UK surname
A surname derived from the German term "Bund" referring to an alliance or union.
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Bunes surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hanney, West, Halifax and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bunes is 138 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 350.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
138 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bunes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bunes surname density by area, 1891 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 | 5 | #32,456 |
| 1861 | historical | 138 | #16,365 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 118 | #21,540 |
| 1901 | historical | 16 | #32,260 |
| 1911 | historical | 10 | #32,609 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 14 | #36,512 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 17 | #36,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hanney, West, Halifax, Paddington, Letcomb Regis, Childrey and Hendon. 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 | Hanney, West | Berkshire |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | Letcomb Regis, Childrey | Berkshire |
| 5 | Hendon | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bunes 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 Bunes, 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 Bunes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bunes 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, Bunes 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 Bunes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bunes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BUNES is believed to have originated in Norway, with roots dating back to the Viking era of the 8th to 11th centuries. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "bún," meaning "a farmer" or "a resident," suggesting that the name was likely given to someone who lived on or worked a farm.
One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian documents from the 12th to the 16th centuries. In this collection, there are several mentions of individuals with the name Bunes or similar spellings, such as Bunæ and Bunær.
During the Middle Ages, the name Bunes was particularly prevalent in the western regions of Norway, including the counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane. This is likely because these areas were heavily involved in agriculture and farming, which aligns with the name's meaning.
In the 15th century, a man named Torstein Bunes is recorded as having lived in the village of Bunes, located in the municipality of Hyllestad in Sogn og Fjordane. This suggests that the surname may have originated from this particular place name, which itself is derived from the Old Norse word "bún."
Another notable individual with this surname was Peder Bunes, a Norwegian farmer and landowner who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is mentioned in several historical documents from the time, including land records and court proceedings.
In the 19th century, a man named Ole Bunes (1826-1903) gained recognition as a prominent Norwegian politician and member of the Storting (the Norwegian parliament). He played a significant role in the debate surrounding Norway's dissolution of its union with Sweden in 1905.
Other notable individuals with the surname Bunes include Arne Bunes (1920-1986), a Norwegian journalist and author, and Kari Bunes (born 1958), a contemporary Norwegian artist known for her multimedia installations and sculptures.
While the surname Bunes is relatively uncommon today, it continues to be associated with its Norwegian roots and the historical significance of its meaning as a descriptor of farmers and landowners.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bunes 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. Middlesex leads with 2 Bunes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 2 | 10.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 2 Bunes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 434.78x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bunes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Ann | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bunes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 1 |
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 Bunes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Bookbinder | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Bunes surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Bunes a modern rank of #37,705.
A surname derived from the German term "Bund" referring to an alliance or union.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bunes 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.