UK surname
A surname derived from the word "bunion", possibly denoting an ancestor with a deformity or disability.
In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Bunyon surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #21,573 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Anne Soho, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bunyon is 111 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.5%.
1881 census count
85
Ranked #21,573
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1851
111 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bunyon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bunyon surname density by area, 1901 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 | 111 | #16,006 |
| 1861 | historical | 68 | #25,196 |
| 1881 | historical | 85 | #21,573 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 84 | #24,442 |
| 1997 | modern | 35 | #34,174 |
| 1998 | modern | 33 | #34,532 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 30 | #34,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 30 | #34,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 24 | #35,552 |
| 2004 | modern | 23 | #35,786 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Anne Soho, London parishes, St Pancras, St Marylebone and Tottenham. 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 | St Anne Soho | London (Central Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Tottenham | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bunyon 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 Bunyon, 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 Bunyon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bunyon 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, Bunyon 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 Bunyon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bunyon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bunyon is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "bugne," meaning a swelling or protuberance, which referred to a type of tumor or bunion. This connection suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who had a noticeable bunion or similar physical characteristic.
One of the earliest known references to the name Bunyon can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a survey of landowners in England. Here, the name is recorded as "Buniun." Over time, various spellings emerged, including Bunyon, Bunnion, and Bunnyon, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations common in that era.
In the 14th century, the name Bunyon appeared in several historical documents, such as the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where it was recorded as "Bunyn." This record provides evidence of the name's continued use and evolution during this period.
The name Bunyon gained further prominence in the 16th century with the birth of John Bunyan (1628-1688), one of the most famous English writers and preachers. His allegorical work, "The Pilgrim's Progress," published in 1678, became an influential and widely-read literary masterpiece, cementing his place in history.
Another notable figure with the surname Bunyon was Sir John Bunyon (1555-1628), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in the early 17th century. His contemporaries included Sir Thomas Bunyon (1567-1629), a wealthy English merchant and landowner.
In the 18th century, the name Bunyon remained present, with individuals such as Thomas Bunyon (1712-1788), a prominent English clergyman and author, and John Bunyon (1745-1811), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraiture.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Bunyon has also been associated with various place names, such as Bunyon Hill in Cheshire, England, and Bunyon Farm in Devon, England. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Bunyon surname who settled or owned land in those areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bunyon 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. Middlesex leads with 42 Bunyons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 42 | 5.07x |
| Hertfordshire | 12 | 21.00x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.61x |
| Carmarthenshire | 5 | 14.31x |
| Kent | 5 | 1.77x |
| Bedfordshire | 4 | 9.32x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 1.84x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.74x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.09x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.95x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.92x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tottenham in Middlesex leads with 10 Bunyons recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Tottenham | 10 | 75.76x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 10 | 250.00x |
| East Barnet | 8 | 707.96x |
| Fulham London | 8 | 66.56x |
| Kidwelly | 5 | 704.23x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 7.49x |
| Watford | 4 | 90.29x |
| Wrestlingworth | 4 | 2222.22x |
| Clifton | 3 | 36.50x |
| Greenwich | 3 | 22.73x |
| Blackburn | 2 | 7.64x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 3.78x |
| Ealing | 2 | 26.99x |
| Pinner | 2 | 273.97x |
| Salford | 2 | 6.91x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 5.56x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 4.52x |
| Bexley | 1 | 40.00x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.44x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 6.40x |
| Dartford | 1 | 34.60x |
| Great Bowden | 1 | 119.05x |
| Great Malvern | 1 | 44.25x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.28x |
| Rotherhithe | 1 | 9.77x |
| Sowerby In Thirsk | 1 | 204.08x |
| Thame | 1 | 107.53x |
| Tyldesley Cum Shakerley | 1 | 35.34x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bunyon 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 Bunyon 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 Bunyon households.
FAQ
In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Bunyon surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Bunyon a modern rank of #37,178.
A surname derived from the word "bunion", possibly denoting an ancestor with a deformity or disability.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bunyon 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.