NameCensus.

UK surname

Bunning

Of English origin, related to "bun" and referring to a baker or seller of buns.

In the 1881 census there were 316 people recorded with the Bunning surname, ranking it #9,375 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 381, ranked #12,317, down from #9,375 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leverington, London parishes and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Cherwell and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bunning is 511 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.6%.

1881 census count

316

Ranked #9,375

Modern count

381

2016, ranked #12,317

Peak year

1911

511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bunning had 316 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,375 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016, ranked #12,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 511 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bunning surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bunning surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bunning 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 270 #8,275
1861 historical 312 #8,127
1881 historical 316 #9,375
1891 historical 406 #8,765
1901 historical 395 #9,562
1911 historical 511 #7,706
1997 modern 409 #10,818
1998 modern 431 #10,754
1999 modern 430 #10,855
2000 modern 437 #10,684
2001 modern 410 #11,016
2002 modern 408 #11,272
2003 modern 405 #11,168
2004 modern 400 #11,281
2005 modern 390 #11,397
2006 modern 395 #11,364
2007 modern 400 #11,374
2008 modern 405 #11,351
2009 modern 414 #11,407
2010 modern 419 #11,550
2011 modern 400 #11,865
2012 modern 382 #12,127
2013 modern 386 #12,243
2014 modern 390 #12,239
2015 modern 389 #12,165
2016 modern 381 #12,317

Geography

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Where Bunnings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leverington, London parishes, St Marylebone and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Cherwell, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Breckland and Shropshire. 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 Leverington Cambridgeshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
2 Cherwell 019 Cherwell
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 013 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Breckland 004 Breckland
5 Shropshire 029 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bunning

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bunning

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bunning surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bunning 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bunning is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bunning 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

Bunning 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 Bunning 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 Bunning, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bunning

The surname Bunning is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is thought to be derived from a Old English word "bunnan," which means "a small hill or mound." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near or on a small hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bunning can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where it appears as "Bunnyng." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the Bunning surname appears in various historical records in Lancashire. For example, in the Lancashire Wills and Inventories from 1548 to 1625, there are several mentions of individuals with the name Bunning, including John Bunning of Clitheroe.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Bunning. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Bunbury in Cheshire.

One notable individual with the surname Bunning was Sir Thomas Bunning (1600-1677), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the English Civil War period. He was a staunch Royalist and played a significant role in the defense of Lathom House against Parliamentarian forces.

Another prominent figure was John Bunning (1688-1762), an English mathematician and astronomer. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1734 and made contributions to the study of comets and the calculation of eclipses.

In the 19th century, James Bunning (1835-1915) was a celebrated English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and was regarded as one of the best wicket-keepers of his time.

The Bunning surname also has a notable history in Australia, where it was brought by English settlers. One example is Sir Walter Bunning (1834-1920), an Australian businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Perth and was instrumental in the development of the Western Australian capital.

Finally, Sir Eric Bunning (1919-2003) was an Australian plant pathologist and scientist who made significant contributions to the study of plant diseases and their control. He was knighted in 1975 for his services to science and agriculture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bunning families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bunning 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 54 Bunnings recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.75x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 54 1.75x
Northamptonshire 37 12.76x
Lincolnshire 31 6.29x
Oxfordshire 31 16.29x
Surrey 30 2.00x
Norfolk 25 5.27x
Cambridgeshire 17 8.71x
Lancashire 11 0.30x
Warwickshire 9 1.16x
Suffolk 8 2.13x
Yorkshire 7 0.23x
Essex 6 0.99x
Kent 6 0.57x
Staffordshire 6 0.58x
Ross-shire 5 5.91x
Buckinghamshire 4 2.15x
Leicestershire 4 1.17x
Northumberland 4 0.87x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.96x
Durham 3 0.33x
Monmouthshire 3 1.35x
Cheshire 2 0.29x
Hampshire 2 0.32x
Hertfordshire 2 0.94x
Bedfordshire 1 0.63x
Berkshire 1 0.43x
Cumberland 1 0.38x
Glamorgan 1 0.19x
Shropshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kidlington in Oxfordshire leads with 23 Bunnings recorded in 1881 and an index of 1564.63x.

Place Total Index
Kidlington 23 1564.63x
Oundle 15 462.96x
Leverington 13 1007.75x
Newington 12 10.54x
Camberwell 11 5.59x
Market Deeping 10 781.25x
Stamford Baron St Martin 10 645.16x
St Martin In Fields 9 48.78x
Homersfield 7 4666.67x
North Elmham 6 521.74x
Woodford 6 372.67x
Acton 5 27.67x
Burton Upon Trent 5 20.54x
Dingwall 5 210.08x
Hackney London 5 2.89x
Hoe 5 2380.95x
Islington London 5 1.67x
Leadenham 5 2631.58x
Leyton Low 5 40.42x
Limehouse London 5 14.78x
Nuneaton 5 55.49x
St George Hanover Square 5 9.21x
St Marylebone London 5 3.04x
Whissonsett 5 781.25x
Aston 4 1.87x
Aylesbury 4 48.43x
Chelsea London 4 4.31x
Hunstanton 4 250.00x
Manthorpe Cum Little 4 106.10x
Moss Side 4 20.78x
New Houghton 4 2105.26x
Shoreditch London 4 2.99x
Snenton 4 24.51x
Stamford St Mary 4 400.00x
Elswick 3 8.20x
Kensington London 3 1.75x
Kettering 3 25.58x
Lambeth 3 1.12x
Leeds 3 1.74x
Bicester Market End 2 57.14x
Birkenhead 2 3.69x
Bladon 2 307.69x
Cosby 2 188.68x
Cowbit 2 298.51x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.47x
East Wickham 2 160.00x
Forest Hill 2 1000.00x
Horton In Bradford 2 4.19x
Leicester All Sts 2 29.81x
Llanvair Kilgedin 2 625.00x
Newton 2 7.09x
St Giles 2 34.97x
Stretford 2 9.94x
Swarby 2 1111.11x
Wigan 2 3.91x
Wisbech St Mary 2 89.29x
Aslackby 1 208.33x
Begbroke 1 1428.57x
Caldewgate 1 6.88x
Finedon 1 39.37x
Forncett St Peter 1 153.85x
Harlington 1 175.44x
Hemel Hempstead 1 10.45x
Hexham 1 14.08x
Hillingdon 1 10.17x
Lilleshall 1 24.57x
Millbrook 1 6.29x
New Windsor 1 12.85x
Oxford St Giles 1 11.01x
Paddington London 1 0.88x
Ramsgate 1 5.82x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.61x
Southwark St Saviour 1 6.31x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 22.94x
St Brides Major 1 138.89x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.26x
Walthamstow 1 4.57x
Wandsworth 1 3.37x
Woolwich 1 2.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 9
Jane 8
Alice 6
Emma 6
Annie 5
Charlotte 5
Ellen 5
Maria 5
Martha 5
Ann 4
Catherine 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Ada 1
Allice 1
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Ethel 1
Helena 1
Heneritta 1
Henrietta 1
Lavinia 1
Lillian 1
M.H. 1
Mable 1
Maggie 1
Maud 1
Mildred 1
Rosetta 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1
Theodosia 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 19
Thomas 11
Edward 9
George 9
Robert 8
Henry 7
James 7
Charles 6
Joseph 5
Arthur 4
Alfred 3
Harrison 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Baldwin 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Chas.Wm. 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Hugh 1
J.J. 1
Matthew 1
Philip 1
Standly 1
Theodore 1
Theophilus 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bunning surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bunning surname in 1881?

In 1881, 316 people were recorded with the Bunning surname. That placed it at #9,375 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bunning surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016. That gives Bunning a modern rank of #12,317.

What does the Bunning surname mean?

Of English origin, related to "bun" and referring to a baker or seller of buns.

What does the Bunning map show?

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