UK surname
An anglicised form of the German surname Bunner, likely referring to someone from the town of Bunn.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Bunner surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 67, ranked #33,884, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Guilsfield, Paddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bunner is 143 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.3%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
67
2016, ranked #33,884
Peak year
1911
143 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bunner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bunner surname density by area, 1911 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 | 94 | #17,837 |
| 1861 | historical | 102 | #20,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 95 | #24,694 |
| 1901 | historical | 115 | #21,050 |
| 1911 | historical | 143 | #18,401 |
| 1997 | modern | 75 | #30,109 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 76 | #30,546 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 78 | #30,168 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 68 | #31,689 |
| 2004 | modern | 72 | #31,488 |
| 2005 | modern | 70 | #31,912 |
| 2006 | modern | 66 | #32,629 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 67 | #33,135 |
| 2009 | modern | 62 | #33,832 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 57 | #34,393 |
| 2012 | modern | 57 | #34,452 |
| 2013 | modern | 62 | #34,260 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 66 | #33,976 |
| 2016 | modern | 67 | #33,884 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Guilsfield, Paddington, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. 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 | Guilsfield | Montgomeryshire |
| 2 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bunner 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 Bunner, 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 Bunner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bunner 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, Bunner 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 Bunner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bunner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bunner is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "bun" meaning "a kind of plant" or "reed". The earliest recorded examples of this surname date back to the 13th century in areas around Oxfordshire and Berkshire, England.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of this name was John Bunner, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279. The surname was also found in various spellings such as Bunner, Bunor, and Boner in medieval records from the region.
The name Bunner is believed to have been an occupational surname, given to those who worked with reeds or bundles of plants, perhaps in thatching or basket weaving. Some researchers have also suggested a potential connection to the Old English word "bune" meaning "a cup or bowl", implying that the name may have been given to those who made or sold such items.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are no direct references to the surname Bunner, but there are mentions of place names such as "Boneham" and "Bonewell" which may have been related to the name's origin.
Notable individuals with the surname Bunner throughout history include:
1. Richard Bunner (c. 1530-1599), an English clergyman and author from Oxfordshire. 2. Elizabeth Bunner (1658-1741), a Quaker preacher and writer from Buckinghamshire. 3. John Bunner (1765-1843), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars. 4. Henry Bunner (1855-1896), an American novelist and short story writer from New York. 5. Alice Bunner (1892-1968), an American painter and illustrator known for her works depicting rural life.
While the surname Bunner is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history rooted in the occupational and geographic origins of medieval England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bunner 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. Montgomeryshire leads with 24 Bunners recorded in 1881 and an index of 132.60x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomeryshire | 24 | 132.60x |
| Middlesex | 22 | 2.78x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 0.96x |
| Shropshire | 9 | 13.19x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.30x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 2.01x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.74x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.26x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.57x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.81x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.64x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 4.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Guilsfield in Montgomeryshire leads with 16 Bunners recorded in 1881 and an index of 2424.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Guilsfield | 16 | 2424.24x |
| Paddington London | 9 | 30.98x |
| Chelsea London | 6 | 25.21x |
| Worthen | 6 | 833.33x |
| Ewell | 5 | 617.28x |
| Pool | 5 | 364.96x |
| Salford | 5 | 18.14x |
| Aston | 4 | 7.29x |
| Hampstead London | 4 | 32.52x |
| Bromley | 2 | 48.66x |
| Newton In Makerfield | 2 | 69.69x |
| Poplar London | 2 | 13.41x |
| Sculcoates | 2 | 16.12x |
| Shrewsbury St Chad | 2 | 83.33x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 13.44x |
| Colchester St James | 1 | 158.73x |
| Hampton London | 1 | 76.92x |
| Huyton With Roby | 1 | 90.91x |
| Llanfair Caereinion | 1 | 161.29x |
| Llanfechan | 1 | 588.24x |
| Llansilin | 1 | 200.00x |
| Mold Bistree | 1 | 285.71x |
| Montgomery | 1 | 312.50x |
| North Wingfield | 1 | 181.82x |
| Tranmere | 1 | 15.60x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bunner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bunner 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 Bunner households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Labourer | 4 |
| Farmers Dau | 2 |
| Farmers Son | 2 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Baker Master | 1 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Brokers Servant | 1 |
| Cabman | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Cowman (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farm Servant (indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmers 254 Acres 1 Boy | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Fitter | 1 |
| General Dom Servant | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Hawking Stationery | 1 |
| Head Of House Company (No Spec. Occ.) | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Striker In Iron Foundry (Manuf) | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Waiter (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Weaver Cotton | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Bunner surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 67 in 2016. That gives Bunner a modern rank of #33,884.
An anglicised form of the German surname Bunner, likely referring to someone from the town of Bunn.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bunner 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.