NameCensus.

UK surname

Bulkeley

An English locational surname derived from a place name in Cheshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Bulkeley surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Llanbeblig, Llanynghenedle and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Anglesey, Cornwall and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bulkeley is 113 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.2%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

1861

113 bearers

Map years

3

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bulkeley had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 113 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bulkeley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bulkeley surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bulkeley 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 83 #19,181
1861 historical 113 #19,151
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 93 #24,965
1901 historical 110 #21,604
1911 historical 92 #23,580
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 95 #28,303
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 88 #29,284
2001 modern 88 #29,056
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 82 #30,617
2006 modern 86 #30,425
2007 modern 81 #31,408
2008 modern 81 #31,713
2009 modern 83 #31,950
2010 modern 97 #30,697
2011 modern 95 #30,877
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 99 #30,934
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Bulkeleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Llanbeblig, Llanynghenedle, Toxteth Park, Holyhead and Llanfachreth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Anglesey, Cornwall and Cheshire East. 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 Llanbeblig Carnarvonshire
2 Llanynghenedle Anglesey
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Holyhead Anglesey
5 Llanfachreth Anglesey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Anglesey 002 Isle of Anglesey
2 Cornwall 041 Cornwall
3 Isle of Anglesey 001 Isle of Anglesey
4 Cheshire East 049 Cheshire East
5 Isle of Anglesey 006 Isle of Anglesey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bulkeley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bulkeley

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Bulkeley is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Bulkeley is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bulkeley 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 Bulkeley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bulkeley

The surname BULKELEY originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "bule" meaning "bull" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing," suggesting the name referred to a meadow where bulls grazed. The earliest known spelling of the name was "Bulkeleye" in the 12th century.

The BULKELEY name has its roots in the county of Cheshire, where the family held lands and manors for many centuries. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a Richard de Bulkeleye is listed as a tenant-in-chief in Cheshire.

In the 13th century, a branch of the BULKELEY family relocated to Wales, where they became prominent landowners and played a significant role in Welsh history. Notable figures from this branch include Sir Richard Bulkeley (c.1344-1412), a Welsh knight and military leader who fought in the Wars of the Roses, and Sir Richard Bulkeley (c.1533-1610), a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament.

During the Tudor period, the BULKELEY name gained further prominence with Thomas Bulkeley (c.1500-1571), who served as a courtier to King Henry VIII and was granted lands in Cheshire and Anglesey. Another prominent figure was Lancelot Bulkeley (1568-1650), who served as the Archbishop of Dublin and was a distinguished theologian and writer.

In the 17th century, Sir Richard Bulkeley (1585-1639) was a notable member of the family, serving as a Member of Parliament and supporting the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. His son, Thomas Bulkeley (1615-1677), followed in his father's footsteps and was a staunch Royalist during the conflict.

Throughout the centuries, the BULKELEY name has also been associated with various places in England and Wales, such as Bulkeley Hall in Cheshire and the township of Bulkeley in Anglesey, reflecting the family's long-standing presence and influence in these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bulkeley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bulkeley 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. Anglesey leads with 20 Bulkeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.33x.

County Total Index
Anglesey 20 119.33x
Lancashire 14 1.25x
Caernarfonshire 13 33.99x
Cheshire 12 5.75x
Berkshire 10 14.08x
Hampshire 6 3.09x
Shropshire 5 6.12x
Cumberland 4 4.91x
Middlesex 4 0.42x
Devon 3 1.52x
Yorkshire 2 0.21x
Inverness-shire 1 3.54x
Nairnshire 1 34.60x
Suffolk 1 0.87x
Sussex 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanfachreth in Anglesey leads with 9 Bulkeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5294.12x.

Place Total Index
Llanfachreth 9 5294.12x
Toxteth Park 8 21.05x
Wargrave 8 1311.48x
Larktn Duckngtn Ovrtn 7 4375.00x
Llanbeblig 7 180.41x
Bangor 5 135.50x
Dukinfield 5 51.81x
Portsea 5 13.16x
Whitchurch New 5 8333.33x
Burtholme 4 4000.00x
Newton 4 46.24x
Llanddausaint 3 2000.00x
Llanfaes 3 3750.00x
Llangoed 3 1500.00x
St George Hanover Square 2 12.00x
St Marylebone London 2 3.96x
West Teignmouth 2 132.45x
Gate Fulford 1 45.66x
Giggleswick 1 312.50x
Hastings St Mary 1 25.19x
Inverness 1 14.06x
Llanfwrog 1 1666.67x
Llangelynin 1 2000.00x
Llanynghenedl 1 625.00x
Lowestoft 1 18.38x
Nairn 1 57.14x
Newton Valence 1 833.33x
Old Windsor 1 121.95x
Pendleton In Salford 1 7.48x
Sandhurst 1 72.46x
Stoke Damerel 1 7.26x
Whittingham 1 204.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Constance 5
Mary 4
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 3
Barbra 2
Clara 2
Jane 2
Margared 2
Sarah 2
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Bridget 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Elizh. 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Judith 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Magt. 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Muriel 1
Nina 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bulkeley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bulkeley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Bulkeley surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bulkeley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Bulkeley a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Bulkeley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name in Cheshire, England.

What does the Bulkeley map show?

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