NameCensus.

UK surname

Buggs

An English occupational surname for someone who made, repaired, or sold leather bottles or bags.

In the 1881 census there were 203 people recorded with the Buggs surname, ranking it #12,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 127, ranked #26,566, down from #12,717 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Meopham, Swanscombe and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Tunbridge Wells and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buggs is 574 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.4%.

1881 census count

203

Ranked #12,717

Modern count

127

2016, ranked #26,566

Peak year

1861

574 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Buggs had 203 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,717 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016, ranked #26,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 574 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Buggs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Buggs surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Buggs 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 264 #8,419
1861 historical 574 #4,590
1881 historical 203 #12,717
1891 historical 445 #8,134
1901 historical 310 #11,393
1911 historical 333 #10,624
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 166 #20,458
2000 modern 168 #20,252
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 156 #21,348
2003 modern 143 #22,367
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 131 #25,430
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 128 #26,336
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 129 #26,226
2016 modern 127 #26,566

Geography

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Where Buggs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Meopham, Swanscombe, St Pancras, London parishes and Reddenhall, Mendham (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Withersdale (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Metfield (Stradbroke,. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Tunbridge Wells, Waveney and Gravesham. 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 Meopham Kent
2 Swanscombe Kent
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Reddenhall, Mendham (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Withersdale (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Metfield (Stradbroke, Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 012 South Norfolk
2 Tunbridge Wells 001 Tunbridge Wells
3 Waveney 002 Waveney
4 Gravesham 002 Gravesham
5 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Buggs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Buggs

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Buggs is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Buggs is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Buggs falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Buggs

The surname Buggs is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Old English word "bugge," which referred to a type of insect or bug. This surname likely emerged as a nickname for someone who was associated with insects or bugs in some way, perhaps due to their occupation or personal characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Buggs surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, which date back to 1296. In these records, the name appears as "Hugo Bugge." This suggests that the name may have initially been spelled with a single "g" before evolving into its modern form with a double "g."

The Buggs surname also appears in various other historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, where it is written as "Willmus Bugge." These early mentions provide insights into the geographical distribution of the name, indicating that it was present in various regions of England during the Middle Ages.

Interestingly, the Buggs surname shares similarities with place names like Buggeden and Buggedon, which were recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. While a direct connection cannot be definitively established, it is possible that the surname may have derived from these or similar place names.

One notable individual with the Buggs surname was John Buggs (c. 1545-1625), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Michael's Church in Coventry. Another prominent figure was William Buggs (1608-1679), a English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 17th century, the Buggs surname can be found in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, suggesting that individuals bearing this name were among the early English settlers in North America. One such individual was Samuel Buggs (c. 1620-1692), who was a landowner and farmer in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Moving into the 18th century, Edward Buggs (1720-1784) was a notable English architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in London and the surrounding areas. In the 19th century, John Buggs (1812-1892) was a British soldier who served in the Crimean War and was awarded the Crimean War Medal for his service.

Throughout its history, the Buggs surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, authors, soldiers, and architects. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migrations and movements of people over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Buggs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buggs 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. Kent leads with 79 Buggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.11x.

County Total Index
Kent 79 12.11x
Suffolk 32 13.74x
Middlesex 19 0.99x
Norfolk 13 4.42x
Surrey 13 1.40x
Durham 12 2.11x
Hertfordshire 8 6.07x
Devon 6 1.51x
Lincolnshire 4 1.31x
Lancashire 3 0.13x
Sussex 2 0.62x
Worcestershire 2 0.80x
Essex 1 0.27x
Warwickshire 1 0.21x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Meopham in Kent leads with 25 Buggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3086.42x.

Place Total Index
Meopham 25 3086.42x
Metfield 11 2894.74x
Milton In Milton 10 361.01x
Maidstone 8 41.17x
Stockton On Tees 8 29.18x
Bermondsey 7 12.30x
Cheshunt 7 151.84x
Dickleburgh 7 1296.30x
Brenchley 6 257.51x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 19.58x
Carlton Colville 5 588.24x
St Marylebone London 5 4.90x
Sunbury 5 217.39x
Wrotham 5 231.48x
Capel 4 1081.08x
Chatham 4 22.30x
Ferryhill 4 201.01x
Leatherhead 4 171.67x
Ropsley 4 952.38x
Sevenoaks 4 75.61x
St Luke London 4 13.05x
Clare 3 267.86x
Ilketshall St Margaret 3 1578.95x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 3 157.07x
Prestwich 3 53.00x
Snodland 3 162.16x
South Cove 3 3000.00x
St Pancras London 3 1.95x
Strood 3 80.65x
East Peckham 2 148.15x
Funtington 2 273.97x
Lowestoft 2 18.18x
Redditch 2 39.53x
Rushall 2 1428.57x
Rushmere 2 392.16x
Tonbridge 2 8.50x
Beddington 1 27.78x
Broxbourne 1 38.31x
Camberwell 1 0.82x
Chelsea London 1 1.74x
Edgbaston 1 6.69x
Ipswich St Helen 1 36.23x
Luddesdown 1 555.56x
Romford 1 16.75x
Shoreditch London 1 1.21x
Shorne 1 172.41x
South Elmham St James 1 666.67x
West Malling 1 68.03x
Wrentham 1 153.85x
Wymondham 1 33.22x
York St Denis In 1 120.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 14
William 14
George 7
Alfred 6
Henry 6
Richard 6
John 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Thomas 4
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Bertie 1
Harold 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Noah 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Philips 1
Selina 1
Sidney 1
Zipper 1

FAQ

Buggs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Buggs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 203 people were recorded with the Buggs surname. That placed it at #12,717 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Buggs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016. That gives Buggs a modern rank of #26,566.

What does the Buggs surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who made, repaired, or sold leather bottles or bags.

What does the Buggs map show?

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