UK surname
An English surname derived from the word "bull" referring to cattle herding or farming.
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Bulls surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bulls is 143 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.6%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
143 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bulls surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bulls surname density by area, 1861 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 | 31 | #27,734 |
| 1861 | historical | 143 | #15,906 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 67 | #28,424 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 45 | #28,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner, Southampton St Mary, Lambeth and Welborne. 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 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner | Hampshire |
| 3 | Southampton St Mary | Hampshire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Welborne | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bulls 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 Bulls, 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 Bulls surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bulls 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, Bulls 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 Bulls is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bulls, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BULLS is of English origin, with its earliest roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bule," which referred to a male bovine animal or a bull. This occupational surname was initially given to individuals who were responsible for tending or herding bulls, either on farms or in livestock markets.
The surname BULLS can be found in various historical records from the 13th century onwards. One of the earliest documented instances is in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a person named Laurence le Bule. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey conducted in 1086, does not explicitly record the surname BULLS, but it does include several place names with the word "bule" or variations of it, suggesting the presence of individuals associated with bulls in those areas.
In the 14th century, the surname BULLS appeared in several administrative records, such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which listed individuals like Johannes Bule and Willelmus Bule. The variation "Bull" was also commonly used during this period, as seen in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1315, which mentions a person named Adam Bull.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BULLS can be found in the birth record of John Bulls, born in 1570 in Lincolnshire, England. Another notable individual was William Bulls, a merchant and landowner who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in Hertfordshire.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname BULLS. One example is John Bulls (1562-1628), an English composer and musician who served as a lay vicar at Exeter Cathedral. Another prominent individual was Thomas Bulls (1605-1676), an English clergyman and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1663 to 1665.
In the 18th century, William Bulls (1738-1814) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. Additionally, Thomas Bulls (1772-1857) was a British politician and Member of Parliament for Marlborough from 1812 to 1835.
The surname BULLS has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout England. For instance, the village of Bulls Cross in Hertfordshire is believed to have derived its name from an early settlement of individuals with the surname BULLS in that area.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bulls 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. Kent leads with 8 Bulls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 8 | 6.33x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 6.11x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 11.08x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.91x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 11.48x |
| Buckinghamshire | 3 | 13.39x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.66x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 4.13x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.37x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.68x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Greenwich in Kent leads with 7 Bulls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 118.64x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | 7 | 118.64x |
| Lowestoft | 5 | 234.74x |
| Brinnington | 4 | 526.32x |
| Heaton Norris | 4 | 160.00x |
| Weedon Beck | 4 | 1600.00x |
| Chesham | 3 | 361.45x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 9.29x |
| Bockleton | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 14.62x |
| Dover St James | 1 | 181.82x |
| Harlow | 1 | 312.50x |
| Mells | 1 | 833.33x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 17.18x |
| Witton Cum Twambrooks | 1 | 136.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bulls surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bulls surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Bulls households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Soldiers Son | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Basket Maker | 1 |
| Boiler Maker | 1 |
| C Bobbin ... In Mill Unemployed | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Gas Stoker | 1 |
| Genl Labr | 1 |
| Greengrocer | 1 |
| Gunner Royal Artillery | 1 |
| Mantle Warehouseman | 1 |
| Pauper | 1 |
| Penr Keep | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Soldiers Wife | 1 |
| Stonemason | 1 |
| Telegraph Messenger | 1 |
| Tobacconist | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Bulls surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Bulls a modern rank of #38,110.
An English surname derived from the word "bull" referring to cattle herding or farming.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bulls 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.