NameCensus.

UK surname

Bunyan

An English occupational surname derived from the old French "buignun" meaning "maker of bungs or stoppers."

In the 1881 census there were 896 people recorded with the Bunyan surname, ranking it #4,250 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,730, ranked #3,611, up from #4,250 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doon Valley South, Carmarthenshire and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bunyan is 1,980 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.1%.

1881 census count

896

Ranked #4,250

Modern count

1,730

2016, ranked #3,611

Peak year

1998

1,980 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bunyan had 896 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,250 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,730 in 2016, ranked #3,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,148 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bunyan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bunyan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bunyan 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 501 #4,984
1861 historical 434 #5,933
1881 historical 896 #4,250
1891 historical 895 #4,601
1901 historical 1,148 #4,235
1911 historical 1,117 #4,159
1997 modern 1,882 #3,202
1998 modern 1,980 #3,181
1999 modern 1,976 #3,209
2000 modern 1,965 #3,210
2001 modern 1,927 #3,201
2002 modern 1,901 #3,311
2003 modern 1,838 #3,336
2004 modern 1,799 #3,392
2005 modern 1,803 #3,364
2006 modern 1,800 #3,374
2007 modern 1,814 #3,380
2008 modern 1,810 #3,419
2009 modern 1,848 #3,435
2010 modern 1,857 #3,482
2011 modern 1,851 #3,447
2012 modern 1,812 #3,457
2013 modern 1,837 #3,472
2014 modern 1,841 #3,490
2015 modern 1,774 #3,559
2016 modern 1,730 #3,611

Geography

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Where Bunyans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Doon Valley South, Carmarthenshire, Westminster, Arran and Selkirk. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Dunstable Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doon Valley South East Ayrshire
2 Carmarthenshire 021 Carmarthenshire
3 Westminster 011 Westminster
4 Arran North Ayrshire
5 Selkirk Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bunyan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bunyan

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Bunyan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bunyan is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bunyan

The surname BUNYAN originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "bunne" meaning a "ben" or inner room. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 12th century in areas around Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

The name is believed to have initially referred to someone who lived or worked in the inner rooms of a house or estate. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary family name. In the 13th century Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, the name is recorded as "Bunyon" and "Bunne", indicating early variations in spelling.

One of the earliest notable individuals with this surname was John Bunyan (1628-1688), the famous English writer and Puritan preacher. He authored the renowned allegory "The Pilgrim's Progress", one of the most significant works of religious English literature. Bunyan spent many years imprisoned for his non-conformist beliefs, during which he wrote prolifically.

Another historical figure was William Bunyan (1688-1758), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Stephen's Church in Bristol. He published several sermons and theological works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, Jeremiah Bunyan (1756-1837) was a notable English Baptist minister and author from Bedfordshire. He wrote extensively on religious topics and served as the pastor of several churches.

Thomas Bunyan (1799-1884), a 19th-century English architect and surveyor, is also noteworthy. He designed several churches and public buildings in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.

The surname BUNYAN can also be found in early records from the United States, with some of the first instances appearing in New England in the 17th century. One early bearer was Solomon Bunyan (1640-1708), who settled in Massachusetts and served as a deacon in the Congregational Church.

Throughout its history, the name BUNYAN has maintained its roots in England, particularly in the counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, where it originated. While not an extremely common surname, it has been carried by several notable individuals, most famously the author John Bunyan, whose literary works have had a lasting impact on English literature and religious thought.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bunyan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bunyan 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 203 Bunyans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.33x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 203 2.33x
Bedfordshire 117 25.91x
Hertfordshire 106 17.63x
Roxburghshire 50 31.65x
Surrey 45 1.06x
Buckinghamshire 44 8.35x
Kent 43 1.45x
Essex 36 2.09x
Selkirkshire 28 35.49x
Yorkshire 28 0.32x
Ayrshire 24 3.68x
Lancashire 21 0.20x
Hampshire 19 1.06x
Midlothian 16 1.37x
Lanarkshire 14 0.50x
Cumberland 12 1.60x
Oxfordshire 12 2.23x
Northamptonshire 9 1.10x
East Lothian 8 6.93x
Huntingdonshire 7 4.04x
Staffordshire 7 0.24x
Suffolk 7 0.66x
Worcestershire 5 0.44x
Berkshire 4 0.61x
Brecknockshire 4 2.29x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.54x
Sussex 3 0.20x
Warwickshire 3 0.14x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.54x
Derbyshire 2 0.15x
Lincolnshire 2 0.14x
Angus 1 0.12x
Berwickshire 1 0.95x
Caithness 1 0.84x
Devon 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Renfrewshire 1 0.15x
Ross-shire 1 0.42x
Somerset 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Caddington in Bedfordshire leads with 47 Bunyans recorded in 1881 and an index of 711.04x.

Place Total Index
Caddington 47 711.04x
Luton 42 53.73x
St Marylebone London 41 8.81x
Islington London 24 2.84x
Bethnal Green London 19 5.02x
Edmonton 19 27.04x
Melrose 19 139.09x
Selkirk 18 80.97x
Portsea 17 4.85x
Coylton 16 172.79x
St Luke London 16 11.44x
Harpenden 14 152.67x
Bengeo 13 186.25x
Ashendon 12 1643.84x
Chingford 12 289.16x
Pirton 12 355.03x
St Pancras London 12 1.71x
East Wickham 11 311.61x
Newport Pagnell 11 99.82x
Blackburn 10 3.63x
Caldewgate 10 24.31x
Kings Langley 10 228.31x
Lambeth 10 1.32x
Melrose 10 50.35x
Newington 10 3.10x
Welwyn 10 191.94x
Ancrum 9 219.51x
Clerkenwell London 9 4.37x
Dorton 9 2727.27x
Ealing 9 11.55x
Great Doddington 8 449.44x
Haddington 8 46.92x
Hampstead London 8 5.89x
Hawick 8 22.63x
Hertford St Andrew 8 107.82x
Middlesbrough 8 7.11x
Monkton Prestwick 8 125.98x
Tottenham 8 5.76x
West Ham 8 2.10x
Aston 7 411.76x
Bexley 7 26.61x
Clifton 7 160.55x
Glasgow 7 1.40x
Govan 7 1.00x
Hertford St John 7 78.13x
Mile End Old Town London 7 3.77x
Thame 7 71.50x
Whitby 7 24.04x
Battersea 6 1.87x
Camberwell 6 1.08x
Edinburgh St Stephens 6 26.09x
Herringswell 6 1034.48x
Little Bolton 6 4.51x
St Boswells 6 209.06x
Studham 6 241.94x
Watton 6 244.90x
Wednesfield 6 13.85x
Brill 5 129.20x
Chigwell 5 30.77x
Cobham 5 181.82x
Houghton Conquest 5 270.27x
Potsgrove 5 819.67x
South Leith 5 3.80x
Stevenage 5 53.65x
Stone 5 267.38x
Tetsworth 5 390.63x
Towerof London London 5 180.51x
Woodstone 5 183.15x
Bermondsey 4 1.54x
Bradford 4 1.91x
Deptford St Nicholas 4 16.94x
Hackney London 4 0.82x
Kensington London 4 0.83x
Llanfihangel Talyllyn 4 526.32x
Minster In Sheppey 4 8.12x
Reading St Mary 4 7.63x
Sowerby In Thirsk 4 76.92x
Aston 3 0.50x
Colchester St Botolph 3 20.49x
Rickmansworth 3 18.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 29
Eliza 20
Sarah 18
Emma 16
Alice 14
Annie 14
Jane 11
Caroline 10
Ann 9
Matilda 8
Clara 7
Rose 7
Ada 6
Ellen 6
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Maria 6
Rebecca 6
Charlotte 5
Emily 5
Harriett 5
Amelia 4
Edith 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Isabella 4
Martha 4
Rachel 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Bertha 3
Hannah 3
Laura 3
Rosa 3
Selina 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Helen 2
Hellen 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
Marian 2
Maud 2
Mercy 2
Miriam 2
Mrs. 2
Phobe 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
William 44
George 32
James 24
Charles 22
Thomas 21
Arthur 14
Henry 14
Robert 14
Joseph 13
Frederick 8
Edward 7
Richard 7
Walter 7
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Samuel 6
Frank 5
Harry 4
Ernest 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Wm. 2
Ben 1
Bertie 1
Burlie 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Joseph 1
Daniel 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Fredk 1
Geo. 1
Hedley 1
Hugh 1
Josiah 1
Lennard 1
Matthew 1
Oscar 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Bunyan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bunyan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 896 people were recorded with the Bunyan surname. That placed it at #4,250 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bunyan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,730 in 2016. That gives Bunyan a modern rank of #3,611.

What does the Bunyan surname mean?

An English occupational surname derived from the old French "buignun" meaning "maker of bungs or stoppers."

What does the Bunyan map show?

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