NameCensus.

UK surname

Bussell

An English occupational surname referring to a person who made a coarse woolen cloth known as burel.

In the 1881 census there were 661 people recorded with the Bussell surname, ranking it #5,434 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 528, ranked #9,603, down from #5,434 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, South Somerset and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bussell is 861 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.1%.

1881 census count

661

Ranked #5,434

Modern count

528

2016, ranked #9,603

Peak year

1911

861 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bussell had 661 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,434 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 528 in 2016, ranked #9,603.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 861 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bussell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bussell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bussell 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 545 #4,633
1861 historical 790 #3,489
1881 historical 661 #5,434
1891 historical 799 #5,033
1901 historical 772 #5,804
1911 historical 861 #5,160
1997 modern 533 #8,871
1998 modern 553 #8,892
1999 modern 559 #8,872
2000 modern 546 #9,001
2001 modern 528 #9,084
2002 modern 545 #9,038
2003 modern 517 #9,268
2004 modern 537 #9,015
2005 modern 525 #9,120
2006 modern 520 #9,208
2007 modern 529 #9,160
2008 modern 539 #9,098
2009 modern 554 #9,117
2010 modern 569 #9,124
2011 modern 564 #9,095
2012 modern 547 #9,203
2013 modern 543 #9,432
2014 modern 544 #9,476
2015 modern 530 #9,605
2016 modern 528 #9,603

Geography

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Where Bussells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea 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 Mid Devon, South Somerset, Cornwall and Carmarthenshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 003 Mid Devon
2 South Somerset 017 South Somerset
3 South Somerset 010 South Somerset
4 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
5 Carmarthenshire 012 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bussell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bussell

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Bussell is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bussell is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bussell

The surname Bussell has its origins in England, originating as an English locational surname. It is derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or dwelling, and "sæl" meaning a hall or mansion. Together, these elements form the compound "Burghsæl" or "Burgsal", referring to a fortified manor house or estate.

Records indicate that the name was first found in Worcestershire, where the family held lands and estates. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard de Burghsale, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1207. The name also appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as Borgessale.

By the 13th century, the surname had evolved into its modern spelling of Bussell. In 1327, a John Bussell was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records, suggesting that the Bussell family had achieved a level of prominence and wealth by this time.

Over the centuries, various branches of the Bussell family acquired lands and estates across England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire. Notable individuals bearing the Bussell surname include Sir William Bussell (c.1530-1579), a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and Sir Francis Bussell (1572-1641), a wealthy landowner and politician who served as High Sheriff of Derbyshire.

During the English Civil War, the Bussells were staunch Royalists, supporting King Charles I. Sir William Bussell (1607-1661) was knighted by the King in 1642 for his loyalty and service. After the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Sir William's son, also named William Bussell (1636-1684), was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire in recognition of his family's support for the Crown.

Another notable figure was Jervase Bussell (1615-1688), a successful merchant and landowner in Worcestershire. His grandson, Thomas Bussell (1679-1737), was a prominent attorney and served as Recorder of Worcester, a prestigious legal position.

Throughout its history, the Bussell surname has been associated with landed gentry, political figures, and influential families in various parts of England, particularly the Midlands and Derbyshire regions. While the name has evolved in spelling over time, its origins can be traced back to the Old English words denoting a fortified manor house or estate.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bussell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bussell 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. Devon leads with 115 Bussells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.54x.

County Total Index
Devon 115 8.54x
Dorset 105 24.74x
Somerset 92 8.84x
Kent 56 2.54x
Middlesex 45 0.70x
Surrey 41 1.30x
Glamorgan 39 3.46x
Gloucestershire 39 3.07x
Lancashire 19 0.25x
Warwickshire 18 1.10x
Hampshire 17 1.28x
Essex 14 1.10x
Sussex 11 1.01x
Cornwall 8 1.09x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.92x
Northamptonshire 6 0.99x
Herefordshire 5 1.89x
Yorkshire 4 0.06x
Durham 3 0.16x
Lanarkshire 3 0.14x
Oxfordshire 3 0.75x
Anglesey 2 1.74x
Royal Navy 2 2.60x
Suffolk 2 0.25x
Wiltshire 2 0.35x
Worcestershire 2 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.24x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llantrisant in Glamorgan leads with 25 Bussells recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.09x.

Place Total Index
Llantrisant 25 88.09x
Bridgewater 18 63.69x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 18 15.07x
Battersea 13 5.46x
Petrockstow 13 1150.44x
Aston 12 2.67x
Allington 10 263.85x
Lambeth 10 1.77x
Milton Abbas 10 480.77x
Taunton St James 10 65.88x
Weymouth 10 124.38x
Axminster 9 142.63x
Bettiscombe 9 6428.57x
Chaldon Herring 9 1216.22x
Chittlehampton 9 271.08x
Exeter Heavitree 9 89.64x
Gittisham 9 909.09x
Merton 9 163.34x
Seal 9 252.81x
West Ham 9 3.19x
Accrington 8 11.47x
Hemyock 8 398.01x
Portsea 8 3.08x
Taunton St Mary 8 41.86x
Tiverton 8 34.50x
Walcot 8 14.43x
Cardiff St Mary 7 11.28x
Colyton 7 135.40x
Orpington 7 103.55x
St Giles In Fields London 7 22.06x
Wimborne Minster 7 102.04x
Bedminster 6 6.13x
Bradpole 6 172.41x
Fordington 6 65.65x
Kensington London 6 1.67x
Sibbertoft 6 923.08x
Barnstaple 5 23.66x
Canterbury St George 5 188.68x
East Stonehouse 5 18.85x
Hackney London 5 1.38x
Poole St James 5 31.35x
Tormoham 5 8.78x
Walthamstow 5 10.88x
Warmwell 5 1250.00x
Witheridge 5 220.26x
Balderton 4 168.07x
Birmingham 4 0.74x
Bishops Lydeard 4 150.38x
Blatchinworth 4 22.90x
Bridport 4 45.77x
Broadwinsor 4 143.88x
Dartford 4 17.73x
Deptford St Nicholas 4 22.84x
Dunster 4 160.64x
Lewisham 4 3.40x
Saltash 4 70.42x
Stoke Abbott 4 327.87x
Stoke Damerel 4 4.25x
Streatham 4 8.34x
Wayford 4 800.00x
West Quantoxhead 4 645.16x
Woolwich 4 4.91x
Almondsbury 3 61.98x
Brighton 3 1.36x
Bristol St James In 3 16.09x
Chelsea London 3 1.54x
Crowcombe 3 306.12x
Curland 3 731.71x
Dorchester All Sts 3 147.78x
East Anstey 3 576.92x
Llandaff 3 8.01x
Meare 3 96.15x
Milverton 3 78.13x
Newark Upon Trent 3 9.58x
Paignton 3 29.30x
Pelton 3 32.79x
Strood 3 23.83x
Swansea Town 3 3.25x
Whitchurch 3 267.86x
Wrotham 3 41.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 24
Eliza 16
Ann 13
Ellen 13
Emily 13
Annie 12
Caroline 8
Louisa 8
Alice 7
Catherine 7
Clara 7
Florence 7
Agnes 6
Jane 6
Anne 5
Ada 4
Bessie 4
Emma 4
Ethel 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Kate 4
Minnie 4
Amy 3
Elizth. 3
Grace 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Beatrice 2
Esther 2
Florance 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Jessie 2
Marcia 2
Matilda 2
May 2
Priscilla 2
Rosina 2
Susan 2
Ela 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizh. 1
Thorza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 38
George 24
James 16
Henry 14
Charles 13
Thomas 13
Robert 12
Joseph 10
Alfred 8
Walter 8
Frederick 7
Frank 5
Harry 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Ebenezeer 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Wilfred 2
Willm. 2
Addath 1
Ambrose 1
Archibald 1
Barton 1
Ben 1
Chas. 1
Daily 1
Fd. 1
Fras. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Johnny 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Bussell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bussell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 661 people were recorded with the Bussell surname. That placed it at #5,434 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bussell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 528 in 2016. That gives Bussell a modern rank of #9,603.

What does the Bussell surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who made a coarse woolen cloth known as burel.

What does the Bussell map show?

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