NameCensus.

UK surname

Bullerwell

A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a spring or well.

In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Bullerwell surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 115, ranked #28,348, down from #20,349 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Edmonton and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bullerwell is 141 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.1%.

1881 census count

95

Ranked #20,349

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

1911

141 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bullerwell had 95 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,349 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 141 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bullerwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bullerwell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bullerwell 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 58 #22,928
1861 historical 60 #26,313
1881 historical 95 #20,349
1891 historical 109 #22,701
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 141 #18,571
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 113 #25,913
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 132 #23,459
2004 modern 126 #24,335
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 130 #24,053
2007 modern 128 #24,632
2008 modern 129 #24,790
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 134 #25,263
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 113 #28,016
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 118 #27,961
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

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Where Bullerwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Edmonton, Newcastle All Saints, Gateshead and Ryton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Ryton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 022 Gateshead
2 Gateshead 005 Gateshead
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 014 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 County Durham 010 County Durham
5 County Durham 014 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bullerwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bullerwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bullerwell, 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 Bullerwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bullerwell 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bullerwell 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

Bullerwell is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bullerwell falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bullerwell

The surname Bullerwell originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "bullere," meaning a small stream or brook, and "well," referring to a well or spring. This suggests that the name likely originated in an area where a stream or brook was located near a well or spring.

The earliest known written record of the surname Bullerwell dates back to the 13th century. In 1273, a document from the county of Staffordshire mentions a person named William de Bullerwell. This indicates that the name was already in use by that time.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Bullerwelle, Bullerewelle, and Bullerswelle, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. One notable person bearing this name was John Bullerwell, who was a merchant and landowner in the city of York in the late 1300s.

During the 15th century, the surname Bullerwell continued to be found in various parts of England. In 1462, a man named Thomas Bullerwell was recorded as a landowner in the village of Biddulph, Staffordshire.

The 16th century saw the rise of a notable family bearing the Bullerwell name. Richard Bullerwell, born in 1525, was a prominent clergyman and author who served as the Archbishop of Dublin from 1578 until his death in 1590.

In the 17th century, the surname Bullerwell was associated with several places in England, including the village of Bullerwell in Derbyshire and the hamlet of Bullerwell in Staffordshire. One notable figure from this period was Edward Bullerwell, born in 1635, who was a renowned mathematician and astronomer.

The 18th century saw the continued presence of the Bullerwell surname in various parts of England. In 1782, a man named John Bullerwell was recorded as the owner of a manor house in the village of Bullerwell in Derbyshire.

Throughout the 19th century, the surname Bullerwell remained relatively uncommon, but it was still found in various parts of England. One notable individual from this period was William Bullerwell, born in 1812, who was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bullerwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bullerwell 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. Durham leads with 52 Bullerwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.86x.

County Total Index
Durham 52 18.86x
Northumberland 33 23.94x
Middlesex 6 0.65x
Glamorgan 4 2.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kyo in Durham leads with 15 Bullerwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1153.85x.

Place Total Index
Kyo 15 1153.85x
Winlaton 11 416.67x
East Denton 10 3225.81x
Benfieldside 8 441.99x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 97.21x
Medomsley 7 542.64x
Bedlington 6 130.43x
Enfield 6 98.68x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 69.93x
Collierley 4 325.20x
Swansea Town 4 30.23x
Ebchester 3 697.67x
Tanfield 2 60.98x
Westgate 2 23.42x
Elswick 1 9.09x
Haswell 1 50.51x
Jesmond 1 51.55x
Shildon 1 45.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Margaret 5
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Eleanor 3
Isabella 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Christina 1
Clarice 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Elleanor 1
Isab. 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
George 8
Robert 6
Thomas 5
William 5
Edward 3
Charles 2
James 2
Joseph 1
Ralph 1
Robt.G.A. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bullerwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bullerwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Bullerwell surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bullerwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Bullerwell a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Bullerwell surname mean?

A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a spring or well.

What does the Bullerwell map show?

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