NameCensus.

UK surname

Bulford

From the Old English meaning "bull ford", referring to someone who lived near a cattle crossing.

In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Bulford surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, down from #14,689 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winsham , Cricket St Thomas, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tonbridge and Malling, Colchester and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bulford is 220 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.

1881 census count

163

Ranked #14,689

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

1911

220 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bulford had 163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,689 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Bulford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bulford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bulford 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 172 #13,619
1881 historical 163 #14,689
1891 historical 180 #16,143
1901 historical 196 #15,329
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 198 #18,224
1999 modern 192 #18,689
2000 modern 181 #19,360
2001 modern 180 #19,161
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 178 #19,489
2004 modern 187 #18,993
2005 modern 183 #19,194
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 179 #19,811
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 181 #20,277
2010 modern 185 #20,453
2011 modern 183 #20,425
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 172 #21,731
2015 modern 164 #22,325
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Bulfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winsham , Cricket St Thomas, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Worcester St Peter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tonbridge and Malling, Colchester, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Cornwall and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 Winsham , Cricket St Thomas Somerset
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Worcester St Peter Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tonbridge and Malling 001 Tonbridge and Malling
2 Colchester 011 Colchester
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Cornwall 033 Cornwall
5 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bulford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bulford

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Bulford is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Bulford is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bulford falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bulford

The surname Bulford is of English origin, with roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the place name Bulford, a village located in Wiltshire, England. The name itself is a combination of the Old English words "bul" meaning "bull" and "ford" meaning "a shallow place for crossing a river or stream."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bulford can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire from the year 1176, where a Walter de Bulford is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use during the late 12th century, likely referring to individuals who resided in or were associated with the village of Bulford.

In the Domesday Book, a significant historical record from 1086, there are references to the village of Bulford itself, although the surname is not explicitly mentioned. This indicates that the place name, from which the surname is derived, has existed since at least the 11th century.

The name Bulford has been documented in various historical records throughout the centuries. For instance, in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1275, a John de Bulford is recorded. Additionally, in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire from 1335, a Robert de Bulford is mentioned.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Bulford include:

1. Sir John Bulford (c. 1480 - 1553), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire. 2. Thomas Bulford (c. 1550 - 1620), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton. 3. Elizabeth Bulford (c. 1600 - 1670), an English writer and poet known for her religious works. 4. William Bulford (1725 - 1802), a British military officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. 5. Richard Bulford (1850 - 1932), a prominent English architect known for his work on various churches and public buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the surname Bulford may have originated from a specific location, it has since spread across various regions, particularly in England, and has been borne by individuals from different walks of life throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bulford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bulford 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 27 Bulfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 27 1.73x
Devon 19 5.85x
Kent 13 2.44x
Cornwall 12 6.79x
Warwickshire 12 3.05x
Oxfordshire 11 11.41x
Somerset 11 4.38x
Buckinghamshire 9 9.54x
Hampshire 9 2.81x
Staffordshire 7 1.33x
Gloucestershire 5 1.63x
Berkshire 4 3.41x
Essex 4 1.30x
Suffolk 4 2.10x
Dorset 3 2.93x
Cheshire 2 0.58x
Surrey 2 0.26x
Worcestershire 2 0.98x
Hertfordshire 1 0.93x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 5.38x
Sussex 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 13 Bulfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.22x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 13 19.22x
Calstock 10 289.02x
Aston 9 8.30x
Stoke Damerel 9 39.58x
Westbury 8 3636.36x
Handsworth 7 53.93x
Cricket St Thomas 6 10000.00x
Folkestone 5 48.40x
Hackney London 5 5.71x
Lewisham 5 17.61x
Southampton St Mary 5 24.86x
Walthamstow 4 36.07x
White Waltham 4 909.09x
Wootton 4 689.66x
Crediton 3 97.40x
Dartmouth St Petrox 3 638.30x
Hampton Poyle 3 4285.71x
Kidlington 3 400.00x
Portsea 3 4.79x
St George Hanover Square 3 10.91x
St Marylebone London 3 3.60x
Winsham 3 652.17x
Birkenhead 2 7.28x
Exning 2 208.33x
Gwennap 2 60.06x
Islington London 2 1.32x
Marshwood 2 1111.11x
Staverton 2 1538.46x
Worcester St Peter 2 51.81x
Ambrosden 1 263.16x
Axminster 1 65.79x
Aylesford 1 67.57x
Birmingham 1 0.76x
Broadwater 1 16.56x
Chatham 1 6.83x
Cirencester 1 24.15x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.71x
Dartmouth St Saviour 1 107.53x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.43x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 1 120.48x
Elmstone Hardwick 1 588.24x
Halesworth 1 74.07x
Leamington Priors 1 10.33x
Marston Magna 1 625.00x
Newmarket St Mary 1 68.49x
Northchurch 1 86.96x
Poulton 1 416.67x
Poulton Le Fylde 1 151.52x
Royal Navy 1 6.29x
Ryde 1 14.56x
Salford Priors 1 227.27x
Tormoham 1 7.28x
Totnes 1 52.63x
Walcot 1 7.47x
Wandsworth 1 6.66x
Weybridge 1 61.35x
Wolverton 1 51.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 5
Ellen 5
Emily 3
Kate 3
Martha 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Diana 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Selina 2
Abigail 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Christian 1
E.A. 1
E.M. 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizth.A. 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Geo 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Pamela 1
Polly 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Sara 1
Stephanie 1
Susan 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 12
John 9
William 7
George 5
Charles 4
Robert 4
Frederick 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Harry 2
Sidney 2
Wm. 2
(Mr) 1
Aaron 1
Augustus 1
Chistopher 1
Christopher 1
Eddy 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Geo 1
Geo. 1
Geo.E. 1
Lionel 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Bulford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bulford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Bulford surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bulford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Bulford a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Bulford surname mean?

From the Old English meaning "bull ford", referring to someone who lived near a cattle crossing.

What does the Bulford map show?

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