NameCensus.

UK surname

Bushby

An English surname derived from a place name referring to a bush-covered area.

In the 1881 census there were 1,179 people recorded with the Bushby surname, ranking it #3,415 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,261, ranked #4,741, down from #3,415 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Angmering, Poling, Rustington, East Preston, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Redcar and Cleveland and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bushby is 1,377 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.0%.

1881 census count

1,179

Ranked #3,415

Modern count

1,261

2016, ranked #4,741

Peak year

1901

1,377 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bushby had 1,179 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,415 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,261 in 2016, ranked #4,741.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,377 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bushby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bushby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bushby 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 834 #3,247
1861 historical 717 #3,795
1881 historical 1,179 #3,415
1891 historical 1,177 #3,636
1901 historical 1,377 #3,649
1911 historical 1,219 #3,876
1997 modern 1,312 #4,368
1998 modern 1,366 #4,361
1999 modern 1,369 #4,392
2000 modern 1,365 #4,387
2001 modern 1,326 #4,415
2002 modern 1,343 #4,458
2003 modern 1,355 #4,332
2004 modern 1,317 #4,434
2005 modern 1,290 #4,459
2006 modern 1,293 #4,466
2007 modern 1,293 #4,505
2008 modern 1,303 #4,501
2009 modern 1,355 #4,443
2010 modern 1,367 #4,495
2011 modern 1,343 #4,512
2012 modern 1,291 #4,602
2013 modern 1,306 #4,637
2014 modern 1,300 #4,676
2015 modern 1,285 #4,676
2016 modern 1,261 #4,741

Geography

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Where Bushbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Angmering, Poling, Rustington, East Preston, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Redcar and Cleveland, Torridge, Barnsley and Northumberland. 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 Angmering, Poling, Rustington, East Preston Sussex
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 031 County Durham
2 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Torridge 004 Torridge
4 Barnsley 014 Barnsley
5 Northumberland 009 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bushby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bushby

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Bushby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bushby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bushby is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bushby 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bushby

The surname Bushby is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name Bushby in Leicestershire, which itself comes from the Old English words "bysce" meaning bush and "by" meaning a farmstead or village.

Records indicate that the earliest known bearer of the surname was Robertus de Busseby, who was mentioned in the Cartulary of Leicester Abbey in 1199. This cartulary was a medieval manuscript that recorded the property and rights of the abbey.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Busseby, Bussebi, and Bussheby, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that period. The Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were surveys of landholdings in England, included references to individuals with the surname Bushby or similar spellings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bushby surname can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a certain Johannes Bussheby was listed as a taxpayer. This document provides valuable insight into the distribution of the name across different counties in medieval England.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Bushby. In the 16th century, Thomas Bushby (c. 1515-1585) was a prominent English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Coventry and Lichfield. During the same period, William Bushby (c. 1530-1598) was a Member of Parliament for Aldborough in Yorkshire.

In the 17th century, John Bushby (1628-1701) was a renowned English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings, including the Wren Library at Trinity College, Cambridge. Another notable figure from this era was Henry Bushby (1672-1735), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Moving into the 18th century, Sir John Bushby (1738-1823) was a prominent British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Peterborough. He was also known for his significant contributions to the development of the town of Spalding in Lincolnshire.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Bushby throughout history, illustrating its long-standing presence in various regions of England and its association with notable figures from different walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bushby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bushby 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. Yorkshire leads with 189 Bushbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.66x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 189 1.66x
Sussex 171 8.85x
Middlesex 138 1.20x
Surrey 105 1.88x
Cumberland 92 9.32x
Bedfordshire 90 15.16x
Lancashire 87 0.64x
Northumberland 81 4.75x
Durham 65 1.91x
Cheshire 15 0.59x
Kent 13 0.33x
Hertfordshire 10 1.27x
Leicestershire 10 0.79x
Northamptonshire 10 0.93x
Midlothian 9 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.15x
Denbighshire 7 1.62x
Essex 7 0.31x
Lincolnshire 7 0.38x
Staffordshire 7 0.18x
Stirlingshire 7 1.66x
Derbyshire 6 0.33x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.47x
Warwickshire 5 0.17x
Berkshire 4 0.46x
Westmorland 4 1.59x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.41x
Glamorgan 3 0.15x
Hampshire 3 0.13x
Worcestershire 3 0.20x
Channel Islands 2 0.59x
Lanarkshire 2 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.13x
Fife 1 0.15x
Monmouthshire 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Oxfordshire 1 0.14x
Rutland 1 1.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 36 Bushbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.23x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 36 9.23x
Islington London 33 2.97x
Camberwell 31 4.23x
Broadwater 25 56.40x
Sculcoates 22 12.22x
Mile End Old Town London 18 7.38x
Aspley Guise 16 281.69x
Barrow In Furness 16 8.65x
Holy Trinity 16 5.86x
Ridley 16 1882.35x
Ardwick 15 12.23x
Sompting 15 559.70x
Leominster 13 208.67x
Reigate Borough 13 100.93x
Torpenhow Whitrigg 13 1192.66x
Kensington London 12 1.88x
Biggleswade 11 56.58x
Haslingden 11 19.53x
Middlesbrough 11 7.44x
Newcastle On Tyne St 11 12.44x
Sedburgh 11 232.56x
Wonersh 11 157.82x
Burton Cum Walden 10 574.71x
Clophill 10 229.89x
East Preston 10 606.06x
Formby 10 64.94x
Hexham 10 37.89x
Northampton St Giles 10 24.35x
St Marylebone London 10 1.63x
Preston Under Soar 9 633.80x
Raby Keverstone 9 818.18x
Satley 9 461.54x
Bermondsey 8 2.34x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.61x
Chichester St 8 625.00x
Friern Barnet 8 31.68x
Husborne Crawley 8 425.53x
New Shoreham 8 69.08x
Sherburn 8 77.07x
South Leith 8 4.63x
St Bees 8 175.44x
St Cuthbert W O 8 16.63x
Allendale 7 44.28x
Burton Upon Trent 7 7.73x
Coanwood 7 1014.49x
Darlington 7 5.32x
Ditchling 7 132.83x
Lancing 7 131.83x
Lewes St Ann 7 106.38x
Lilley 7 351.76x
Little Meolse 7 193.91x
Ruabon 7 11.76x
Westgate 7 6.63x
Wressell 7 476.19x
Battersea 6 1.42x
Bedford St Mary 6 39.24x
Bishopdale 6 1764.71x
Cornsay 6 65.36x
Dunipace 6 81.08x
Eckington 6 13.76x
Great Little Marsden 6 9.63x
Haltwhistle 6 72.55x
Lower Bebington 6 39.92x
Millom 6 19.84x
Newton In Guisbrough 6 1304.35x
Princes Risborough 6 64.66x
Southcoates 6 9.52x
St Giles In Fields London 6 10.67x
Windle 6 7.84x
Bedford St Peter 5 32.43x
Bournmoor 5 93.28x
Bury 5 246.31x
Corbridge 5 80.00x
Dent 5 105.26x
Easby In Stokesley 5 943.40x
Fulham London 5 3.01x
Harlington 5 238.10x
Kettlewell With 5 340.14x
Paddington London 5 1.19x
St Pancras London 5 0.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 73
Elizabeth 49
Jane 31
Sarah 29
Annie 24
Margaret 24
Ellen 20
Emily 19
Emma 19
Ann 18
Hannah 18
Eliza 9
Alice 8
Caroline 8
Edith 8
Harriet 8
Louisa 8
Maria 8
Matilda 8
Ada 7
Charlotte 7
Eleanor 7
Agnes 6
Clara 6
Fanny 6
Frances 6
Isabella 6
Martha 6
Rebecca 6
Esther 5
Florence 5
Anne 4
Lucy 4
Susan 4
Bessie 3
Catherine 3
Dorothy 3
Ethel 3
Francis 3
Kate 3
Margret 3
Beatrice 2
Evelyn 2
Infant 2
Jennie 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
Marian 2
Marion 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 87
Thomas 64
William 50
George 36
James 32
Henry 26
Joseph 23
Charles 19
Robert 19
Frederick 15
Alfred 12
Arthur 12
Walter 12
Christopher 11
Richard 9
Edward 8
Samuel 8
Frank 7
Harry 7
Hugh 7
Edwin 6
Albert 4
Francis 4
Geo. 4
Jacob 4
Tom 4
Benjamin 3
Edmund 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Isaac 2
Matthew 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Aron 1
Bertie 1
Charley 1
Chas 1
Chas. 1
Elliott 1
Emily 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Hird 1
Hobbodien 1
Hubert 1
Irving 1
Joel 1

FAQ

Bushby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bushby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,179 people were recorded with the Bushby surname. That placed it at #3,415 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bushby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,261 in 2016. That gives Bushby a modern rank of #4,741.

What does the Bushby surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to a bush-covered area.

What does the Bushby map show?

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