UK surname
A surname derived from the French word "bouillir" meaning "to boil," referring to an occupation involving boiling or brewing.
In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Bully surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #17,841 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, St Pancras and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bully is 167 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.2%.
1881 census count
119
Ranked #17,841
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1851
167 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bully surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bully 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 | 167 | #11,936 |
| 1861 | historical | 145 | #15,715 |
| 1881 | historical | 119 | #17,841 |
| 1891 | historical | 144 | #18,842 |
| 1901 | historical | 80 | #25,251 |
| 1911 | historical | 57 | #27,099 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell, Stokeinteignhead, Combeinteignhead, Haccombe, St Nicholas and Torbryan, Denbury, Highweek. 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 | Tormoham with Torquay | Devon |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | Stokeinteignhead, Combeinteignhead, Haccombe, St Nicholas | Devon |
| 5 | Torbryan, Denbury, Highweek | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bully 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 Bully, 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 Bully surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bully 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, Bully 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 Bully is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bully, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bully originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "boulie" or "boulye," meaning a small loaf of bread. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a baker or someone who sold small loaves of bread.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bully can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a person named William Buly in Oxfordshire. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records from the reign of King Edward I, documenting landowners and their holdings throughout England.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, including Buly, Bulli, and Bullie, all of which are likely variations of the same name. The spelling "Bully" became more standardized over time.
A notable early bearer of the name was John Bully, a merchant and alderman in the city of London in the late 14th century. He is mentioned in several historical records from that period.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Bully surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire. Some examples of individuals with this name include Thomas Bully (born circa 1580 in Oxfordshire) and William Bully (born circa 1620 in Gloucestershire).
One of the most famous individuals with the Bully surname was Sir Edward Bully, an English merchant and politician who lived from 1615 to 1686. He served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in various commercial ventures, including the East India Company.
Another notable figure was John Bully, a Baptist minister and writer who lived from 1629 to 1714. He was a prominent figure in the early Baptist movement in England and authored several religious works.
In the 18th century, the Bully name continued to be found in various parts of England, with concentrations in the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Devon. Examples include James Bully (born 1702 in Somerset) and Richard Bully (born 1745 in Wiltshire).
While the Bully surname has its roots in England, it eventually spread to other parts of the world through migration and exploration. Over time, the name has acquired different meanings and associations in various cultures and languages, but its English origins can be traced back to the medieval period and the concept of a small loaf of bread.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bully 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. Devon leads with 34 Bullys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.84x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 34 | 13.84x |
| Middlesex | 21 | 1.78x |
| Norfolk | 10 | 5.51x |
| Gloucestershire | 9 | 3.89x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.50x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 2.92x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 2.07x |
| Somerset | 5 | 2.63x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.43x |
| Hertfordshire | 4 | 4.92x |
| Durham | 3 | 0.85x |
| Isle of Man | 2 | 9.12x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.14x |
| Pembrokeshire | 2 | 5.33x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.29x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.43x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.25x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.34x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beighton in Norfolk leads with 7 Bullys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6363.64x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bully surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 8 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Florence | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Alma | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Augusta | 1 |
| Berthe | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Constance | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rebekah | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bully 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 Bully households.
FAQ
In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Bully surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Bully a modern rank of #37,178.
A surname derived from the French word "bouillir" meaning "to boil," referring to an occupation involving boiling or brewing.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bully 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.