NameCensus.

UK surname

Bulling

A surname derived from an Old Norse word meaning "friend" or "brother".

In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Bulling surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, down from #16,515 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bulling is 170 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.6%.

1881 census count

135

Ranked #16,515

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

1851

170 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bulling had 135 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,515 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 170 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Bulling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bulling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bulling 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 170 #11,780
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 135 #16,515
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 144 #18,505
1911 historical 165 #16,808
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 132 #23,394
1999 modern 128 #24,017
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 136 #22,855
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 132 #23,459
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 128 #25,427
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 117 #28,109
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Bullings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Pancras, Watford and Edwinstow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, East Riding of Yorkshire, Breckland and Wiltshire. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Watford Hertfordshire
5 Edwinstow Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 004 Rossendale
2 Rossendale 001 Rossendale
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 042 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Breckland 007 Breckland
5 Wiltshire 045 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bulling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bulling

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bulling, 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 Bulling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Bulling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Bulling is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bulling 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

Bulling falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bulling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bulling

The surname Bulling originates from England and can be traced back to the early medieval period. Initially appearing in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, the name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bulluc" or "bulluca," meaning "bull calf," which were often used as occupational names or nicknames. The surname may have been used to describe someone who worked with cattle or had characteristics associated with strength and robustness.

One of the earliest mentions of the surname Bulling is found in a tax record from the late 12th century, specifically in the Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk in 1198. Variants of the name include Bulluck and Bullock, which also appear in historical documents from the same period. This indicates that the spellings of surnames were not standardized, and regional dialects likely influenced the variations.

In the late medieval period, records provide further evidence of the Bulling surname. For example, John Bulling, recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, is one of the first noted individuals bearing this name. Another early record is the marriage register of Thomas Bulling in 1435 in Norwich, emphasizing the spread of the name within the region.

The Bulling name also appears in historical manuscripts outside England. In the 16th century, the family name surfaced in Germany as Bullinger, likely an offshoot or variation resulting from migration and linguistic influences. Theodor Bullinger (1520-1596), a notable theologian during the Reformation, is one of the prominent figures with a similar surname, albeit the slight linguistic variation.

In the 17th century, William Bulling from Suffolk is recorded in legal documents pertaining to land ownership and disputes. These records highlight the surname's persistence and the family's involvement in agrarian and rural community life. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Bulling families had spread across England and into various trades, maintaining their historical roots tied to livestock and agriculture.

Samuel Bulling (1745-1810), a notable figure from Derbyshire, is another significant individual bearing this surname. He was known for his work in the early industrial movement, particularly in the textile industry. His legacy includes contributions to the advancements in mechanized weaving.

The surname Bulling, while not exceedingly common, has a rich historical presence tied to England's medieval and early modern periods. Historical references and individuals bearing this name illustrate the occupational and geographical influences shaping its etymology and legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bulling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bulling 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 35 Bullings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.66x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 35 2.66x
Essex 17 6.54x
Nottinghamshire 17 9.58x
Surrey 16 2.49x
Lancashire 10 0.64x
Devon 6 2.19x
Herefordshire 6 11.11x
Kent 6 1.34x
Norfolk 5 2.47x
Sussex 5 2.25x
Yorkshire 4 0.31x
Lincolnshire 3 1.43x
Cornwall 2 1.34x
Huntingdonshire 2 7.65x
Hertfordshire 1 1.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ollerton in Nottinghamshire leads with 16 Bullings recorded in 1881 and an index of 4324.32x.

Place Total Index
Ollerton 16 4324.32x
West Ham 13 22.66x
Hackney London 10 13.55x
St Pancras London 10 9.44x
Chertsey 8 192.77x
Preston 7 16.75x
Isleworth 6 102.56x
St George In East London 6 48.47x
Hereford St Owen 5 280.90x
Plymouth Charles The 5 41.43x
Swaffham 5 303.03x
Burwash 4 388.35x
Camberwell 4 4.76x
Charlton Next Woolwich 4 85.29x
Elland Cum Greetland 4 68.03x
Spalding 3 71.77x
Kenwyn 2 51.28x
Mile End Old Town London 2 7.14x
Reigate Foreign 2 28.78x
Wanstead 2 43.96x
Alconbury Weston 1 526.32x
Bishop Stortford 1 33.00x
Broughton 1 769.23x
Burnley 1 7.60x
Canvey Island 1 769.23x
Clapham 1 6.08x
Croston 1 123.46x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.89x
Great Baddow 1 108.70x
Hastings St Leonards 1 30.67x
Hereford St Nicholas 1 136.99x
Lambeth 1 0.87x
Northfleet 1 25.25x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 4.74x
Shevington 1 140.85x
Snenton 1 14.35x
Teddington London 1 33.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 6
Emma 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Emily 3
Minnie 3
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Rebecca 2
Agnes 1
Annaciah 1
Bertha 1
Betty 1
Charlotte 1
Elizia 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Hilda 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Lottie 1
Louisa 1
Lusia 1
Margaret 1
Marget 1
Mercy 1
Nellie 1
Norah 1
Phobe 1
Phoebe 1
Priscila 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
George 9
John 6
James 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Samuel 3
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Benj 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Hedley 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Ralph 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bulling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bulling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Bulling surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bulling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Bulling a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Bulling surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old Norse word meaning "friend" or "brother".

What does the Bulling map show?

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