NameCensus.

UK surname

Bunney

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "rabbit hill" or "rabbit enclosure".

In the 1881 census there were 673 people recorded with the Bunney surname, ranking it #5,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 933, ranked #6,126, down from #5,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swithland, Halifax and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Middlesbrough and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bunney is 1,019 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.6%.

1881 census count

673

Ranked #5,361

Modern count

933

2016, ranked #6,126

Peak year

1911

1,019 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bunney had 673 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 933 in 2016, ranked #6,126.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,019 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bunney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bunney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bunney 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 437 #5,632
1861 historical 449 #5,764
1881 historical 673 #5,361
1891 historical 796 #5,057
1901 historical 907 #5,120
1911 historical 1,019 #4,478
1997 modern 975 #5,615
1998 modern 1,011 #5,630
1999 modern 1,008 #5,677
2000 modern 1,017 #5,604
2001 modern 990 #5,619
2002 modern 1,000 #5,684
2003 modern 977 #5,699
2004 modern 969 #5,748
2005 modern 945 #5,810
2006 modern 924 #5,916
2007 modern 923 #5,971
2008 modern 924 #6,014
2009 modern 965 #5,930
2010 modern 991 #5,914
2011 modern 995 #5,848
2012 modern 964 #5,906
2013 modern 983 #5,906
2014 modern 958 #6,091
2015 modern 941 #6,119
2016 modern 933 #6,126

Geography

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Where Bunneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swithland, Halifax, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Ewe and Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Middlesbrough and Barnsley. 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 Swithland Leicestershire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 St Ewe Cornwall
5 Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 008 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Middlesbrough 007 Middlesbrough
3 Barnsley 006 Barnsley
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 006 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 005 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bunney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bunney

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Bunney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bunney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bunney 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

Bunney is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bunney falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bunney

The surname Bunney is of English origin, with roots that can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "bun," meaning a small hill or a rounded elevation, combined with the suffix "-ey," which denotes a place or location. Thus, the name Bunney likely referred to someone who lived near or on a small hill or mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, where it appears as "de Bunnei." This suggests that the name was initially a place name before evolving into a surname. The surname is also mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Bunneye."

During the 13th century, the name Bunney appeared in various records across England. In 1275, a John de Bunneye is mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a Thomas de Bunneye as a taxpayer.

The name Bunney has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure is Sir Thomas Bunney (c. 1580-1642), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in the 17th century. Another prominent bearer of the name was John Bunney (1628-1719), an English minister and author who wrote several religious texts.

In the 18th century, Joseph Bunney (1778-1841) was an English engraver and painter known for his landscape and architectural works. Later, in the 19th century, Edward Bunney (1811-1895) made his mark as an English architect and surveyor, designing numerous buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Lastly, Arthur Bunney (1867-1941) was a British artist and illustrator who specialized in book illustrations and contributed to several notable publications, including The Strand Magazine and Punch.

While the surname Bunney has evolved over time and taken on various spellings, such as Bunny, Bunnie, and Bonney, its origins can be firmly traced back to the Old English word "bun" and its association with small hills or mounds in the English countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bunney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bunney 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. Cornwall leads with 127 Bunneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.09x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 127 17.09x
Leicestershire 115 15.80x
Yorkshire 92 1.41x
Warwickshire 53 3.20x
Lancashire 47 0.60x
Hampshire 42 3.12x
Middlesex 38 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 38 4.29x
Devon 26 1.90x
Sussex 18 1.63x
Derbyshire 16 1.56x
Durham 14 0.72x
Surrey 13 0.41x
Cumberland 6 1.06x
Hertfordshire 5 1.10x
Staffordshire 5 0.23x
Caernarfonshire 4 1.51x
Somerset 4 0.38x
Northumberland 3 0.31x
Gloucestershire 2 0.16x
Northamptonshire 2 0.32x
Essex 1 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Kent 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northowram in Yorkshire leads with 32 Bunneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.14x.

Place Total Index
Northowram 32 70.14x
Leicester St Mary 31 52.71x
South Stoneham 25 85.65x
Swithland 21 3818.18x
Coventry Holy Trinity 20 40.46x
Snenton 20 57.52x
St Ewe 18 800.00x
Leicester St Margaret 16 9.01x
Coventry St Michael 14 26.33x
Halberton 13 408.81x
Liskeard 13 104.50x
St Blazey 12 183.77x
Little Bolton 11 10.98x
Camborne 10 32.66x
Hammersmith London 10 6.18x
Parr 10 35.88x
Tywardreath 10 209.64x
Gorran 9 430.62x
Nottingham St Mary 9 3.93x
Rothley 9 379.75x
Sileby 9 196.08x
St Stephen In Brannel 9 132.74x
Lanlivery 8 256.41x
Leeds 8 2.18x
St Winnow 8 314.96x
Tiverton 8 33.98x
Barcombe 7 263.16x
Iveston 7 77.78x
Pennington In Ulverston 7 180.88x
St Cleer 7 108.70x
Allesley 6 275.23x
Bedworth 6 49.67x
Millom 6 34.64x
Pudsey 6 17.26x
St Teath 6 133.93x
Staveley 6 32.88x
Wadsworth 6 56.66x
Whitchurch 6 140.52x
Woodhouse 6 207.61x
Birmingham 5 0.91x
Boconnoc 5 833.33x
Camberwell 5 1.19x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.23x
Doncaster 5 10.52x
Henfield 5 117.65x
Leicester St Nicholas 5 121.36x
Liverpool 5 1.06x
Skegby 5 92.25x
Southowram 5 25.18x
Walsall Foreign 5 4.37x
Walton On Hill 5 11.85x
West Herrington 5 73.10x
Whittington 5 35.16x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.40x
Bowling 4 6.21x
Bradford 4 2.54x
Brighton 4 1.79x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 3.02x
Ince In Makerfield 4 11.03x
Llanaelhaiarn 4 122.32x
Manningham 4 4.99x
Morley 4 11.83x
Pleasley 4 154.44x
St Columb Major 4 64.83x
West Derby 4 1.76x
Wigginton 4 250.00x
Barrow Upon Soar 3 49.92x
Croydon 3 1.69x
Islington London 3 0.47x
Keighley 3 4.33x
Loughborough 3 9.08x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 5.93x
Ovenden 3 10.36x
Quorndon 3 73.35x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.27x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.59x
St George In East London 3 4.86x
St Mary Kalendar 3 107.14x
Stoke Damerel 3 3.14x
Thurcaston 3 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Elizabeth 40
Sarah 27
Ann 18
Emma 15
Eliza 11
Ellen 10
Annie 9
Fanny 9
Hannah 9
Jane 8
Ada 7
Caroline 7
Alice 6
Martha 6
Catherine 5
Edith 5
Emily 5
Kate 5
Bessie 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Rebecca 4
Susannah 4
Anne 3
Charlotte 3
Louisa 3
Agnes 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
M.A. 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Phoebe 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Bessy 1
Betsey 1
Elizh. 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Wm. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 45
John 44
George 25
Thomas 18
Joseph 16
James 14
Henry 12
Arthur 11
Charles 9
Walter 8
Alfred 7
Harry 7
Samuel 7
Albert 6
Benjamin 6
Frederick 6
Richard 5
Robert 5
Edward 4
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Peter 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Elias 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Jos. 2
Percy 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Earl 1
Earnest 1
Ezekiel 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Geo.Foden 1
Geo.H. 1
Isaac 1
Job 1
Johnson 1
Johny 1
Jonas 1
L. 1
Luther 1
Mark 1
Marshall 1
Moses 1
Oliver 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Bunney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bunney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 673 people were recorded with the Bunney surname. That placed it at #5,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bunney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 933 in 2016. That gives Bunney a modern rank of #6,126.

What does the Bunney surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "rabbit hill" or "rabbit enclosure".

What does the Bunney map show?

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