NameCensus.

UK surname

Bulmer

An English surname derived from bull-mere, referring to someone living near a pool or pond frequented by bulls.

In the 1881 census there were 2,373 people recorded with the Bulmer surname, ranking it #1,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,881, ranked #2,336, down from #1,877 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Hartlepool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bulmer is 3,066 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.4%.

1881 census count

2,373

Ranked #1,877

Modern count

2,881

2016, ranked #2,336

Peak year

1998

3,066 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bulmer had 2,373 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,877 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,881 in 2016, ranked #2,336.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,814 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Bulmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bulmer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bulmer 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 1,606 #1,792
1861 historical 1,470 #1,928
1881 historical 2,373 #1,877
1891 historical 2,346 #2,002
1901 historical 2,711 #2,050
1911 historical 2,814 #1,849
1997 modern 2,952 #2,196
1998 modern 3,066 #2,196
1999 modern 3,035 #2,234
2000 modern 3,041 #2,212
2001 modern 2,999 #2,198
2002 modern 3,028 #2,224
2003 modern 2,899 #2,268
2004 modern 2,901 #2,267
2005 modern 2,873 #2,257
2006 modern 2,869 #2,263
2007 modern 2,851 #2,300
2008 modern 2,902 #2,274
2009 modern 2,976 #2,271
2010 modern 3,060 #2,257
2011 modern 3,021 #2,254
2012 modern 2,847 #2,342
2013 modern 2,918 #2,328
2014 modern 2,925 #2,332
2015 modern 2,895 #2,328
2016 modern 2,881 #2,336

Geography

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Where Bulmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Stranton and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Hartlepool Durham
4 Stranton Durham
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
2 Sunderland 023 Sunderland
3 Sunderland 016 Sunderland
4 Sunderland 003 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 008 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bulmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bulmer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bulmer, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Bulmer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bulmer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bulmer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bulmer is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bulmer falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bulmer 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 Bulmer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bulmer

The surname Bulmer has its origins in England, and it can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bul" meaning a bull and "mere" meaning a pool or lake, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to a person who lived near a pool frequented by bulls.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a place called "Bulmere" in Yorkshire. This place name is likely the source of the Bulmer surname.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Bulmere who held lands in Yorkshire. This suggests that the Bulmer family had already established itself as a prominent landholding family in the region by that time.

The Bulmer name is also associated with the village of Bulmer, located in North Yorkshire. This village was once part of the lands held by the Bulmer family, and it is believed to have been named after them.

One notable Bulmer was Sir Ralph Bulmer (c. 1440-1516), who served as a member of the Privy Council under King Henry VII and King Henry VIII. He was a prominent figure in the Wars of the Roses and played a key role in the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487.

Another significant Bulmer was Sir Bevis Bulmer (c. 1520-1572), who was a member of Parliament and held the position of Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1565. He was known for his support of the Protestant Reformation and his opposition to the Catholic Church.

In the 17th century, the Bulmer family had connections to the Virginia Colony in North America. William Bulmer (1610-1677) was one of the early settlers in the colony and served as a member of the House of Burgesses.

The name Bulmer has also been associated with the brewing industry. In the 19th century, the Bulmer family established a cider-making business in Herefordshire, England, which became known as H.P. Bulmer & Co. Ltd. This company played a significant role in the popularization of cider in Britain and beyond.

Throughout history, the Bulmer surname has been recorded with various spellings, including Bulmere, Bulmare, and Boolmer, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bulmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bulmer 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,203 Bulmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.25x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,203 5.25x
Durham 552 8.03x
Lancashire 150 0.55x
Northumberland 90 2.62x
Middlesex 85 0.37x
Surrey 41 0.36x
Lincolnshire 38 1.03x
Suffolk 34 1.21x
Cheshire 21 0.41x
Derbyshire 21 0.58x
Warwickshire 16 0.27x
Hertfordshire 15 0.94x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.45x
Midlothian 13 0.42x
Shropshire 8 0.40x
Herefordshire 7 0.74x
Norfolk 7 0.20x
Cumberland 6 0.30x
Kent 6 0.08x
Worcestershire 6 0.20x
Angus 5 0.23x
Devon 4 0.08x
Hampshire 4 0.08x
Lanarkshire 4 0.05x
Essex 3 0.07x
Gloucestershire 3 0.07x
Dorset 2 0.13x
Inverness-shire 2 0.29x
Somerset 2 0.05x
Sussex 2 0.05x
Flintshire 1 0.16x
Oxfordshire 1 0.07x
Roxburghshire 1 0.24x
Royal Navy 1 0.36x
Staffordshire 1 0.01x
Westmorland 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 100 Bulmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.73x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 100 7.73x
Stockton On Tees 56 16.89x
Hartlepool 49 50.13x
Darlington 39 14.69x
Guisbrough 35 69.92x
Holbeck 34 22.40x
Rothwell 32 69.16x
Elswick 31 11.29x
Hunslet 31 8.68x
West Derby 30 3.74x
Riccall 29 466.99x
Bishopwearmouth 27 4.57x
Westoe 27 6.92x
Dinnington 26 1268.29x
Stranton 26 11.23x
Bethnal Green London 25 2.49x
Filey 25 135.06x
Monkwearmouth Shore 25 18.62x
Everton 24 2.74x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 23 21.61x
Kyo 21 64.85x
York St Cuthbert 20 95.37x
Marsden In Almondbury 19 91.17x
Wortley In Bramley 19 10.47x
York St Maurice 19 44.04x
Manningham 18 6.38x
Selby 18 37.59x
Westgate 18 8.45x
Crossgate 17 56.53x
Fylingdales 17 148.86x
Sunderland 17 14.00x
Holy Trinity 16 2.90x
Middlesbrough 16 5.36x
Sowerby In Thirsk 16 116.03x
St Pancras London 16 0.86x
Sutton Stoneferry 16 24.41x
Kirkleatham 15 48.48x
Althorpe 14 166.47x
Birmingham 14 0.72x
Potter Newton 14 34.64x
Shildon 14 25.33x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 13 16.59x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 13 4.36x
Lambeth 13 0.64x
Marton In Middlesbrough 13 155.50x
Tanfield 13 15.89x
Templenewsam 13 78.36x
Doncaster 12 7.17x
Gate Fulford 12 22.43x
Headingley Cum Burley 12 8.14x
Stokesley 12 84.03x
Barrow In Furness 11 2.95x
Dewsbury 11 4.68x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 0.88x
Sculcoates 11 3.03x
Skelton In Guisbrough 11 17.75x
Durham St Nicholas 10 59.17x
Great Ayton 10 71.28x
Manchester 10 0.81x
Normanby In 10 16.33x
Ripon 10 18.81x
Scarborough 10 4.80x
Sheffield 10 1.37x
Aberford 9 174.08x
Barnsley 9 3.81x
East Thickley 9 64.56x
Hertford St John 9 37.89x
Rotherhithe 9 3.15x
St Giles 9 20.96x
Thornley 9 36.16x
West Rounton 9 520.23x
Derby St Werburgh 8 3.83x
Kingston On Thames 8 2.96x
Little Bolton 8 2.27x
Naburn 8 177.78x
Newbottle 8 21.30x
Pelton 8 24.45x
Scalby In Scarborough 8 168.42x
Sherburn 8 42.49x
Thornaby 8 9.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 207
Elizabeth 123
Sarah 82
Jane 67
Ann 55
Hannah 49
Margaret 48
Emma 37
Annie 35
Ellen 32
Eliza 26
Alice 25
Ada 23
Maria 23
Emily 21
Isabella 20
Florence 19
Frances 18
Martha 18
Charlotte 17
Edith 13
Anne 12
Harriet 11
Agnes 10
Fanny 10
Clara 9
Margt. 8
Grace 7
Louisa 7
Susannah 7
Amy 6
Catherine 6
Elizth. 6
Esther 6
Gertrude 6
Susan 6
Beatrice 5
Henrietta 5
Kate 5
Rebecca 5
Amelia 4
Eleanor 4
Helen 4
Lilly 4
Matilda 4
Maud 4
Sophia 4
Anna 3
Christiana 3
Isabell 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 162
William 144
Thomas 98
George 67
Henry 47
James 47
Joseph 39
Robert 36
Charles 35
Richard 26
Arthur 25
Alfred 18
Walter 17
Frederick 13
David 12
Albert 10
Daniel 9
Edward 9
Ralph 9
Christopher 8
Ernest 8
Matthew 7
Benjamin 6
Wm. 6
Francis 5
Frank 5
Fred 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Mark 5
Samuel 5
Andrew 4
Edwin 4
Joe 4
Robt. 4
Chas. 3
Geo. 3
Jeffrey 3
Jonathan 3
Leonard 3
Stephen 3
Thornton 3
Jonah 2
Joshua 2
Michael 2
Newlove 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Sam 2

FAQ

Bulmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bulmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,373 people were recorded with the Bulmer surname. That placed it at #1,877 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bulmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,881 in 2016. That gives Bulmer a modern rank of #2,336.

What does the Bulmer surname mean?

An English surname derived from bull-mere, referring to someone living near a pool or pond frequented by bulls.

What does the Bulmer map show?

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