NameCensus.

UK surname

Bullock

An occupational surname referring to a keeper or herder of bulls or bullocks (young bulls).

In the 1881 census there were 9,713 people recorded with the Bullock surname, ranking it #441 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10,502, ranked #618, down from #441 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Walsall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Forest of Dean and Craven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bullock is 12,886 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.1%.

1881 census count

9,713

Ranked #441

Modern count

10,502

2016, ranked #618

Peak year

1911

12,886 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bullock had 9,713 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #441 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 10,502 in 2016, ranked #618.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12,886 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bullock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bullock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bullock 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 6,512 #422
1861 historical 6,266 #446
1881 historical 9,713 #441
1891 historical 10,362 #426
1901 historical 11,956 #436
1911 historical 12,886 #379
1997 modern 11,027 #558
1998 modern 11,586 #548
1999 modern 11,658 #550
2000 modern 11,522 #555
2001 modern 11,302 #551
2002 modern 11,605 #548
2003 modern 11,268 #552
2004 modern 11,242 #553
2005 modern 10,861 #572
2006 modern 10,830 #571
2007 modern 10,849 #576
2008 modern 10,873 #583
2009 modern 11,011 #590
2010 modern 11,085 #597
2011 modern 10,922 #597
2012 modern 10,647 #601
2013 modern 10,825 #600
2014 modern 10,814 #607
2015 modern 10,647 #610
2016 modern 10,502 #618

Geography

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Where Bullocks are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd, Forest of Dean, Craven, Worcester and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Walsall Staffordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 003 Gwynedd
2 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
3 Craven 003 Craven
4 Worcester 005 Worcester
5 Stoke-on-Trent 017 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bullock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bullock

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

London Fringe

Within London, Bullock is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Bullock is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bullock 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 Bullock 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 Bullock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bullock

The surname Bullock originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "bulluc," meaning a young bull or male calf. The name was initially given to individuals who worked with bullocks, such as herdsmen, farmers, or traders.

The earliest recorded instances of the Bullock surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bulloc" and "Buloc." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in various parts of England.

During the Middle Ages, the name was particularly prevalent in counties like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire, where cattle farming and trade were essential economic activities. The Bullock family was well-established in these regions, with several members holding positions of prominence in local communities.

One notable figure from the 14th century was John Bullock, a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Nottinghamshire. Born around 1330, he served as a Justice of the Peace and was involved in several legal disputes over land ownership.

In the 16th century, the Bullock surname appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1524 in Gloucestershire and the Muster Rolls of 1539 in Yorkshire. These documents provide evidence of the name's widespread use across different parts of England.

The Bullocks of Shropshire were a prominent family during the 17th century. Sir Richard Bullock (1610-1667) was a renowned politician and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

Another notable figure was William Bullock (1773-1849), a celebrated English traveler, naturalist, and writer. He was born in London and is best known for his extensive explorations of Mexico and his published works on the natural history and antiquities of the region.

In the 19th century, the Bullock surname continued to be well-represented in various fields. One example is William Bullock (1813-1867), an English missionary who founded the first Anglican church in British Columbia, Canada.

Throughout history, the Bullock surname has been associated with various occupations, including farming, cattle trading, politics, exploration, and religious service. While the name originated from a humble occupation, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bullock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bullock 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. Staffordshire leads with 1,179 Bullocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.67x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 1,179 3.67x
Lancashire 845 0.75x
Middlesex 843 0.89x
Yorkshire 831 0.88x
Gloucestershire 691 3.71x
Worcestershire 545 4.39x
Norfolk 410 2.81x
Cheshire 402 1.92x
Warwickshire 383 1.60x
Derbyshire 311 2.09x
Surrey 293 0.63x
Suffolk 252 2.18x
Shropshire 220 2.68x
Cornwall 216 2.01x
Kent 178 0.55x
Wiltshire 175 2.08x
Durham 162 0.57x
Lincolnshire 160 1.05x
Essex 158 0.84x
Herefordshire 143 3.67x
Hampshire 129 0.66x
Berkshire 124 1.74x
Somerset 124 0.81x
Nottinghamshire 113 0.88x
Northumberland 86 0.61x
Oxfordshire 82 1.40x
Northamptonshire 62 0.69x
Monmouthshire 59 0.86x
Sussex 57 0.36x
Leicestershire 49 0.47x
Dorset 48 0.77x
Lanarkshire 45 0.15x
Devon 41 0.21x
Montgomeryshire 40 1.84x
Buckinghamshire 36 0.63x
Cambridgeshire 30 0.50x
Glamorgan 27 0.16x
Midlothian 25 0.20x
Channel Islands 24 0.85x
Westmorland 19 0.91x
Caernarfonshire 16 0.42x
Rutland 13 1.86x
Bedfordshire 12 0.24x
Hertfordshire 11 0.17x
Anglesey 10 0.59x
Stirlingshire 8 0.23x
Angus 7 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 7 0.37x
Perthshire 7 0.16x
Radnorshire 7 0.91x
Isle of Man 6 0.34x
Royal Navy 6 0.53x
Dunbartonshire 5 0.20x
Denbighshire 3 0.08x
Roxburghshire 2 0.12x
Argyllshire 1 0.04x
Berwickshire 1 0.09x
Brecknockshire 1 0.05x
Cumberland 1 0.01x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.03x
West Lothian 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 134 Bullocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.68x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 134 1.68x
Stoke Upon Trent 130 3.82x
Aston 114 1.73x
Walsall Foreign 104 6.28x
Macclesfield 99 10.62x
Kingswinford 95 8.16x
West Bromwich 93 5.06x
St Stephen In Brannel 75 76.41x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 74 4.22x
Burton Upon Trent 69 9.19x
Wolverhampton 69 2.80x
St Marylebone London 67 1.32x
Islington London 63 0.68x
Kensington London 63 1.19x
Longhope 59 186.41x
Wednesbury 59 7.36x
Leeds 53 1.00x
Camberwell 52 0.86x
Paddington London 51 1.46x
St Pancras London 51 0.67x
Kings Norton 49 4.40x
Burnley 47 4.95x
Bromley London 46 2.20x
Bethnal Green London 45 1.09x
Westbury On Severn 45 60.93x
Bedminster 43 2.99x
Cheltenham 43 2.99x
Colne 43 12.80x
Chelsea London 41 1.43x
Lambeth 40 0.48x
Alfreton 39 8.63x
Brighton 37 1.14x
Newington 37 1.05x
Nottingham St Mary 36 1.09x
Wigan 36 2.28x
St Enoder 35 95.71x
Manchester 34 0.67x
Sedgley 33 2.77x
Settle 33 45.78x
St George Hanover Square 33 1.97x
Tipton 33 3.36x
Bristol St George 31 3.60x
Cradley 31 54.39x
Habergham Eaves 31 3.01x
St Giles In Fields London 30 6.43x
Salford 29 0.87x
Westoe 29 1.81x
Calne 28 16.18x
Gorleston 28 9.52x
Mile End Old Town London 28 1.38x
Shoreditch London 28 0.68x
Great Little Marsden 27 5.23x
Sutton In Macclesfield 27 12.40x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 26 50.54x
Cavendish 26 69.56x
Horninglow 26 17.20x
Liverpool 26 0.38x
Gateshead 25 1.18x
Uttoxeter 25 15.22x
Yardley 25 7.87x
Clerkenwell London 24 1.07x
Dawley 24 8.03x
Derby St Peter 24 5.06x
Eldersfield 24 123.14x
Heanor 24 10.79x
Mitcheldean 24 103.76x
Newton 24 2.76x
Normanton 24 19.10x
Northampton St Sepulchre 24 5.28x
Chorlton On Medlock 23 1.28x
Gorton 23 2.17x
Greenwich 23 1.52x
Hackney London 23 0.43x
Heigham 23 2.93x
Martley 23 64.68x
Nantwich 23 9.44x
Richmond 23 15.63x
Westbury On Severn East 23 5.46x
Deptford St Paul 22 0.88x
Hulme 22 0.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 623
Elizabeth 369
Sarah 344
Ann 202
Jane 187
Eliza 175
Ellen 157
Emma 142
Hannah 136
Alice 133
Annie 132
Emily 127
Martha 102
Margaret 71
Louisa 69
Edith 68
Maria 62
Ada 59
Caroline 58
Harriet 58
Florence 56
Clara 55
Charlotte 54
Fanny 45
Susan 44
Agnes 43
Anne 41
Catherine 40
Kate 36
Harriett 34
Rose 32
Lucy 29
Frances 26
Julia 26
Matilda 26
Elizth. 25
Isabella 25
Amelia 24
Selina 24
Amy 20
Sophia 20
Esther 19
Gertrude 18
Laura 18
Susannah 18
Eleanor 17
Ethel 16
Jessie 16
Minnie 16
Ruth 16

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 595
John 517
George 368
James 315
Thomas 312
Charles 240
Henry 218
Joseph 181
Alfred 107
Arthur 104
Robert 103
Albert 93
Frederick 91
Samuel 89
Edward 86
Richard 78
Walter 74
Harry 55
Herbert 50
Edwin 49
Ernest 38
Francis 33
Frank 32
Benjamin 30
David 27
Thos. 23
Wm. 20
Peter 19
Isaac 18
Daniel 16
Fred 16
Tom 14
Chas. 13
Fredrick 13
Matthew 13
Stephen 11
Edmund 9
Fredk. 9
Geo. 9
Percy 9
Ralph 9
Willm. 9
Eli 8
Jesse 8
Job 8
Mark 8
Abraham 7
Earnest 7
Leonard 7
Sydney 7

Top occupations

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 Bullock households.

FAQ

Bullock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bullock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9,713 people were recorded with the Bullock surname. That placed it at #441 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bullock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 10,502 in 2016. That gives Bullock a modern rank of #618.

What does the Bullock surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a keeper or herder of bulls or bullocks (young bulls).

What does the Bullock map show?

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