NameCensus.

UK surname

Busby

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "town of the bush or shrub."

In the 1881 census there were 3,147 people recorded with the Busby surname, ranking it #1,432 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,076, ranked #1,665, down from #1,432 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and St John Hampstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stafford, West Oxfordshire and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Busby is 4,406 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.5%.

1881 census count

3,147

Ranked #1,432

Modern count

4,076

2016, ranked #1,665

Peak year

1998

4,406 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Busby had 3,147 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,432 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,076 in 2016, ranked #1,665.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,878 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Busby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Busby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Busby 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 1,909 #1,514
1861 historical 1,732 #1,667
1881 historical 3,147 #1,432
1891 historical 2,912 #1,618
1901 historical 3,878 #1,455
1911 historical 3,832 #1,354
1997 modern 4,064 #1,592
1998 modern 4,406 #1,531
1999 modern 4,389 #1,547
2000 modern 4,376 #1,542
2001 modern 4,299 #1,539
2002 modern 4,354 #1,546
2003 modern 4,223 #1,562
2004 modern 4,208 #1,569
2005 modern 4,091 #1,591
2006 modern 4,080 #1,595
2007 modern 4,098 #1,601
2008 modern 4,078 #1,624
2009 modern 4,161 #1,629
2010 modern 4,216 #1,642
2011 modern 4,169 #1,644
2012 modern 4,064 #1,651
2013 modern 4,142 #1,649
2014 modern 4,164 #1,656
2015 modern 4,106 #1,657
2016 modern 4,076 #1,665

Geography

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Where Busbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth and St John Hampstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stafford, West Oxfordshire, Wycombe, Shropshire and Yoker South. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St John Hampstead London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stafford 015 Stafford
2 West Oxfordshire 006 West Oxfordshire
3 Wycombe 006 Wycombe
4 Shropshire 025 Shropshire
5 Yoker South Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Busby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Busby

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Busby is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Busby is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Busby falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Busby

The surname Busby has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "busc," meaning a bush or thicket, combined with the suffix "-by," signifying a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person or family residing near a prominent bush or wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Busby name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book mentions a landowner named Robertus de Buscebi, indicating the presence of the name in Nottinghamshire at that time.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including Busseby, Bussebi, and Busseby, reflecting the phonetic variations of the time. The name was also associated with place names such as Busby, a village in Leicestershire, and Busby, a hamlet in Derbyshire, suggesting that the surname may have originated from these locations.

Noteworthy individuals bearing the Busby surname include Sir John Busby (1765-1857), a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent settler in Australia. Another notable figure was Thomas Busby (1786-1838), an English naval officer and the first British Resident in New Zealand, playing a crucial role in the country's early colonial history.

In the realm of literature, the name is associated with Edith Busby (1872-1948), an American author and educator who wrote several books on teaching methods and children's literature. Additionally, James Busby (1801-1871), a Scottish journalist and political reformer, made significant contributions to the development of the British labor movement.

Busby is also a name with ties to the entertainment industry, with actors such as Rodney Busby (1945-2009), known for his roles in films like "Airplane!" and "The Towering Inferno," and Sylvia Busby (1949-2003), a British actress who appeared in various television shows and films.

Throughout history, the Busby surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from military leaders and colonial administrators to authors and actors. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread across the globe, leaving its mark on various aspects of society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Busby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Busby 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. Oxfordshire leads with 626 Busbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.94x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 626 32.94x
Warwickshire 411 5.30x
Middlesex 396 1.29x
Northamptonshire 228 7.88x
Surrey 175 1.17x
Yorkshire 161 0.53x
Lancashire 143 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 125 6.72x
Staffordshire 86 0.83x
Hertfordshire 78 3.68x
Durham 70 0.76x
Kent 70 0.67x
Worcestershire 68 1.69x
Leicestershire 61 1.79x
Bedfordshire 48 3.01x
Berkshire 42 1.82x
Huntingdonshire 42 6.87x
Stirlingshire 34 3.00x
Essex 31 0.51x
Gloucestershire 29 0.48x
Lanarkshire 25 0.25x
Hampshire 23 0.36x
Renfrewshire 23 0.96x
Derbyshire 22 0.46x
Lincolnshire 22 0.45x
Cambridgeshire 15 0.77x
Northumberland 10 0.22x
Sussex 9 0.17x
Cumberland 8 0.30x
Devon 8 0.12x
Dunbartonshire 7 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.14x
Rutland 6 2.66x
Somerset 6 0.12x
Westmorland 6 0.89x
Brecknockshire 5 0.81x
Cheshire 5 0.07x
Herefordshire 5 0.40x
Channel Islands 4 0.44x
Monmouthshire 4 0.18x
Norfolk 3 0.06x
Buteshire 2 1.07x
Dorset 2 0.10x
Royal Navy 2 0.55x
Suffolk 2 0.05x
Wiltshire 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. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 138 Busbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.33x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 138 5.33x
Aston 70 3.28x
Hampstead London 62 12.94x
Lambeth 58 2.16x
St Pancras London 55 2.22x
Kings Norton 39 10.82x
Oxford St Giles 38 41.91x
Hook Norton 31 238.28x
Islington London 30 1.01x
Finstock Fawler 28 443.04x
Wigginton 28 374.33x
Curbridge 27 424.53x
Monks Kirby 26 152.22x
Oxford St Thomas 26 29.32x
Cogenhoe 25 677.51x
Fringford 25 577.37x
Wellingborough 25 17.18x
Combe 24 421.05x
Northmoor 24 761.90x
Enstone 23 197.76x
Watford 22 13.38x
Mile End Old Town London 21 3.21x
Wycombe 20 14.42x
Clerkenwell London 19 2.62x
Coventry St Michael 19 7.62x
Croydon 19 2.28x
Hughenden 19 100.05x
Minster Lovell 19 353.16x
North Aston 19 801.69x
Woolwich 19 4.90x
Kidlington 18 122.37x
St Marylebone London 18 1.10x
Stranton 18 5.84x
Bilton 17 95.03x
Neithrop 17 26.62x
Bicester Market End 16 45.85x
Chelsea London 16 1.73x
Chipping Norton 16 36.41x
Leicester St Margaret 16 1.92x
Northampton St Giles 16 14.51x
Rotherfield Greys 16 79.52x
Willesden 16 5.52x
Bermondsey 15 1.64x
Broughton 15 245.10x
Camberwell 15 0.76x
Deddington 15 72.71x
Preston 15 1.54x
Stilton 15 218.98x
Stockton On Tees 15 3.40x
Tring 15 26.48x
Ambrosden 14 185.43x
Banbury 14 36.78x
Folksworth 14 657.28x
Kensington London 14 0.82x
Leyton Low 14 11.34x
Piddington 14 472.97x
Alvechurch 13 76.02x
Bishops Itchington 13 173.80x
Campsie 13 20.87x
Marston Moretaine 13 104.67x
Northampton Priory St 13 7.48x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 1.18x
Carluke 12 13.28x
Caversham 12 31.56x
Culworth 12 244.90x
Harborne 12 3.60x
Pemberton 12 8.24x
Pleasley 12 98.77x
Sutton Coldfield 12 14.71x
Sutton Stoneferry 12 13.75x
Bromley London 11 1.62x
Chesham 11 16.04x
Cowley 11 18.54x
Darlington 11 3.11x
Huyton With Roby 11 25.71x
Peterborough 11 5.25x
Portsea 11 0.89x
Shalstone 11 561.22x
Warwick St Nicholas 11 19.33x
West Derby 11 1.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 167
Sarah 126
Elizabeth 123
Ann 68
Jane 65
Ellen 49
Emily 49
Eliza 47
Emma 42
Alice 37
Annie 37
Louisa 32
Hannah 30
Harriet 28
Martha 26
Edith 25
Fanny 23
Caroline 22
Charlotte 22
Florence 21
Ada 19
Anne 19
Lucy 19
Kate 16
Margaret 16
Maria 16
Rose 15
Clara 14
Agnes 13
Susan 13
Harriett 11
Catherine 10
Eleanor 9
Elizth. 9
Frances 9
Minnie 9
Amy 8
Esther 8
Sophia 8
Amelia 7
Bertha 7
Maud 7
Selina 7
Gertrude 6
Isabella 6
Lillian 6
Susannah 6
Kezia 5
Rebecca 5
Laura 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 190
John 181
Thomas 140
George 104
James 86
Charles 70
Joseph 65
Henry 61
Alfred 42
Arthur 42
Frederick 34
Robert 33
Walter 29
Albert 27
Edward 25
Samuel 25
Richard 24
Harry 18
Herbert 18
Frank 13
Ernest 12
Francis 8
Willm. 8
Wm. 8
Daniel 7
David 6
Fred 6
Thos. 6
Tom 6
Fredk. 5
Fredrick 5
Benjamin 4
Chas. 4
Edwin 4
Jas. 4
Jonathan 4
Joshua 4
Sampson 4
Alexander 3
Charley 3
Christopher 3
Isaac 3
Jesse 3
Leonard 3
Mark 3
Ralph 3
Robt. 3
Sidney 3
Allan 2
Anthony 2

FAQ

Busby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Busby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,147 people were recorded with the Busby surname. That placed it at #1,432 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Busby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,076 in 2016. That gives Busby a modern rank of #1,665.

What does the Busby surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "town of the bush or shrub."

What does the Busby map show?

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