NameCensus.

UK surname

Bunnell

A surname referring to someone who lived near a small stream or creek, derived from Old English "bune".

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Bunnell surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 195, ranked #19,921, down from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bebbington and Stockport. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Wirral and Newark and Sherwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bunnell is 236 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.1%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

195

2016, ranked #19,921

Peak year

1911

236 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bunnell had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016, ranked #19,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 236 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bunnell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bunnell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bunnell 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 189 #15,547
1901 historical 202 #15,010
1911 historical 236 #13,452
1997 modern 225 #16,352
1998 modern 234 #16,404
1999 modern 228 #16,790
2000 modern 222 #17,032
2001 modern 223 #16,765
2002 modern 231 #16,677
2003 modern 228 #16,663
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 215 #17,441
2007 modern 209 #17,951
2008 modern 203 #18,470
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 200 #19,457
2011 modern 193 #19,729
2012 modern 186 #20,141
2013 modern 202 #19,389
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 200 #19,567
2016 modern 195 #19,921

Geography

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Where Bunnells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bebbington, Stockport, Hawarden and Tarvin (Tarvin), Priors Hay. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Wirral, Newark and Sherwood and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bebbington Cheshire
3 Stockport Cheshire
4 Hawarden Cheshire
5 Tarvin (Tarvin), Priors Hay Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 009 Flintshire
2 Wirral 002 Wirral
3 Newark and Sherwood 003 Newark and Sherwood
4 Flintshire 010 Flintshire
5 Cheshire West and Chester 039 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bunnell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bunnell

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Bunnell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bunnell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bunnell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bunnell 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

Bunnell 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 Bunnell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bunnell

The surname Bunnell is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bunan," which means "to prepare" or "to make ready." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a tradesperson or someone who prepared goods for sale or distribution.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Bunell" or "Bonell." It is thought to have originated in the counties of Essex and Suffolk in eastern England, where many early records of the name can be found. One of the earliest documented references to the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, dated 1273, where it is listed as "Bunell."

The Bunnell surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Bunnell's Farm in Brentwood, Essex, and Bunnell's Hill in Woodford, Essex. These place names likely originated from families bearing the Bunnell name who owned or resided in those areas.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Bunnell surname was John Bunnell, who was born in Essex around 1475. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the region. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Bunnell (c. 1530-1599), a member of the English gentry and a Member of Parliament for Maldon, Essex, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, several members of the Bunnell family immigrated to the American colonies. One of the earliest was Benjamin Bunnell (c. 1620-1689), who settled in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1644. He became a prominent figure in the colony and served as a deputy to the General Court.

Another notable individual was Nathaniel Bunnell (1675-1753), a farmer and landowner in Stratford, Connecticut. He played a significant role in the development of the town and served as a selectman and a justice of the peace.

In the 18th century, Jonathan Bunnell (1745-1825) was a patriot during the American Revolutionary War. He served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army and participated in several crucial battles, including the Battle of Saratoga.

One of the most famous individuals with the Bunnell surname was Lafayette Bunnell (1824-1903), an American physician and inventor. He is credited with developing the first successful typewriter design, which he patented in 1868. His invention laid the foundation for the modern typewriter and played a crucial role in the advancement of office technology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bunnell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bunnell 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. Cheshire leads with 46 Bunnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.08x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 46 19.08x
Middlesex 25 2.29x
Lancashire 15 1.16x
Gloucestershire 11 5.13x
Caernarfonshire 7 15.85x
Surrey 6 1.13x
Devon 1 0.44x
Royal Navy 1 7.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 12 Bunnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.69x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 12 28.69x
Tranmere 11 124.15x
Birkenhead 10 52.03x
Bristol St George 9 90.82x
Bethnal Green London 8 16.86x
Little Stanney 7 11666.67x
Llanbeblig 7 156.25x
Mickle Bridge 7 6363.64x
Newington 6 14.87x
Tarvin Pryors Hayes 5 1562.50x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 84.57x
St Anne Soho London 4 64.10x
St Luke London 4 22.83x
Edmonton 3 34.09x
Liverpool 2 2.54x
Bristol St James In 1 31.75x
Bromborough 1 200.00x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.88x
Great Bolton 1 5.82x
Great Neston 1 125.00x
Higher Bebington 1 64.94x
Ilfracombe 1 42.74x
Liscard 1 23.04x
Little Neston 1 256.41x
Paddington London 1 2.49x
Royal Navy 1 8.98x
Tarvin 1 625.00x
Westbury On Trym 1 13.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Hannah 4
Mary 4
Ann 3
Emma 3
Sarah 3
Anna 2
E. 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Lizzie 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Allice 1
Angelina 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Davies 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Elzabeth 1
Emily 1
Hellen 1
Jane 1
Jescia 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Martha 1
William 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bunnell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bunnell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Bunnell surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bunnell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016. That gives Bunnell a modern rank of #19,921.

What does the Bunnell surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who lived near a small stream or creek, derived from Old English "bune".

What does the Bunnell map show?

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