NameCensus.

UK surname

Bulger

A nickname-derived surname referring to someone with a large, bulging belly or someone who was short and stout.

In the 1881 census there were 324 people recorded with the Bulger surname, ranking it #9,214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 289, ranked #15,137, down from #9,214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bebbington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Bury and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bulger is 348 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.8%.

1881 census count

324

Ranked #9,214

Modern count

289

2016, ranked #15,137

Peak year

2000

348 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bulger had 324 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016, ranked #15,137.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 324 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Bulger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bulger surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bulger 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 164 #12,116
1861 historical 221 #11,031
1881 historical 324 #9,214
1891 historical 291 #11,388
1901 historical 297 #11,721
1911 historical 304 #11,342
1997 modern 303 #13,433
1998 modern 309 #13,612
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 348 #12,614
2001 modern 325 #13,030
2002 modern 322 #13,354
2003 modern 308 #13,587
2004 modern 323 #13,230
2005 modern 303 #13,757
2006 modern 290 #14,202
2007 modern 289 #14,401
2008 modern 291 #14,430
2009 modern 306 #14,218
2010 modern 307 #14,485
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 279 #15,289
2013 modern 279 #15,574
2014 modern 282 #15,537
2015 modern 284 #15,344
2016 modern 289 #15,137

Geography

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Where Bulgers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bebbington, London parishes and Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, Bury, Havant and Aylesbury Vale. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Bebbington Cheshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 011 Manchester
2 Bury 021 Bury
3 Havant 017 Havant
4 Manchester 053 Manchester
5 Aylesbury Vale 016 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bulger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bulger

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Bulger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Bulger household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bulger is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Bulger is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bulger falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bulger is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bulger, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bulger

The surname Bulger is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "bulgra," which means "bag" or "leather pouch." This occupational name was likely given to those who were involved in the trade of making or selling bags and pouches.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bulger can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Bulgar," suggesting its ancient lineage.

During the 13th century, the Bulger family settled in various regions across England, including Yorkshire, Leicestershire, and Cambridgeshire. Historical records from this period show variations in the spelling of the name, such as "Bulger," "Bulgar," and "Boulger."

In the late 14th century, a notable figure named John Bulger (c. 1350-1420) was recorded as a merchant and landowner in the city of York. He played a significant role in local affairs and left a substantial estate upon his passing.

Another prominent individual with the Bulger surname was Sir Edward Bulger (1586-1645), a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. He was a staunch Royalist and fought for the King's cause during the English Civil War.

The Bulger name has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Bulger Hill in Staffordshire and Bulger's Green in Middlesex. These locations likely derived their names from early Bulger families who settled in those areas.

In the 19th century, the Bulger family spread across the globe, with many members immigrating to the United States, Canada, and Australia in search of new opportunities. Notable individuals from this period include:

1. John Bulger (1803-1867), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. 2. William Bulger (1873-1948), a Scottish-American architect known for designing several notable buildings in New York City. 3. Jane Bulger (1822-1890), an English novelist and poet whose works explored themes of social injustice and women's rights.

Throughout history, the Bulger surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, politicians, architects, and authors. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread worldwide, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of human history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bulger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bulger 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. Lancashire leads with 138 Bulgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 138 3.66x
Hampshire 25 3.84x
Cheshire 24 3.42x
Middlesex 21 0.66x
Staffordshire 18 1.68x
Ayrshire 16 6.72x
Durham 12 1.27x
Gloucestershire 11 1.76x
Warwickshire 9 1.12x
Yorkshire 9 0.29x
Kent 7 0.65x
Lanarkshire 7 0.68x
Cornwall 6 1.67x
Cumberland 4 1.46x
Flintshire 4 4.68x
Shropshire 3 1.09x
Norfolk 2 0.41x
Worcestershire 2 0.48x
Essex 1 0.16x
Glamorgan 1 0.18x
Northumberland 1 0.21x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.99x
Royal Navy 1 2.64x
Somerset 1 0.20x
Surrey 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 1.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 57 Bulgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.87x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 57 24.87x
Preston 15 14.86x
Alverstoke 14 59.35x
Bristol St Paul In 10 60.20x
Eccleston In Prescot 10 52.80x
Salford 10 9.01x
Tranmere 10 38.76x
Birmingham 9 3.37x
Galston 9 138.25x
Kirkdale 9 14.18x
Walsall Foreign 9 16.23x
Gateshead 8 11.29x
Hollingworth 8 276.82x
Everton 7 5.82x
Willesden 7 23.35x
Blackburn 6 5.98x
St Just In Penwith 6 85.96x
Bredbury 5 123.15x
Mile End Old Town London 5 7.39x
Portsea 5 3.91x
Hackney London 4 2.24x
Kingswinford 4 10.26x
Loudoun 4 69.93x
New Monkland 4 13.16x
Northop 4 132.01x
Wolverhampton 4 4.85x
Arlecdon 3 41.21x
Barony 3 1.15x
Brightside Bierlow 3 4.85x
Hoath 3 810.81x
Little Bolton 3 6.18x
Manchester 3 1.77x
Shifnal 3 40.21x
Shoreham 3 194.81x
West Derby 3 2.72x
Whitworth 3 43.29x
Widnes 3 11.02x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 7.04x
Brandon 2 76.05x
Dudley 2 3.96x
Dundonald 2 22.78x
Linthorpe 2 10.64x
Middlesbrough 2 4.87x
Portsmouth 2 13.32x
Shoreditch London 2 1.45x
South Stoneham 2 14.14x
Ulverston 2 18.20x
Ambleside 1 46.08x
Birkenhead 1 1.79x
Broughton In Salford 1 2.90x
Buckland In Dover 1 27.78x
Bury 1 2.32x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.28x
Cheltenham 1 2.08x
Chertsey 1 9.99x
Chorley 1 4.72x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.67x
Fareham 1 12.77x
Kensington London 1 0.57x
Kimblesworth 1 78.74x
Llangwm 1 105.26x
Orell Ford 1 144.93x
Prescot 1 14.66x
Rickergate 1 17.27x
Rotherham 1 5.63x
Royal Navy 1 3.09x
Ryde 1 7.14x
Sedgley 1 2.51x
Shadwell London 1 11.24x
Sheffield 1 1.00x
Standish With Langtree 1 21.51x
Toxteth Park 1 0.78x
Troon 1 1666.67x
Tynemouth 1 3.95x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 24.27x
West Ham 1 0.72x
Whitechapel London 1 3.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 16
Ann 11
Catherine 11
Ellen 8
Sarah 8
Eliza 7
Margaret 7
Alice 5
Kate 4
Annie 3
Bridget 3
Julia 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Lizzie 2
Comfort 1
Deborah 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Hanner 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Kate.C. 1
Laverner 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Maggie 1
Maggy 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
May 1
Melvie 1
Mercy 1
Minnie 1
Polly 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
Thomas 19
James 17
William 11
George 7
Michael 6
Patrick 5
Richard 5
Henry 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Joseph 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Martin 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Gregory 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Jas. 1
Laurence 1
Moses 1
Myles 1
Nicholas 1
Rob. 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bulger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bulger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 324 people were recorded with the Bulger surname. That placed it at #9,214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bulger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016. That gives Bulger a modern rank of #15,137.

What does the Bulger surname mean?

A nickname-derived surname referring to someone with a large, bulging belly or someone who was short and stout.

What does the Bulger map show?

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