UK surname
A surname of French or Norman origin meaning "warm or tepid spring".
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Bule surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Alton, Bedford St Mary and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bule is 157 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.3%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1861
157 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bule surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bule 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 | 78 | #19,840 |
| 1861 | historical | 157 | #14,732 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 123 | #20,939 |
| 1901 | historical | 17 | #32,146 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 40 | #35,454 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Alton, Bedford St Mary, St Leonard Shoreditch, St James Clerkenwell and Newport. 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 | Alton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Bedford St Mary | Bedfordshire |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Newport | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bule 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 Bule, 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 Bule surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bule 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, Bule 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 Bule is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bule, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BULE is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bule," which referred to a bull or young bull. The name may have been given as a nickname to someone who was strong, sturdy, or had a bull-like appearance or temperament.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BULE can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1195, where a person named Radulfus Bule is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, which tracked payments made to the Crown.
In the 13th century, the surname BULE appeared in various spellings, such as Bule, Bulle, and Bulle, in various records and documents across different regions of England. This variation in spelling was common during this time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.
A notable person with the surname BULE was Sir John Bule, a prominent figure in the 14th century. He was a member of the English Parliament and served as a Justice of the Peace for Gloucestershire. Sir John Bule was born around 1320 and died in 1395.
Another individual of historical significance bearing the surname BULE was Thomas Bule, an English merchant and explorer who lived during the 16th century. He was involved in establishing trade routes and exploring new territories for England. Thomas Bule was born in 1525 and died in 1598.
In the 17th century, the surname BULE is found in connection with several place names in England, such as Bule Hill in Gloucestershire and Bule Grange in Wiltshire. These place names may have derived from individuals with the surname BULE who were landowners or residents in those areas.
During the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname BULE was William Bule, an English clergyman and author. He was born in 1710 and died in 1785. William Bule wrote several religious texts and sermons that were widely published during his lifetime.
Another individual of note with the surname BULE was Elizabeth Bule, an English artist and painter who lived in the 19th century. She was born in 1820 and died in 1890. Elizabeth Bule is known for her landscape paintings depicting various regions of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bule 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. Kent leads with 12 Bules recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 12 | 6.33x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.98x |
| Bedfordshire | 10 | 34.73x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.58x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 7.38x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.45x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 2.30x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.91x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.88x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 9.06x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.91x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 2.08x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedford St Mary in Bedfordshire leads with 10 Bules recorded in 1881 and an index of 1351.35x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford St Mary | 10 | 1351.35x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 7 | 62.56x |
| Chatham | 6 | 114.94x |
| Wetherden | 5 | 5555.56x |
| Woolwich | 5 | 71.33x |
| St Luke London | 4 | 44.84x |
| Westminster St John | 4 | 59.08x |
| Moss Side | 3 | 86.46x |
| Derby St Peter | 2 | 72.20x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 24.27x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 11.89x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 8.18x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 1 | 50.51x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 14.22x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.24x |
| Kimbolton | 1 | 434.78x |
| Langham | 1 | 769.23x |
| Peterborough | 1 | 26.39x |
| St Benedict Lincoln | 1 | 833.33x |
| Worfield | 1 | 303.03x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bule 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 Bule 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 Bule households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Bugler R A | 1 |
| Butler | 1 |
| Butler Wife | 1 |
| Cabman | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carmans Wife | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Driver Royal Horse Artillery Active List | 1 |
| Farrier Sergt R A | 1 |
| Foundry Man | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Genl Servt | 1 |
| Gunner Royl Arty | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Merine Store Dealer | 1 |
| Nurse (S M S) | 1 |
| Plumber Master | 1 |
| Plumber Master Wife | 1 |
| Ry Wheel Fitter (Wagon) | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Stove Maker | 1 |
| Under Housemaid | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Wife Of Above | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Bule surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Bule a modern rank of #35,336.
A surname of French or Norman origin meaning "warm or tepid spring".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bule 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.