UK surname
A surname possibly derived from a place name or an occupation related to bushes or woodlands.
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Bussy surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 60, ranked #34,340, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Poole St James and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bussy is 152 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.9%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
60
2016, ranked #34,340
Peak year
1901
152 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bussy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bussy surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 45 | #28,296 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 152 | #17,916 |
| 1911 | historical | 86 | #24,243 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 67 | #31,282 |
| 1999 | modern | 63 | #31,798 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 66 | #31,394 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 62 | #32,258 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 61 | #33,440 |
| 2008 | modern | 58 | #33,918 |
| 2009 | modern | 56 | #34,278 |
| 2010 | modern | 51 | #34,773 |
| 2011 | modern | 51 | #34,751 |
| 2012 | modern | 56 | #34,510 |
| 2013 | modern | 59 | #34,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 55 | #34,649 |
| 2015 | modern | 56 | #34,571 |
| 2016 | modern | 60 | #34,340 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Poole St James, London parishes, Auckland St Andrew and St Leonard Bromley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Poole St James | Dorset |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Auckland St Andrew | Durham |
| 5 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bussy surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bussy, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bussy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bussy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bussy is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bussy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bussy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bussy is of French origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "boscus," meaning "wooded," which itself comes from the Latin "boscus" or "buscus." Initially, the name referred to someone who lived near or in a wooded area.
The earliest known record of the name Bussy appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror of landholdings in England. It mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Boscheio, whose name later evolved into the modern spelling of Bussy.
The name Bussy was particularly prominent in the region of Burgundy, France, where several villages and towns bore the name, such as Bussy-le-Grand and Bussy-la-Pesle. These place names likely originated from the surname itself, indicating that the family had significant influence in the area.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Bussy was Hugues de Bussy (c. 1180-1242), a French nobleman who served as a seneschal (a high-ranking royal official) to Philip II of France. Another notable figure was Jacques de Bussy (c. 1490-1544), a French military commander who fought in the Italian Wars.
During the 16th century, the Bussy family produced several notable figures, including Louis de Clermont, Sieur de Bussy (c. 1550-1579), a French courtier and soldier who was involved in the Wars of Religion. He was known for his dueling skills and was eventually assassinated in an ambush.
Another prominent individual with the surname Bussy was Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy (1618-1693), a French author and military officer. He is best known for his scandalous memoirs, which provided a vivid account of the court of Louis XIV.
In the 18th century, Jacques-René de Bussy (1718-1784) was a French general who fought in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War, serving as a military advisor to the Continental Army.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the surname Bussy, which has its roots in medieval France and a connection to wooded areas and place names.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bussy surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 21 Bussys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 21 | 9.78x |
| Surrey | 14 | 3.98x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.11x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.70x |
| Sussex | 5 | 4.11x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.70x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 4.24x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 2.70x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 2.79x |
| Angus | 2 | 2.99x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 1.41x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middlestone in Durham leads with 12 Bussys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2790.70x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlestone | 12 | 2790.70x |
| Auckland St Andrew | 9 | 1578.95x |
| Lambeth | 8 | 12.71x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 13.02x |
| Newchurch | 6 | 85.71x |
| Hove | 5 | 93.63x |
| Dudley | 4 | 34.90x |
| Bromley London | 3 | 18.89x |
| Earsdon | 3 | 344.83x |
| Islington London | 3 | 4.29x |
| Armley | 2 | 63.49x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 2 | 15.02x |
| Dundee | 2 | 8.01x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 1 | 7.13x |
| Cawood | 1 | 370.37x |
| Colkirk | 1 | 909.09x |
| Heigham | 1 | 16.81x |
| Lakenham | 1 | 63.29x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 7.34x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 7.87x |
| Whippingham | 1 | 89.29x |
| York St Nicholas In | 1 | 250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bussy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bussy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bussy households.
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Bussy surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 60 in 2016. That gives Bussy a modern rank of #34,340.
A surname possibly derived from a place name or an occupation related to bushes or woodlands.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bussy bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.