NameCensus.

UK surname

Bunbury

A locational surname originating from the town of Bunbury in Cheshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Bunbury surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, down from #21,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Winchester St Thomas. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Suffolk Coastal and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bunbury is 138 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.4%.

1881 census count

84

Ranked #21,690

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

1999

138 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bunbury had 84 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bunbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bunbury surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bunbury 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 88 #22,554
1881 historical 84 #21,690
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 92 #23,800
1911 historical 100 #22,717
1997 modern 131 #22,927
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 138 #22,983
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 132 #23,680
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 114 #26,120
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 132 #25,859
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Bunburys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Suffolk Coastal, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea and Isle of Wight. 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 Winchester St Thomas Hampshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
2 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal
3 Islington 002 Islington
4 Kensington and Chelsea 020 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Isle of Wight 010 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bunbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bunbury

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Bunbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bunbury 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bunbury 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

Bunbury is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bunbury falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bunbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bunbury

The surname Bunbury originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bun" meaning "hill" and "burg" meaning "fortified town or dwelling place," referring to a settlement on a hill.

The name first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a place called "Bonebury" in Cheshire, which is thought to be the origin of the surname.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded as "Bunbury" in various historical documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of Cheshire and the Curia Regis Rolls. One notable early bearer of the name was Sir Hugh Bunbury, who was a knight and landowner in Cheshire during the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272).

Over the centuries, the Bunbury family established themselves as prominent landowners and influential figures in various parts of England, particularly in Cheshire and Suffolk. One of the earliest recorded places associated with the name is the village of Bunbury in Cheshire, which likely derived its name from the family.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Bunbury are:

1. Sir Henry Bunbury (1778-1860), an English caricaturist and satirist known for his humorous drawings depicting social and political scenes. 2. Sir Edward Bunbury, 6th Baronet (1773-1843), a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. 3. Charles James Fox Bunbury (1809-1886), an English botanist and geologist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and fossil plants. 4. Sir Benjamin Bunbury (1642-1717), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament who served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas. 5. Sir Thomas Bunbury, 6th Baronet (1775-1857), a British soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held various military and administrative positions.

The Bunbury surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Bunbury in Cheshire, Bunbury in Northamptonshire, and Bunbury in Suffolk, further emphasizing its historical significance and geographical connections.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bunbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bunbury 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 12 Bunburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.38x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 12 1.38x
Hampshire 11 6.18x
Lancashire 10 0.97x
Surrey 10 2.36x
Gloucestershire 8 4.70x
Somerset 8 5.73x
Berkshire 6 9.21x
Yorkshire 6 0.70x
Channel Islands 5 19.44x
Cheshire 2 1.04x
Derbyshire 2 1.47x
Essex 2 1.17x
Inverness-shire 2 7.72x
Lanarkshire 2 0.71x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.82x
Dorset 1 1.76x
Oxfordshire 1 1.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 8 Bunburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.21x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 8 37.21x
Battersea 6 18.79x
South Stoneham 6 155.44x
Yeadon 6 309.28x
Cheltenham 5 38.08x
St Helier 5 59.74x
Walcot 5 67.20x
Enfield 4 70.30x
Paddington London 4 12.54x
Aldershot 3 50.34x
Wokingham 3 201.34x
Barony 2 2.82x
Bucklebury 2 588.24x
Crich 2 224.72x
Croydon 2 8.52x
Great Warley 2 512.82x
Inverness 2 30.67x
Weston 2 186.92x
Birkenhead 1 6.55x
Bourn 1 416.67x
Bristol St George 1 12.71x
Charterhouse London 1 243.90x
Cirencester 1 43.48x
Congleton 1 30.21x
Everton 1 3.05x
Farnham 1 30.40x
Frimley 1 83.33x
Kensington London 1 2.07x
Midsomer Norton 1 75.76x
Millbrook 1 22.32x
Painswick 1 83.33x
Portsea 1 2.87x
Sandhurst 1 79.37x
Sherborne 1 59.52x
St George Hanover Square 1 6.54x
Toxteth Park 1 2.87x
Watlington 1 181.82x
Westminster St James 1 11.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 2
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Cecelia 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
Delphine 1
Dorothea 1
Emily 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Irene 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margarett 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 4
George 4
Henry 4
John 4
William 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Patrick 2
Walter 2
Benjamin 1
C. 1
Cecil 1
Douglas 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Hamilton 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Mervyn 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Shirley 1
T.C. 1
Thos.H. 1
Vezey 1
Waler 1

FAQ

Bunbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bunbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Bunbury surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bunbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Bunbury a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Bunbury surname mean?

A locational surname originating from the town of Bunbury in Cheshire, England.

What does the Bunbury map show?

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