UK surname
An English surname derived from the Norman personal name Bulun.
In the 1881 census there were 238 people recorded with the Bullin surname, ranking it #11,476 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 38, ranked #35,537, down from #11,476 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Winwick, London parishes and Leek. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bullin is 324 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.0%.
1881 census count
238
Ranked #11,476
Modern count
38
2016, ranked #35,537
Peak year
1851
324 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bullin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bullin surname density by area, 1881 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 | 324 | #7,179 |
| 1861 | historical | 273 | #9,134 |
| 1881 | historical | 238 | #11,476 |
| 1891 | historical | 223 | #13,800 |
| 1901 | historical | 179 | #16,227 |
| 1911 | historical | 157 | #17,348 |
| 1997 | modern | 64 | #31,233 |
| 1998 | modern | 66 | #31,387 |
| 1999 | modern | 70 | #31,135 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 61 | #31,891 |
| 2002 | modern | 56 | #32,753 |
| 2003 | modern | 56 | #32,797 |
| 2004 | modern | 51 | #33,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 51 | #33,701 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 49 | #34,422 |
| 2008 | modern | 48 | #34,629 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 47 | #34,992 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 43 | #35,293 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 38 | #35,537 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Winwick, London parishes, Leek, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Wigan. 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 | Winwick | Lancashire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Leek | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bullin 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 Bullin, 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 Bullin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bullin 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, Bullin 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 Bullin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bullin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bullin is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bulluc," which referred to a young male cow or bull. This suggests that the name may have been given as a nickname to someone who worked with cattle or had a physical resemblance to a bull.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bullin surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a Richard Bullin is listed in Oxfordshire. This indicates that the name was already established in parts of England by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, the Bullin name appeared in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a John Bullyn is mentioned. This suggests that the name had spread to other regions of England by this time.
During the 16th century, the Bullin surname can be found in parish records and tax rolls across various counties in England. One notable example is William Bullin, who was born in Gloucestershire in 1523 and served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Winchelsea in 1558.
In the 17th century, the Bullin name continued to appear in historical records, such as the Hearth Tax Returns of 1662, which listed several Bullin families in Oxfordshire. One significant figure from this period was Richard Bullin, who was born in Cambridgeshire in 1635 and became a renowned scholar and theologian.
The 18th century saw the Bullin surname spread further across England and into other parts of the British Isles. Notable individuals from this time include John Bullin, an architect born in Lincolnshire in 1723, who was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London.
In the 19th century, the Bullin name continued to be found in various records, such as census returns and birth, marriage, and death records. One notable figure from this period was Henry Bullin, a British explorer and naturalist born in Gloucestershire in 1821, who made significant contributions to the study of natural history through his expeditions to various parts of the world.
Throughout its history, the Bullin surname has been associated with a variety of occupations and professions, from agriculture and trades to academia and exploration. While the name may have originated as a nickname related to cattle, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich history spanning several centuries in England and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bullin 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. Lancashire leads with 58 Bullins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 58 | 2.12x |
| Kent | 26 | 3.31x |
| Somerset | 20 | 5.40x |
| Yorkshire | 20 | 0.88x |
| Staffordshire | 16 | 2.06x |
| Middlesex | 15 | 0.65x |
| Lincolnshire | 11 | 2.99x |
| Warwickshire | 9 | 1.55x |
| Surrey | 8 | 0.71x |
| Cheshire | 7 | 1.38x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 1.11x |
| Leicestershire | 5 | 1.96x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 1.61x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 1.53x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 1.00x |
| Hertfordshire | 4 | 2.52x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 1.85x |
| Argyllshire | 3 | 4.68x |
| Devon | 3 | 0.63x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 0.71x |
| Sussex | 2 | 0.52x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 0.98x |
| Carmarthenshire | 1 | 1.03x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.28x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.29x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton In Makerfield in Lancashire leads with 16 Bullins recorded in 1881 and an index of 205.66x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bullin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 13 |
| Mary | 12 |
| Jane | 9 |
| Alice | 8 |
| Eliza | 7 |
| Sarah | 7 |
| Ellen | 6 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Emma | 5 |
| Annie | 4 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Louisa | 3 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agathe | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Babe | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlott | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lavinia | 1 |
| Leah | 1 |
| Lillie | 1 |
| Lottie | 1 |
| Marion | 1 |
| Maryann | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Rosina | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bullin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 16 |
| James | 11 |
| Thomas | 9 |
| George | 8 |
| Albert | 5 |
| Edward | 5 |
| John | 5 |
| Robert | 5 |
| Arthur | 4 |
| Henry | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Daniel | 2 |
| Joseph | 2 |
| Ths. | 2 |
| Walter | 2 |
| A. | 1 |
| Amos | 1 |
| Charles | 1 |
| Chas. | 1 |
| Christopher | 1 |
| Earnest | 1 |
| Edmund | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Frck. | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Hugh | 1 |
| Jas. | 1 |
| Lindsey | 1 |
| Mathew | 1 |
| Peter | 1 |
| Reginald | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Samuel | 1 |
| Silas | 1 |
| Steven | 1 |
| Sydney | 1 |
| Timothy | 1 |
| West | 1 |
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 Bullin households.
FAQ
In 1881, 238 people were recorded with the Bullin surname. That placed it at #11,476 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 38 in 2016. That gives Bullin a modern rank of #35,537.
An English surname derived from the Norman personal name Bulun.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bullin 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.