NameCensus.

UK surname

Bushen

A locational surname possibly derived from a place name meaning "bush" or "bush dwelling".

In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Bushen surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 135, ranked #25,505, down from #19,083 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Arlington and Ilfracombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Sedgemoor and Woking.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bushen is 153 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.4%.

1881 census count

106

Ranked #19,083

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

2002

153 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bushen had 106 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,083 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bushen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bushen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bushen 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 40 #28,970
1881 historical 106 #19,083
1891 historical 126 #20,604
1901 historical 134 #19,288
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 132 #22,821
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 141 #22,344
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 143 #22,367
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 137 #23,883
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 146 #23,921
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 141 #24,723
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Bushens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Arlington, Ilfracombe, Merthyr Dovan, Highlight and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Sedgemoor, Woking and Cornwall. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Arlington Devon
3 Ilfracombe Devon
4 Merthyr Dovan, Highlight Glamorganshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 020 Caerphilly
2 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor
3 Caerphilly 024 Caerphilly
4 Woking 002 Woking
5 Cornwall 009 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bushen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bushen

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bushen 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

Bushen is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bushen 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 Bushen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bushen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bushen

The surname BUSHEN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word 'busca', meaning a bush or thicket, and may have been used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a bush or wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BUSHEN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Buschen'. This suggests that the name was already established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name BUSHEN appeared in various records and manuscripts, often with slight variations in spelling, such as 'Busshen', 'Busshyn', and 'Busshen'. These variations likely reflect regional differences in pronunciation and dialect.

The earliest known bearer of the name BUSHEN was William Bushen, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1206. Another early reference is to a John Bushen, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

In the 14th century, the name BUSHEN was particularly prominent in the counties of Northamptonshire and Staffordshire. Several place names in these areas, such as Bushen Leys and Bushen Hill, may have been derived from the surname or vice versa.

One notable individual with the surname BUSHEN was Sir Thomas Bushen (1450-1518), a member of the English gentry and a prominent landowner in Northamptonshire. He served as a Justice of the Peace and was knighted by Henry VII in 1495.

Another individual of note was Richard Bushen (1590-1668), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Shenley in Hertfordshire. He wrote several religious works, including "The Christian's Guide" and "The Spiritual Navigator".

In the 17th century, the name BUSHEN was also found in Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled 'Bushin' or 'Buschin'. One example is Robert Buschin (1625-1692), a Scottish merchant and landowner who was involved in the trading of wool and cloth.

During the 18th century, the surname BUSHEN continued to be found throughout England and Scotland, with some bearers of the name migrating to other parts of the British Empire, including North America and Australia.

A notable figure from this period was John Bushen (1720-1795), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Mint and the East India Company's warehouses.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bushen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bushen 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. Somerset leads with 44 Bushens recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.44x.

County Total Index
Somerset 44 26.44x
Devon 37 17.19x
Glamorgan 17 9.44x
Cornwall 3 2.56x
Gloucestershire 2 0.99x
Lancashire 2 0.16x
Essex 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilfracombe in Devon leads with 15 Bushens recorded in 1881 and an index of 675.68x.

Place Total Index
Ilfracombe 15 675.68x
Minehead 15 2380.95x
Llandaff 12 200.33x
Luccombe 12 9230.77x
Kentisbury 9 7500.00x
Arlington 6 7500.00x
Porlock 6 2222.22x
St Decumans Watchet 6 1428.57x
Barnstaple 3 88.76x
Llanwonno 3 46.37x
Bridgewater 2 44.25x
Cardiff St Mary 2 20.16x
Phillack 2 132.45x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 12.06x
Withypoole 2 2222.22x
Bedminster 1 6.39x
Brentwood 1 80.65x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 14.79x
Clifton 1 9.76x
Combmartin 1 212.77x
Devonport 1 40.49x
Pennington In Ulverston 1 163.93x
Toxteth Park 1 2.41x
Uny Lelant 1 158.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Mary 6
Sarah 6
Eliza 4
Ann 3
Jane 3
Annie 2
Lucy 2
Alice 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth.A.G. 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Julia 1
Leah 1
Lottie 1
Louisa 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosalie 1
Sophie 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bushen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bushen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Bushen surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bushen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Bushen a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Bushen surname mean?

A locational surname possibly derived from a place name meaning "bush" or "bush dwelling".

What does the Bushen map show?

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