UK surname
An occupational surname for someone who made or repaired casks and barrels, derived from the Middle English "bouste".
In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Buster surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #26,587 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst and Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buster is 258 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.0%.
1881 census count
50
Ranked #26,587
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1861
258 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Buster surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Buster surname density by area, 1891 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 | 119 | #15,247 |
| 1861 | historical | 258 | #9,603 |
| 1881 | historical | 50 | #26,587 |
| 1891 | historical | 124 | #20,818 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 15 | #37,046 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington, Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh and Brighton. 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 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 2 | Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst | Sussex |
| 3 | Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh | Kent |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Buster 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 Buster, 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 Buster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Buster 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, Buster 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 Buster is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Buster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Buster originated in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "borstere," which referred to a maker or seller of brushes, particularly those used for cleaning. The name was likely an occupational surname initially given to individuals involved in this trade.
The earliest known record of the surname Buster can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled "Borster." This ancient document recorded landowners and taxpayers in medieval England. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, Buster.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Buster was William Buster, who lived in Worcestershire, England, in the late 14th century. He was mentioned in the County Court Rolls of Worcestershire in 1389.
In the 16th century, the surname Buster was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable person from this time was John Buster, a merchant from York, who was mentioned in the city's records in 1542.
Another notable individual with the surname Buster was Sir Edward Buster (1578-1648), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in the early 17th century.
The surname Buster is also associated with several place names in England, such as Buster's Green in Hertfordshire and Buster's Hill in Wiltshire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Buster who lived or owned land in those areas.
In the 18th century, the Buster surname gained prominence with the birth of Samuel Buster (1731-1812), an English inventor and engineer who is credited with developing an improved spinning machine for cotton.
Another notable figure with the surname Buster was Sir William Buster (1811-1892), a British army officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British Empire, for his bravery during the Siege of Lucknow in 1857.
These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Buster who have left their mark throughout history. The name has a rich heritage rooted in the occupational trades of medieval England and has since spread to various parts of the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buster 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. Sussex leads with 13 Busters recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 13 | 16.13x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.41x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.26x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 5.44x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 6.21x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.72x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.84x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 3.44x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 3.30x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.06x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.61x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 2.42x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 8 Busters recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.20x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 8 | 49.20x |
| Everton | 7 | 38.72x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 6 | 256.41x |
| Goring | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Kingston On Thames | 4 | 71.56x |
| Wales | 4 | 1081.08x |
| Hucknall Torkard | 3 | 184.05x |
| Norwich St John Sepulchre | 3 | 625.00x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 8.07x |
| Bottisham | 1 | 384.62x |
| Gorleston | 1 | 67.57x |
| Great Yarmouth | 1 | 16.42x |
| Lowestoft | 1 | 36.36x |
| Nottingham St Peter | 1 | 138.89x |
| Patching | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Shrewsbury St Chad | 1 | 68.97x |
| St Mary Cray | 1 | 322.58x |
| Wanstead | 1 | 60.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Buster 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 Buster 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 Buster households.
FAQ
In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Buster surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Buster a modern rank of #36,457.
An occupational surname for someone who made or repaired casks and barrels, derived from the Middle English "bouste".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Buster 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.