NameCensus.

UK surname

Bucknell

A locational surname possibly derived from a place called Buckenhall in England.

In the 1881 census there were 758 people recorded with the Bucknell surname, ranking it #4,871 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 652, ranked #8,163, down from #4,871 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Knowstone and Cardiff St John and St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Berkshire, North Devon and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bucknell is 860 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.0%.

1881 census count

758

Ranked #4,871

Modern count

652

2016, ranked #8,163

Peak year

1901

860 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bucknell had 758 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,871 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 652 in 2016, ranked #8,163.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 860 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bucknell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bucknell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bucknell 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 460 #5,388
1861 historical 447 #5,786
1881 historical 758 #4,871
1891 historical 775 #5,176
1901 historical 860 #5,316
1911 historical 857 #5,179
1997 modern 688 #7,344
1998 modern 736 #7,212
1999 modern 734 #7,263
2000 modern 731 #7,251
2001 modern 728 #7,134
2002 modern 734 #7,228
2003 modern 720 #7,221
2004 modern 722 #7,213
2005 modern 710 #7,245
2006 modern 707 #7,296
2007 modern 714 #7,322
2008 modern 711 #7,390
2009 modern 713 #7,533
2010 modern 712 #7,679
2011 modern 683 #7,840
2012 modern 676 #7,825
2013 modern 681 #7,908
2014 modern 683 #7,933
2015 modern 669 #8,002
2016 modern 652 #8,163

Geography

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Where Bucknells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Knowstone, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Berkshire, North Devon, Doncaster, Telford and Wrekin and Braintree. 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 Knowstone Devon
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Berkshire 011 West Berkshire
2 North Devon 014 North Devon
3 Doncaster 022 Doncaster
4 Telford and Wrekin 019 Telford and Wrekin
5 Braintree 005 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bucknell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bucknell

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Bucknell is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bucknell 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

Bucknell falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bucknell

The surname Bucknell has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Bucknell, which refers to several different locations across the country. The prefix "Buck" is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bucca," meaning a male deer or buck, while the suffix "-nell" is a diminutive form of the word "hill."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bucchenhelle" and "Buchenhall." This suggests that the name was already well-established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various forms, including "Buckenhill" and "Bukkenhulle." These variations reflect the different dialects and spellings used in different regions of England during that time period.

One notable figure with the surname Bucknell was Sir Ralph Bucknell, who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1370. Another was William Bucknell, a prominent merchant and landowner in the 15th century, who owned property in Oxfordshire.

In the 16th century, the surname is recorded in various parish records across England. One example is John Bucknell, who was born in Gloucestershire in 1542 and later became a respected member of the local gentry.

The 17th century saw the rise of several Bucknells in various fields. Sir Robert Bucknell (1592-1664) was a prominent lawyer and judge, while Thomas Bucknell (1619-1687) was a noted Puritan minister and author.

In the 18th century, the surname is associated with several notable figures, including the scientist and inventor Benjamin Bucknell (1718-1789), who developed improvements to the spinning wheel and other textile machinery.

Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Bucknell (1734-1804), a successful merchant and philanthropist who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1786. He was known for his charitable work and endowed several schools and almshouses in the city.

As the centuries passed, the surname Bucknell continued to be found throughout various parts of England, with many individuals making significant contributions to various fields, including politics, business, academia, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bucknell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bucknell 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 159 Bucknells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 159 2.14x
Devon 138 8.94x
Yorkshire 65 0.88x
Warwickshire 43 2.30x
Gloucestershire 40 2.75x
Surrey 32 0.89x
Shropshire 31 4.84x
Lincolnshire 30 2.53x
Glamorgan 26 2.01x
Somerset 26 2.18x
Worcestershire 25 2.58x
Northamptonshire 22 3.16x
Kent 20 0.79x
Staffordshire 15 0.60x
Lancashire 12 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.20x
Sussex 10 0.80x
Cornwall 8 0.95x
Wiltshire 8 1.22x
Durham 5 0.23x
Oxfordshire 5 1.09x
Denbighshire 4 1.43x
Derbyshire 4 0.34x
Hampshire 4 0.26x
Berkshire 2 0.36x
Essex 2 0.14x
Leicestershire 2 0.24x
Northumberland 2 0.18x
Royal Navy 2 2.26x
Rutland 2 3.67x
Bedfordshire 1 0.26x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.20x
Westmorland 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 29 Bucknells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.04x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 29 4.04x
Knowstone 26 2407.41x
Paddington London 22 8.07x
Cardiff St Mary 20 28.13x
Kensington London 16 3.88x
Kings Norton 16 18.43x
Birmingham 14 2.25x
East Budleigh 14 192.57x
Edgbaston 13 22.43x
Battersea 11 4.03x
Bedminster 11 9.81x
Bethnal Green London 11 3.42x
Cheltenham 11 9.81x
Clifton 11 14.96x
Hockworthy 11 1410.26x
Middleton Cheney 11 361.84x
Oakford 11 873.02x
Deeping St James 10 238.66x
Hackney London 10 2.41x
Camberwell 9 1.90x
Heckmondwike 9 38.09x
Beckenham 8 24.19x
Madeley 8 34.07x
South Molton 8 94.34x
St George In East London 8 11.47x
Westminster St John 8 8.86x
Basford 7 15.20x
Blockley 7 127.97x
Mexborough 7 48.01x
St George Hanover Square 7 5.36x
Stokenham 7 160.92x
Uplowman 7 693.07x
Willesden 7 10.02x
Bilston 6 12.37x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 4.38x
Eccleshill 6 33.56x
Floore 6 229.89x
Hanwell 6 45.66x
Leeds 6 1.45x
Linthorpe 6 13.69x
Lower Booths 6 38.07x
North Dalton 6 483.87x
Sedgley 6 6.46x
Sutton St Mary 6 53.52x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 28.54x
Thelbridge 6 1090.91x
Wellington 6 16.67x
Whitechapel London 6 8.21x
Bristol St George 5 7.43x
Creech St Michael 5 167.79x
Croydon 5 2.49x
Holy Trinity 5 2.83x
Old Stratford 5 47.26x
Shrewsbury St Julian 5 31.55x
Stoke Canon 5 462.96x
Swallow 5 833.33x
Warwick St Mary 5 30.81x
West Anstey 5 847.46x
Burlescombe 4 190.48x
Chulmleigh 4 113.96x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.29x
Coventry St Michael 4 6.66x
Creacombe 4 2500.00x
Hampstead London 4 3.46x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 4.19x
Hemsworth 4 94.79x
Holcombe Rogus 4 215.05x
Middle 4 228.57x
Monkton Farleigh 4 377.36x
Pulborough 4 87.15x
Salisbury St Edmund 4 38.02x
Sandiacre 4 96.62x
Sculcoates 4 3.43x
Shoreditch London 4 1.24x
Sidmouth 4 45.30x
St Maryle Wigford 4 43.43x
St Pancras London 4 0.67x
Tywardreath 4 74.21x
Wortley In Bramley 4 6.88x
Wrexham Regis 4 19.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 52
John 35
Thomas 26
George 19
James 19
Robert 19
Charles 14
Arthur 13
Alfred 8
Henry 8
Joseph 8
Daniel 7
Harry 7
Albert 6
Fred 6
Samuel 6
Edward 5
Edwin 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Walter 4
Christopher 3
Frederick 3
Aldred 2
Benjamin 2
Elias 2
Ephraim 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Jacob 2
Marwood 2
Moses 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Aubery 1
Auther 1
Chas. 1
Cyril 1
Eli 1
Enoch 1
Ernet 1
Frederic 1
Joe 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Wm.St.Vincent 1

FAQ

Bucknell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bucknell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 758 people were recorded with the Bucknell surname. That placed it at #4,871 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bucknell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 652 in 2016. That gives Bucknell a modern rank of #8,163.

What does the Bucknell surname mean?

A locational surname possibly derived from a place called Buckenhall in England.

What does the Bucknell map show?

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