NameCensus.

UK surname

Budd

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "messenger," or referring to someone who lived near a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 3,792 people recorded with the Budd surname, ranking it #1,205 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,619, ranked #1,474, down from #1,205 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, East Hampshire and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Budd is 5,291 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.8%.

1881 census count

3,792

Ranked #1,205

Modern count

4,619

2016, ranked #1,474

Peak year

1911

5,291 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Budd had 3,792 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,205 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,619 in 2016, ranked #1,474.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,291 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Budd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Budd surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Budd 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 2,557 #1,158
1861 historical 2,800 #1,044
1881 historical 3,792 #1,205
1891 historical 4,302 #1,107
1901 historical 4,801 #1,176
1911 historical 5,291 #991
1997 modern 4,995 #1,311
1998 modern 5,101 #1,334
1999 modern 5,107 #1,341
2000 modern 5,030 #1,353
2001 modern 4,921 #1,352
2002 modern 4,962 #1,372
2003 modern 4,797 #1,382
2004 modern 4,756 #1,388
2005 modern 4,648 #1,403
2006 modern 4,630 #1,411
2007 modern 4,626 #1,424
2008 modern 4,631 #1,428
2009 modern 4,725 #1,443
2010 modern 4,788 #1,459
2011 modern 4,717 #1,455
2012 modern 4,636 #1,452
2013 modern 4,723 #1,454
2014 modern 4,738 #1,456
2015 modern 4,673 #1,462
2016 modern 4,619 #1,474

Geography

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Where Budds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lambeth and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, East Hampshire, Winchester, Basingstoke and Deane and Mole Valley. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 003 Bridgend
2 East Hampshire 006 East Hampshire
3 Winchester 004 Winchester
4 Basingstoke and Deane 004 Basingstoke and Deane
5 Mole Valley 005 Mole Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Budd

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Budd

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Budd, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Budd surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Budd household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Budd is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Budd 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

Budd 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 Budd 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 Budd, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Budd

The surname Budd originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "budda," meaning a messenger or a forerunner. The name is thought to have been an occupational surname given to those who served as messengers or heralds.

The earliest known record of the name Budd appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Budde." This suggests that the surname was already well-established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name was also found in various forms, such as "Budde," "Bude," and "Bud." These variations reflect the different dialects and spellings used in different regions of England during that time.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Budd, who lived in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of Parliament for Somerset in 1402.

Another significant figure with the surname Budd was William Budd, a physician born in 1811. He made important contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases, particularly in the field of typhoid fever. His work on the transmission of diseases through contaminated water and poor sanitation helped shape modern public health practices.

In the 16th century, the surname Budd was also found in the records of various places, such as Buddesleigh in Devon and Budd's Green in Essex. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname Budd who lived or owned land in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Budd include George Budd (1808-1888), a British physician and writer; Thomas Budd (1766-1846), an English horticulturist and nurseryman; and Cyril Budd (1892-1968), a British politician and member of Parliament.

Throughout its history, the surname Budd has been associated with various occupations, including messengers, heralds, landowners, physicians, horticulturists, and politicians. Its origins can be traced back to Old English, and it has maintained a presence in England for centuries, with various spelling variations emerging over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Budd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Budd 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 626 Budds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.69x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 626 1.69x
Hampshire 602 7.92x
Surrey 574 3.18x
Sussex 393 6.28x
Devon 244 3.16x
Kent 182 1.44x
Warwickshire 115 1.23x
Somerset 111 1.86x
Yorkshire 82 0.22x
Gloucestershire 80 1.10x
Lancashire 65 0.15x
Worcestershire 65 1.34x
Staffordshire 64 0.51x
Essex 62 0.85x
Hertfordshire 57 2.23x
Durham 44 0.40x
Oxfordshire 39 1.70x
Nottinghamshire 35 0.70x
Berkshire 31 1.11x
Wiltshire 29 0.88x
Glamorgan 28 0.43x
Northamptonshire 28 0.80x
Buckinghamshire 27 1.20x
Leicestershire 25 0.61x
Suffolk 23 0.51x
Norfolk 22 0.39x
Cheshire 19 0.23x
Dorset 19 0.78x
Bedfordshire 13 0.68x
Cornwall 13 0.31x
Northumberland 13 0.24x
Channel Islands 12 1.09x
Fife 11 0.50x
Monmouthshire 11 0.41x
Derbyshire 9 0.16x
Lincolnshire 8 0.13x
Angus 4 0.12x
Shropshire 4 0.12x
Midlothian 3 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.13x
Royal Navy 2 0.45x
Ayrshire 1 0.04x
Berwickshire 1 0.22x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.14x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 125 Budds recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.39x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 125 8.39x
Lambeth 94 2.91x
Islington London 82 2.28x
Bramshott 81 432.00x
Camberwell 66 2.79x
Battersea 59 4.32x
Mile End Old Town London 50 6.33x
Aston 47 1.82x
Bermondsey 46 4.17x
St Pancras London 43 1.44x
Brighton 40 3.17x
Tring 35 51.28x
Broadwater 34 23.70x
Ropley 33 296.76x
Tottenham 33 5.59x
Birmingham 32 1.03x
Bedminster 29 5.17x
St George Hanover Square 29 4.44x
St Marylebone London 29 1.46x
East Meon 28 141.13x
West Ham 27 1.67x
Kingston On Thames 26 5.99x
Meon Stoke 25 415.28x
Shoreditch London 25 1.56x
Wimbledon 25 12.32x
Bow London 24 5.08x
Farnham 24 17.08x
Paddington London 24 1.76x
Cullompton 23 68.23x
Dolton 23 241.60x
Greenwich 23 3.90x
Kensington London 22 1.07x
Alverstoke 20 7.27x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 20 2.92x
Southwick 20 60.48x
Bethnal Green London 19 1.18x
Leicester St Margaret 19 1.89x
Basford 18 7.81x
Chelsea London 18 1.61x
Fulham London 18 3.35x
Kenn 18 149.75x
Bristol St George 17 5.05x
Curry Rivell 17 85.13x
Ryarsh 17 242.51x
Croydon 16 1.60x
Hambledon 16 62.40x
Beckenham 15 9.07x
Exeter St David 15 22.74x
Fittleworth 15 169.68x
Hammersmith London 15 1.64x
Llandaff 15 6.98x
Millbrook 15 7.83x
Boxgrove 14 154.53x
Keighley 14 3.57x
Leeds 14 0.67x
Manchester 14 0.71x
Overton 14 76.97x
Reigate Foreign 14 7.15x
Westhampnett 14 211.80x
Burpham 13 250.97x
Deal 13 12.04x
Fareham 13 14.23x
Limehouse London 13 3.19x
Maidstone 13 3.45x
Westminster St John 13 2.88x
Clapham 12 2.59x
Deptford St Paul 12 1.23x
Great Marlow 12 19.83x
Great Torrington 12 27.42x
Hackney London 12 0.58x
Hambledon 12 62.73x
South Stoneham 12 7.28x
Staines 12 20.43x
Walthamstow 12 4.55x
West Bromwich 12 1.67x
Colaton Raleigh 11 115.43x
Exeter St Sidwell 11 6.22x
Hawley 11 76.82x
St Martin In Fields 11 4.95x
Subdeanary 11 65.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 204
Elizabeth 122
Sarah 113
Jane 73
Ellen 72
Eliza 67
Alice 65
Ann 60
Emily 59
Emma 59
Rose 57
Annie 51
Charlotte 48
Fanny 38
Louisa 37
Caroline 35
Harriet 29
Maria 27
Edith 26
Hannah 26
Martha 24
Florence 23
Amelia 21
Kate 19
Susan 19
Clara 18
Lucy 18
Ada 17
Catherine 17
Harriett 16
Margaret 15
Amy 12
Anne 12
Jessie 12
Rosa 10
Sophia 10
Ethel 9
Mabel 8
Matilda 8
Rebecca 8
Rosina 8
Elizth. 7
Frances 7
Helen 7
Henrietta 7
May 7
Olive 7
Beatrice 6
Gertrude 6
Laura 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 253
John 163
George 158
Henry 127
James 116
Charles 102
Thomas 95
Alfred 64
Frederick 60
Walter 49
Edward 48
Albert 39
Arthur 39
Richard 36
Harry 30
Joseph 30
Robert 28
Frank 27
Ernest 22
Edwin 20
Herbert 20
Francis 19
Samuel 17
Daniel 12
Benjamin 10
Wm. 10
David 7
Fred 7
Thos. 7
Percy 6
Willm. 6
Edmund 5
Fredk. 5
Philip 5
Stephen 5
Harold 4
Jas. 4
Leonard 4
Nathaniel 4
Peter 4
Sidney 4
Tom 4
Bernard 3
Chas. 3
Clement 3
Edgar 3
Horace 3
Isaac 3
Jno. 3
Oliver 3

FAQ

Budd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Budd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,792 people were recorded with the Budd surname. That placed it at #1,205 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Budd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,619 in 2016. That gives Budd a modern rank of #1,474.

What does the Budd surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "messenger," or referring to someone who lived near a hill.

What does the Budd map show?

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