
Axminster 7 93.46x
Brightside Bierlow 7 4.69x
Burslem 7 9.43x
Clifton 7 9.20x
Donington 7 673.08x
Kings Norton 7 7.79x
Nottingham St Nicholas 7 49.68x
Shoreditch London 7 2.10x
Tong 7 526.32x
West Keal 7 721.65x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 6 21.72x
Camberwell 6 1.22x
Great Grimsby 6 7.70x
Ilkeston 6 17.80x
Moss Side 6 12.52x
Shrewsbury St Mary 6 22.93x
South Thoresby 6 1395.35x
Stapleford 6 71.43x
Adlington 5 220.26x
Albrighton 5 156.25x
Bristol St Stephen 5 127.88x
Calverley Cum Farsley 5 23.15x
Caterham 5 30.25x
Hackney London 5 1.16x
Stamford St George 5 90.58x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 1.82x
Wednesfield 5 13.11x
Weston Super Mare 5 16.03x
Wirksworth 5 45.75x
Wolstanton 5 6.35x
Ambleside 4 76.48x
Beesby 4 1052.63x
Coventry St Michael 4 6.43x
Darlington 4 4.54x
Everton 4 1.38x
Holy Trinity 4 2.19x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 12.61x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.45x
Pershore St Andrew 4 72.33x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.96x
Westbury On Trym 4 7.84x
Birmingham 3 0.46x
Bulwell 3 13.33x
Bushbury 3 64.52x
Kettering 3 10.27x
Leake 3 53.38x
Liverpool 3 0.54x
Skirbeck Quarter 3 133.93x
St Woollos 3 4.84x
Thornhill 3 13.51x
Tudhoe 3 15.02x
Upper Penn 3 46.23x
West Fen 3 352.94x
St Bartholomew Hyde 2 53.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 43
Mary 35
Ann 20
Elizabeth 20
Emma 18
Alice 16
Annie 16
Eliza 13
Hannah 11
Emily 10
Jane 9
Edith 8
Ellen 7
Fanny 7
Catherine 5
Harriet 5
Maria 5
Martha 5
Rebecca 5
Florence 4
Frances 4
Lucy 4
Margaret 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Bertha 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Louisa 3
Lydia 3
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Elzth. 2
Ethel 2
Eunice 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Margart 2
Minnie 2
Nellie 2
Susan 2
Amey 1
Christina 1
Crislabella 1
Dinah 1
Dona 1
Dorothea 1
E. 1
Winifrede 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
Thomas 37
John 35
George 30
Joseph 18
Samuel 18
James 16
Henry 15
Alfred 12
Arthur 12
Charles 10
Edward 10
Frank 8
Walter 8
Frederick 7
Harry 6
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Thos. 4
Albert 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Anthony 2
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Enoch 2
Ephraim 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Israel 2
Percy 2
Robert 2
Robt. 2
Augusten 1
Augustine 1
Bassil 1
Birtie 1
Chales 1
Elija 1
Horace 1
Howard 1
Hy. 1
Jane 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Bucknall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bucknall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 775 people were recorded with the Bucknall surname. That placed it at #4,779 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bucknall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,385 in 2016. That gives Bucknall a modern rank of #4,367.

What does the Bucknall surname mean?

A habitational surname from a place name derived from Old English meaning "meadow by the brook".

What does the Bucknall map show?

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