NameCensus.

UK surname

Buick

A surname transferred from a French surname derived from a placename in France.

In the 1881 census there were 309 people recorded with the Buick surname, ranking it #9,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 520, ranked #9,720, down from #9,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination and Withyham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Alyth, Arbroath Kirkton and Barnhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buick is 545 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.3%.

1881 census count

309

Ranked #9,517

Modern count

520

2016, ranked #9,720

Peak year

2009

545 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Buick had 309 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016, ranked #9,720.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 366 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Buick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Buick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Buick 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 199 #10,441
1861 historical 214 #11,365
1881 historical 309 #9,517
1891 historical 366 #9,508
1901 historical 356 #10,305
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 505 #9,232
1998 modern 531 #9,164
1999 modern 537 #9,146
2000 modern 518 #9,366
2001 modern 517 #9,229
2002 modern 518 #9,400
2003 modern 515 #9,288
2004 modern 527 #9,157
2005 modern 526 #9,109
2006 modern 533 #9,044
2007 modern 531 #9,131
2008 modern 530 #9,219
2009 modern 545 #9,238
2010 modern 543 #9,443
2011 modern 532 #9,512
2012 modern 526 #9,513
2013 modern 533 #9,574
2014 modern 530 #9,669
2015 modern 521 #9,722
2016 modern 520 #9,720

Geography

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Where Buicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination, Withyham, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Alyth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Alyth, Arbroath Kirkton, Barnhill, Arbroath Keptie and Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Withyham Sussex
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Alyth Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Alyth Perth and Kinross
2 Arbroath Kirkton Angus
3 Barnhill Dundee City
4 Arbroath Keptie Angus
5 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Buick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Buick

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Buick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Buick household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Buick is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Buick 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

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

Meaning and origin of Buick

The surname Buick originates from Scotland, where it is believed to have emerged in the 15th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "buidheach," which means "yellow" or "fair-haired." The name likely referred to someone with a yellowish or fair complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1471, where a David Buik was mentioned. This spelling variation was common in the early days of the name's usage.

In the late 16th century, the name Buick began to appear in records from the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas of Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. This suggests that the name may have originated or gained prominence in this region.

The Buicks were a prominent family in the Scottish Borders during the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable figure was Sir John Buick, who lived from 1581 to 1654 and served as a member of the Scottish Parliament for Roxburghshire.

As the name spread beyond Scotland, variations in spelling emerged, such as Buik, Buike, and Buyk. These variations were often influenced by local accents and dialects.

Another notable figure with the Buick surname was David Buick, born in 1854 in Arbroath, Scotland. He later emigrated to the United States and founded the Buick Motor Company in 1903, which eventually became part of General Motors.

Other notable individuals with the surname Buick include William Buick, a Scottish professional golfer born in 1988, and Nigel Buick, a British actor born in 1957, known for his roles in films and television shows like "The Madness of King George" and "Rome."

The Buick name has a rich history dating back to the 15th century in Scotland, with connections to the Scottish Borders region and notable individuals who have carried the name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Buick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buick 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. Angus leads with 198 Buicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.37x.

County Total Index
Angus 198 71.37x
Perthshire 36 26.78x
Lanarkshire 12 1.24x
Sussex 12 2.38x
Middlesex 9 0.30x
Renfrewshire 9 3.88x
Clackmannanshire 8 32.35x
Hampshire 7 1.14x
Midlothian 6 1.50x
Fife 2 1.13x
Lancashire 2 0.06x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.36x
Cumberland 1 0.39x
Norfolk 1 0.22x
Northumberland 1 0.22x
Peeblesshire 1 7.10x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Arbroath in Angus leads with 38 Buicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 413.49x.

Place Total Index
Arbroath 38 413.49x
St Vigeans 38 253.67x
Alyth 35 966.85x
Dundee 24 23.17x
Liff Benvie 18 42.74x
Withyam 12 555.56x
Forfar 11 73.24x
Montrose 10 59.49x
Abbey 9 25.42x
Barry 9 270.27x
Monikie 9 620.69x
Alloa 7 58.38x
Abroath St Vigeans 6 526.32x
Logie Pert 6 588.24x
Portsea 6 4.99x
Dunnichen 5 342.47x
Fulham London 5 11.51x
Lesmahagow 5 48.83x
Maryton 5 1250.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 2.48x
Govan 3 1.25x
Kinnettles 3 750.00x
Monifieth 3 30.61x
Murroes 3 389.61x
Aberlemno 2 194.17x
Anstruther Easter 2 156.25x
Barony 2 0.82x
Brechin 2 18.35x
Carmyllie 2 169.49x
Hampstead London 2 4.29x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.73x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.07x
Bothel Threapland 1 250.00x
Clackmannan 1 21.41x
Clunie 1 169.49x
Craig 1 37.31x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 12.66x
Eling 1 16.08x
Glasgow 1 0.58x
Hammersmith London 1 1.36x
Kingoldrum 1 250.00x
Kirriemuir 1 14.60x
Leeds 1 0.60x
North Leith 1 5.39x
North Meols 1 2.88x
Norwich St Stephen 1 23.64x
Old Monkland 1 2.60x
Panbride 1 68.97x
Peebles 1 24.04x
St Pancras London 1 0.41x
Westgate 1 3.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 3
Christina 2
Ellen 2
Ann 1
Bertha 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Lucy 1
Mary 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Buick households.

FAQ

Buick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Buick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 309 people were recorded with the Buick surname. That placed it at #9,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Buick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016. That gives Buick a modern rank of #9,720.

What does the Buick surname mean?

A surname transferred from a French surname derived from a placename in France.

What does the Buick map show?

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