NameCensus.

UK surname

Bunting

A surname referring to a maker or seller of flags, pennants, or festive decorations.

In the 1881 census there were 3,344 people recorded with the Bunting surname, ranking it #1,360 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,570, ranked #1,487, down from #1,360 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Matlock, Bonsall and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bunting is 5,074 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.7%.

1881 census count

3,344

Ranked #1,360

Modern count

4,570

2016, ranked #1,487

Peak year

1999

5,074 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bunting had 3,344 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,360 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,570 in 2016, ranked #1,487.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,614 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bunting surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bunting surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bunting 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 2,157 #1,356
1861 historical 1,885 #1,536
1881 historical 3,344 #1,360
1891 historical 3,638 #1,321
1901 historical 4,311 #1,311
1911 historical 4,614 #1,123
1997 modern 4,873 #1,343
1998 modern 5,047 #1,351
1999 modern 5,074 #1,356
2000 modern 5,020 #1,356
2001 modern 4,865 #1,369
2002 modern 5,010 #1,355
2003 modern 4,826 #1,375
2004 modern 4,765 #1,386
2005 modern 4,671 #1,398
2006 modern 4,634 #1,408
2007 modern 4,636 #1,421
2008 modern 4,630 #1,430
2009 modern 4,697 #1,449
2010 modern 4,807 #1,449
2011 modern 4,732 #1,451
2012 modern 4,649 #1,446
2013 modern 4,669 #1,472
2014 modern 4,648 #1,489
2015 modern 4,594 #1,489
2016 modern 4,570 #1,487

Geography

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Where Buntings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Matlock, Bonsall, London parishes, Glasgow and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Matlock Derbyshire
2 Bonsall Derbyshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 011 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 007 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Derbyshire Dales 007 Derbyshire Dales
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 008 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bunting

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bunting

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bunting, 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 Bunting surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bunting 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bunting 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

Bunting is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bunting falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bunting

The surname Bunting has its origins in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "bunt," which referred to a thin cloth or material used for sifting grain or meal. Individuals who worked as sifters or engaged in activities related to the production or handling of grain may have acquired this surname.

The earliest known record of the name Bunting dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it is listed as "Buntinge." This early spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time, with various forms such as Buntyng and Buntynge appearing in subsequent records.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct references to the surname Bunting. However, the book does mention place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as Buntingford in Hertfordshire, which could be derived from "Bunta's ford" or "the ford of the bunting bird."

One notable figure bearing the surname Bunting was Edward Bunting, an Irish musician and collector of traditional Irish music, born in 1773 and died in 1843. His work in preserving and documenting Irish melodies and tunes has left a significant impact on the cultural heritage of Ireland.

Another historical figure was Thomas Bunting, an English mathematician and minister, born in 1642 and died in 1743. He was known for his contributions to the field of mathematics and authored several works on the subject, including "The Doctrine of Compound Interest" and "The Whole Art of Mensuration."

In the literary world, Basil Bunting, an English poet born in 1900 and died in 1985, is recognized for his influential modernist poetry. His most famous work, "Briggflatts," published in 1966, is considered a masterpiece of 20th-century poetry.

Sir Maurice Bunting, a British colonial administrator born in 1869 and died in 1947, served as the Governor of British Honduras (now Belize) from 1923 to 1932. He played a significant role in the administration of the British colonies during the early 20th century.

In the field of sports, Wilfred Bunting, a British Olympic athlete born in 1887 and died in 1957, won a gold medal in the men's high jump at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. His athletic achievements have contributed to the legacy of the Bunting surname in sporting history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bunting families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bunting 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. Derbyshire leads with 712 Buntings recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.95x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 712 13.95x
Norfolk 339 6.76x
Yorkshire 336 1.04x
Lancashire 306 0.79x
Middlesex 219 0.67x
Essex 159 2.47x
Staffordshire 126 1.15x
Cheshire 105 1.46x
Surrey 102 0.64x
Kent 95 0.85x
Warwickshire 85 1.03x
Northamptonshire 82 2.67x
Lanarkshire 71 0.67x
Durham 70 0.72x
Oxfordshire 62 3.08x
Nottinghamshire 58 1.32x
Gloucestershire 54 0.84x
Cumberland 30 1.07x
Northumberland 30 0.62x
Cambridgeshire 29 1.40x
Suffolk 26 0.65x
Shropshire 25 0.89x
Wiltshire 25 0.87x
Lincolnshire 21 0.40x
Leicestershire 19 0.53x
Sussex 16 0.29x
Huntingdonshire 15 2.32x
Berkshire 13 0.53x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.56x
Somerset 11 0.21x
Buteshire 10 5.06x
Anglesey 9 1.56x
Dunbartonshire 8 0.91x
Stirlingshire 8 0.67x
Westmorland 8 1.12x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.23x
Renfrewshire 7 0.28x
Hampshire 6 0.09x
Worcestershire 6 0.14x
Hertfordshire 5 0.22x
Merionethshire 5 0.84x
Fife 3 0.16x
Angus 2 0.07x
Bedfordshire 2 0.12x
Argyllshire 1 0.11x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.37x
Royal Navy 1 0.26x
Wigtownshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bonsall in Derbyshire leads with 97 Buntings recorded in 1881 and an index of 641.53x.

Place Total Index
Bonsall 97 641.53x
Matlock 61 89.01x
Brightside Bierlow 55 8.68x
Sheffield 54 5.25x
Birmingham 42 1.53x
Alfreton 41 26.44x
Ecclesall Bierlow 41 6.24x
Islington London 34 1.08x
Debden 33 362.24x
Oldham 31 2.48x
Chesterfield 29 15.16x
Stockport 29 7.83x
Wirksworth 29 62.50x
Nether Hallam 27 6.18x
Castleton 25 6.47x
Derby St Werburgh 25 8.48x
Lambeth 24 0.84x
Long Buckby 24 84.63x
Claylane 23 32.42x
Holloway 23 365.66x
St Pancras London 23 0.88x
Stretton 23 327.17x
Glasgow 22 1.18x
Bishopwearmouth 21 2.52x
Saffron Walden 21 30.89x
Clavering 20 171.67x
Govan 20 0.77x
Salford 20 1.76x
Staveley 20 22.08x
Bollington In 19 29.66x
Hyde 19 8.95x
Newton In Makerfield 19 16.04x
Radford 19 8.51x
West Ham 19 1.34x
Barony 18 0.67x
Bermondsey 18 1.85x
Glossop Dale 18 7.53x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 18 11.96x
Leeds 18 0.99x
Derby St Peter 17 10.46x
Faversham 17 16.03x
Wallsend 17 11.05x
Gorton 16 4.40x
Nottingham St Mary 16 1.41x
Tansley 16 211.36x
Aston 15 0.66x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 15 4.98x
Bethnal Green London 15 1.06x
Heigham 15 5.58x
Terrington St John 15 198.94x
Tipton 15 4.45x
Wells Next Sea 15 51.32x
Battersea 14 1.17x
Chipping Norton 14 30.08x
Duffield 14 34.80x
Manchester 14 0.80x
Newington 14 1.16x
Northampton All Sts 14 13.46x
Shoreditch London 14 0.99x
Cromford 13 108.24x
Holy Trinity 13 1.67x
Skelmersdale 13 20.16x
Snettisham 13 93.66x
Worthen 13 43.45x
Blackburn 12 1.17x
Fen Stanton 12 100.67x
Newbold Dunston 12 24.74x
St Andrewthe Less 12 5.09x
Uttoxeter 12 21.30x
Anmer 11 591.40x
Chelsea London 11 1.12x
Great Yarmouth 11 2.65x
Grimston 11 86.82x
Guestwick 11 539.22x
Hornsey 11 2.67x
Shirland 11 28.81x
Warrington 11 2.40x
Ecclesfield 10 4.22x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 10 109.17x
Tottenham 10 1.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 228
Sarah 144
Elizabeth 137
Ann 65
Hannah 56
Emma 45
Eliza 44
Alice 43
Jane 43
Annie 42
Ellen 39
Martha 31
Edith 27
Emily 24
Louisa 24
Charlotte 21
Fanny 19
Margaret 19
Clara 18
Florence 18
Harriet 18
Maria 18
Harriett 16
Isabella 14
Lucy 13
Lydia 13
Ada 11
Elizth. 11
Matilda 11
Susan 11
Anne 10
Caroline 10
Julia 10
Amelia 9
Amy 9
Minnie 9
Rebecca 9
Catherine 8
Jessie 8
Sophia 8
Agnes 7
Esther 7
Frances 7
Maud 7
Rose 7
Ruth 6
Susannah 6
Mabel 5
Phoebe 5
Helen 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 214
John 181
Thomas 120
George 113
James 98
Joseph 87
Henry 64
Samuel 61
Charles 58
Robert 54
Arthur 32
Walter 32
Alfred 29
Frederick 24
Edward 23
Herbert 23
Albert 16
Job 15
Harry 14
Richard 14
Ernest 13
Frank 13
Benjamin 12
Isaac 12
Anthony 11
Wm. 11
Daniel 10
David 9
Fred 9
Fredk. 9
Edwin 8
Francis 7
Geo. 7
Sidney 6
Frederic 5
Fredrick 5
Jabez 5
Horace 4
Josiah 4
Percy 4
Sam 4
Thos. 4
Tom 4
Adam 3
Hy. 3
Leonard 3
Mark 3
Peter 3
Richd. 3
Wm 3

FAQ

Bunting surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bunting surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,344 people were recorded with the Bunting surname. That placed it at #1,360 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bunting surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,570 in 2016. That gives Bunting a modern rank of #1,487.

What does the Bunting surname mean?

A surname referring to a maker or seller of flags, pennants, or festive decorations.

What does the Bunting map show?

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