NameCensus.

UK surname

Bussey

An English locational surname derived from any of several places named Bussey in Hertfordshire or Herefordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,030 people recorded with the Bussey surname, ranking it #3,815 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,313, ranked #4,573, down from #3,815 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Daventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bussey is 1,630 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.5%.

1881 census count

1,030

Ranked #3,815

Modern count

1,313

2016, ranked #4,573

Peak year

1911

1,630 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bussey had 1,030 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,815 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,313 in 2016, ranked #4,573.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,630 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bussey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bussey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bussey 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 618 #4,180
1861 historical 547 #4,810
1881 historical 1,030 #3,815
1891 historical 1,103 #3,839
1901 historical 1,344 #3,728
1911 historical 1,630 #2,986
1997 modern 1,432 #4,065
1998 modern 1,492 #4,072
1999 modern 1,485 #4,119
2000 modern 1,475 #4,121
2001 modern 1,440 #4,116
2002 modern 1,421 #4,242
2003 modern 1,386 #4,255
2004 modern 1,403 #4,213
2005 modern 1,358 #4,291
2006 modern 1,360 #4,291
2007 modern 1,344 #4,366
2008 modern 1,328 #4,428
2009 modern 1,359 #4,429
2010 modern 1,378 #4,465
2011 modern 1,347 #4,505
2012 modern 1,328 #4,484
2013 modern 1,344 #4,514
2014 modern 1,352 #4,520
2015 modern 1,340 #4,511
2016 modern 1,313 #4,573

Geography

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Where Busseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Daventry. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 038 County Durham
2 County Durham 031 County Durham
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 011 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Daventry 005 Daventry
5 County Durham 064 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bussey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bussey

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Bussey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bussey is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bussey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bussey

The surname Bussey is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the village of Bushey in Hertfordshire. The name is believed to come from the Old English words "bysce" or "busc," meaning bush or thicket, referring to the wooded area where the village was situated.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bussey can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1194, where it is spelled "de Bussheye." This spelling variation reflects the common practice of adding the Norman-French preposition "de" to denote a place of origin.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Bussey," "Busshey," and "Busseye," in various records across Hertfordshire and neighboring counties. This suggests that the name had become more widespread and established during this period.

Notable historical figures with the surname Bussey include Sir John Bussey (c. 1505-1580), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Bussey (1628-1699), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Shenfield in Essex.

In the 17th century, the name Bussey appeared in the parish records of several villages in Hertfordshire, indicating the continued presence of the family in the area. One such record from 1642 mentions a William Bussey, who was a landowner in the village of Bushey.

The 18th century saw the spread of the Bussey name to other parts of England, as well as to the American colonies. One notable figure from this period was Sir Jeremiah Bussey (1720-1795), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the Bussey family established itself in various professions, including law, medicine, and academia. One prominent individual was Benjamin Bussey (1757-1842), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who donated a significant portion of his fortune to Harvard University for the establishment of the Bussey Institute, a school of agriculture and horticulture.

Throughout its history, the surname Bussey has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, particularly in the county of Hertfordshire, where the name originated from the village of Bushey.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bussey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bussey 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. Norfolk leads with 233 Busseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.31x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 233 15.31x
Yorkshire 203 2.07x
Surrey 103 2.14x
Kent 95 2.81x
Middlesex 80 0.81x
Durham 74 2.51x
Sussex 37 2.22x
Lancashire 26 0.22x
Suffolk 20 1.66x
Somerset 17 1.07x
Hampshire 16 0.79x
Essex 15 0.77x
Warwickshire 15 0.60x
Cheshire 12 0.55x
Dorset 12 1.85x
Worcestershire 11 0.85x
Staffordshire 10 0.30x
Derbyshire 9 0.58x
Lincolnshire 8 0.51x
Gloucestershire 7 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.32x
Northumberland 2 0.14x
Berkshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 38 Busseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.40x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 38 4.40x
Camberwell 26 4.11x
Sheffield 23 7.36x
Bradford 21 8.84x
Middleton In Teesdale 21 270.27x
Ramsgate 18 32.64x
Ryther Cum Ossendyke 18 1818.18x
Little Plumstead 17 1517.86x
St Marylebone London 16 3.03x
Birmingham 15 1.80x
Heigham 15 18.36x
Plumstead 15 13.32x
Dover St Mary Virgin 14 42.81x
Ecclesall Bierlow 13 6.51x
Lowestoft 13 22.82x
Newhaven 13 95.87x
Norwich St Peter 13 130.13x
Newington 12 3.28x
Norwich St James 12 100.50x
Holme Next Sea 11 1067.96x
Portsea 11 2.77x
Snettisham 11 260.66x
St Lawrence 11 47.35x
Wareham Holy Trinity 11 387.32x
Brighton 10 2.97x
Dudley 10 6.36x
Eastbourne 10 13.02x
Hampstead London 10 6.49x
Mickleton 10 442.48x
Oldham 10 2.64x
Warham St Mary 10 4347.83x
West Harling 10 2500.00x
Auckland St Helen 9 290.32x
Calverley Cum Farsley 9 32.30x
Chapel Allerton 9 61.31x
East Harling 9 249.31x
Margate St John Baptist 9 14.55x
Norwich St Paul 9 98.79x
Thornaby 9 24.55x
Wells Next Sea 9 101.35x
West Ham 9 2.09x
Bedminster 8 5.34x
Bromley London 8 3.67x
Buxton 8 423.28x
Epsom 8 34.03x
Minster In Thanet 8 113.80x
Spittlegate 8 36.53x
Walcot 8 9.43x
Wrenbury Cum Frith 8 462.43x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 2.73x
Aylsham 7 77.26x
Bermondsey 7 2.37x
Brightside Bierlow 7 3.64x
Cawood 7 186.17x
Cliff Cum Lund 7 322.58x
Heston 7 21.29x
Islington London 7 0.73x
Manningham 7 5.79x
Shildon 7 29.57x
St Giles In Fields London 7 14.41x
West Auckland 7 65.00x
West Bromwich 7 3.66x
West Wretham 7 1489.36x
Armley 6 13.87x
Foulden 6 382.17x
Great Longstone With 6 363.64x
Horsforth 6 27.89x
Rastrick 6 22.02x
Shadforth 6 105.08x
St Pancras London 6 0.75x
Worth 6 392.16x
York St Maurice 6 32.49x
Arkengarthdale 5 146.63x
Cobham 5 63.13x
Gasthorpe 5 1515.15x
Heacham 5 147.49x
Knaresborough 5 32.45x
Norwich St Stephen 5 35.79x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 5 10.97x
Tilney Cum Islington 5 505.05x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 67
James 56
John 51
George 45
Thomas 26
Charles 24
Robert 19
Alfred 18
Henry 16
Frederick 15
Walter 15
Joseph 14
Albert 12
Harry 11
Edward 10
Arthur 9
Benjamin 9
Francis 6
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Richard 5
Samuel 5
Thos. 4
Edmund 3
Herbert 3
Alfd. 2
Benj. 2
Clifford 2
Horace 2
Isaac 2
Jason 2
Joshua 2
Peter 2
Reuben 2
Sidney 2
Wm. 2
Arnold 1
Benjm.G. 1
Benjn. 1
Edwd.W. 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Freddy 1
G.Chas. 1
Geo. 1
Jesse 1
Joselph 1
Laurance 1
Leonard 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Bussey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bussey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,030 people were recorded with the Bussey surname. That placed it at #3,815 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bussey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,313 in 2016. That gives Bussey a modern rank of #4,573.

What does the Bussey surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from any of several places named Bussey in Hertfordshire or Herefordshire.

What does the Bussey map show?

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