UK surname
A locative surname referring to someone from a place called Bulcher.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Bulcher surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Old Warden, Leverington and Whitwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bulcher is 191 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.8%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
191 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bulcher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bulcher surname density by area, 1891 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 | 8 | #31,867 |
| 1861 | historical | 191 | #12,467 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 156 | #17,842 |
| 1901 | historical | 14 | #32,506 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Old Warden, Leverington, Whitwell, Trowbridge and Bulmer. 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 | Old Warden | Bedfordshire |
| 2 | Leverington | Cambridgeshire |
| 3 | Whitwell | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Trowbridge | Wiltshire |
| 5 | Bulmer | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bulcher 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 Bulcher, 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 Bulcher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bulcher 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, Bulcher 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 Bulcher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bulcher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BULCHER has its origins in medieval England, deriving from the Old English word "bulce", which referred to a deep pool or bend in a river. This suggests that the name likely originated as a topographic name, given to someone who lived near such a distinctive landscape feature.
The earliest recorded instances of the BULCHER surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landholders in England after the Norman Conquest. Entries in Essex and Suffolk list individuals with the name Bulcher or similar spellings like Bulker or Bulkere.
Over time, the name spread to other regions of England, including Yorkshire and Lancashire. Records from the 13th century mention John Bulcher of York (born c. 1220) and Richard Bulcher of Manchester (born c. 1275), indicating the name's presence in different parts of the country.
In the 14th century, the BULCHER name appeared in various legal and administrative documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332, which mentioned a William Bulcher. This suggests that the family had achieved some prominence and landholdings by this time.
One notable individual with the BULCHER surname was Sir John Bulcher (c. 1450-1522), a member of the gentry from Hertfordshire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his involvement in local affairs and governance.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BULCHER name continued to be found across England, with records indicating branches of the family in counties like Gloucestershire, Shropshire, and Dorset. For example, Thomas Bulcher (c. 1560-1635) was a prominent landowner and magistrate in Gloucestershire.
Other notable individuals with the BULCHER surname include:
1. William Bulcher (c. 1590-1670), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from London, who funded the construction of several almshouses for the poor. 2. Edward Bulcher (c. 1620-1692), a Puritan minister and author from Shropshire, known for his religious writings and sermons. 3. John Bulcher (c. 1660-1718), a successful businessman and landowner in Dorset, who served as a Member of Parliament for the county. 4. Elizabeth Bulcher (c. 1700-1780), a well-known poet and writer from Gloucestershire, whose works were published in various literary journals of the time. 5. Sir Thomas Bulcher (1745-1822), a prominent military officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War and later became a Member of Parliament.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bulcher 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. Bedfordshire leads with 5 Bulchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.14x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire | 5 | 66.14x |
| Kent | 3 | 6.02x |
| Essex | 2 | 6.94x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 9.93x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 7.92x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.41x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 7.74x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 5.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blunham in Bedfordshire leads with 5 Bulchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bulcher 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 Bulcher 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 Bulcher households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Scholar | 3 |
| Lace Maker | 2 |
| Dock Labr | 1 |
| Labourer (Ag Lab) (Indoor) | 1 |
| Master Of Barge | 1 |
| Mate Of Barge | 1 |
| Mem College Of Surgeons England L.S.A.London & General Practitioner | 1 |
| Nurse (Dom) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Bulcher surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Bulcher a modern rank of #39,061.
A locative surname referring to someone from a place called Bulcher.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bulcher 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.