UK surname
An English surname derived from the male deer, likely indicating a connection to hunting or forestry.
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Bucks surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 56, ranked #34,562, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bucks is 457 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.8%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
56
2016, ranked #34,562
Peak year
1861
457 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bucks surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bucks surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 73 | #20,581 |
| 1861 | historical | 457 | #5,681 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 152 | #18,163 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 125 | #19,932 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 33 | #34,532 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 29 | #34,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 25 | #35,610 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 24 | #36,072 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 49 | #34,946 |
| 2016 | modern | 56 | #34,562 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Lambeth and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bucks surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bucks, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bucks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bucks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bucks is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bucks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bucks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bucks is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the county of Buckinghamshire in England. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive term referring to someone who hailed from or lived near the area known as the "bucks" or Buckinghamshire.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Bucks can be found in various historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears under various spellings such as "Bucces" and "Bucche." These early spellings reflect the evolution of the name over time, as well as regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Bucks was William Bucks, who lived in Berkshire, England, in the 13th century. Records show that he was a landowner and prominent figure in the local community. Another notable individual with the surname Bucks was John Bucks, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the name Bucks was associated with several notable figures, including Sir George Bucks, a Member of Parliament and landowner in Lincolnshire. His grandson, Sir John Bucks, was a renowned military commander who served in the English Civil War and was knighted for his service.
The 17th century saw the rise of another prominent individual bearing the surname Bucks, Sir Charles Bucks. He was a successful merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Bristol, including the founding of a school and almshouses for the poor.
In the 18th century, the name Bucks was associated with the botanist William Bucks, who was born in Buckinghamshire in 1734. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life and is credited with discovering several new species of plants.
Throughout history, the surname Bucks has remained closely tied to its roots in Buckinghamshire, with many bearers of the name hailing from or residing in that region. The name has also spread to other parts of England and beyond, reflecting the migration patterns of individuals and families over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bucks surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 32 Bucks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.64x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 32 | 3.64x |
| Surrey | 16 | 3.74x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 1.15x |
| Kent | 6 | 2.00x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 2.26x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 2.32x |
| Leicestershire | 4 | 4.11x |
| Buckinghamshire | 3 | 5.65x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 2.18x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.58x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.71x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.85x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 14 Bucks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.96x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 14 | 24.96x |
| St George In East London | 8 | 96.85x |
| Hulme | 7 | 32.18x |
| Hackney London | 6 | 12.19x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 6 | 32.12x |
| Leamington Priors | 5 | 91.74x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 4 | 24.68x |
| West Derby | 4 | 13.12x |
| Whitwick | 4 | 322.58x |
| Turville | 3 | 2307.69x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 5.24x |
| Deptford St Paul | 2 | 8.66x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 4.10x |
| Northfleet | 2 | 75.76x |
| Old Artillery Ground | 2 | 263.16x |
| St Luke London | 2 | 14.20x |
| Bredbury | 1 | 89.29x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.35x |
| Buxton | 1 | 86.21x |
| Croydon | 1 | 4.21x |
| Derby St Peter | 1 | 22.83x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.18x |
| Matlock | 1 | 54.05x |
| Newington | 1 | 3.08x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 3.27x |
| Quarrington | 1 | 909.09x |
| Rixton With Glazebrook | 1 | 370.37x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.63x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 15.15x |
| St James Isle Of Grain | 1 | 1250.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.13x |
| Teynham | 1 | 185.19x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bucks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bucks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bucks households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Book Sewer | 2 |
| Cabinet Maker | 2 |
| No Occ | 2 |
| Agr Labr | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Brass Bobbin Winder (Lace) | 1 |
| Brass Moulder | 1 |
| Brewer Unemo | 1 |
| Brickfld Labs Wife | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Chair Maker | 1 |
| Chair Pad Maker | 1 |
| Clergyman | 1 |
| Cloth Worker | 1 |
| Commision Boatman | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Denist | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| General Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Gold Beater | 1 |
| Grocer (Retired) | 1 |
| Halters Maker | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Iron Worker (Moulder) | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lithographer | 1 |
| Mantle Maker | 1 |
| N.K. | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Packer Drapers | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Pen Cutter | 1 |
| Porter (Institution) | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Serv General | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Stationer | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Taylor Employing 2 Hands | 1 |
| Tinman | 1 |
| Tobacconist | 1 |
| Waistcoat Maker | 1 |
| Wood Carver | 1 |
| Woollen Draper | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Bucks surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 56 in 2016. That gives Bucks a modern rank of #34,562.
An English surname derived from the male deer, likely indicating a connection to hunting or forestry.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bucks bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.