NameCensus.

UK surname

Buston

A locational surname suggesting origins from a place named Buston.

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Buston surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 160, ranked #22,694, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitworth, St Pancras and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, County Durham and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buston is 1,080 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.7%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

1861

1,080 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Buston had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,080 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Buston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Buston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Buston 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 415 #5,850
1861 historical 1,080 #2,606
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1891 historical 723 #5,460
1901 historical 274 #12,370
1911 historical 462 #8,329
1997 modern 168 #19,642
1998 modern 181 #19,229
1999 modern 174 #19,870
2000 modern 183 #19,239
2001 modern 171 #19,770
2002 modern 172 #20,108
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 157 #21,168
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 162 #22,078
2013 modern 165 #22,163
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 162 #22,509
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Bustons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitworth, St Pancras, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Lambeth and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, County Durham, Wiltshire and Wyre. 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 Whitworth Durham
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 005 North East Lincolnshire
2 County Durham 046 County Durham
3 Wiltshire 050 Wiltshire
4 Wyre 001 Wyre
5 North East Lincolnshire 012 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Buston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Buston

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Buston, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Buston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Buston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Buston 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

Buston 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

Buston falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Buston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Buston

The surname Buston likely finds its origins in England, pointing to roots in the Anglo-Saxon period, which extends roughly from the 5th to the 11th centuries. The name is speculated to have geographical and locational origins, possibly derived from places such as Boston in Lincolnshire or the lesser-known hamlets and villages that have evolved over centuries. Variants of the name, such as Boston, appear in older documents and records, making linkage to these areas plausible.

The surname seems to have evolved from the Old English words "bot" meaning "house" and "tun" meaning "settlement" or "farm," indicating a habitation name. The Domesday Book of 1086, commissioned by William the Conqueror, refers to a place called Boston in Lincolnshire, which corroborates the geographical origin of the surname Buston. Though Buston itself does not appear in the Domesday Book, the linkage between Boston and Buston is linguistically sound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Buston appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where an individual known as Adam de Buston is mentioned. These rolls were a census taken in England during the reign of Edward I to assess land and property ownership.

By the late Middle Ages, the surname had spread to various parts of England. Notable among early bearers is Thomas Buston, born in 1450, who is cited in manorial records from Yorkshire. His contributions to local governance and land disputes are documented, shedding light on his prominence in the community.

The 16th century saw the Buston name appear in legal and commercial contexts. Francis Buston, born in 1527 and dying in 1591, was a merchant in London known to have traded spices and silk. His records contribute to our understanding of the economic activities prevalent during the Tudor period.

Around the 18th century, George Buston, born in 1735, emerged as a notable figure in maritime history. He served as a captain in the Royal Navy and is documented in naval logs and ship manifests. His voyages contributed significantly to British naval supremacy during that era.

In the 19th century, Emily Buston, born in 1804 and dying in 1877, gained attention as an early advocate for women's education in England. Her correspondence and advocacy efforts are preserved in archives and provide insights into the burgeoning feminist movements of that period.

These historical references to individuals bearing the surname Buston showcase its longevity and the diverse roles its bearers have played over centuries. Each bears testament to the name's geographic origins and its evolution through English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Buston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buston 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. Durham leads with 42 Bustons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.84x.

County Total Index
Durham 42 5.84x
Middlesex 30 1.24x
Kent 18 2.18x
Yorkshire 18 0.75x
Gloucestershire 17 3.58x
Surrey 16 1.36x
Norfolk 15 4.03x
Lincolnshire 12 3.10x
Staffordshire 10 1.22x
Lancashire 9 0.31x
Northumberland 9 2.50x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.45x
Worcestershire 8 2.53x
Northamptonshire 6 2.64x
Hampshire 5 1.01x
Shropshire 4 1.91x
Somerset 4 1.03x
Derbyshire 3 0.79x
Warwickshire 3 0.49x
Berkshire 2 1.10x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.37x
Cheshire 1 0.19x
Devon 1 0.20x
Dorset 1 0.63x
Essex 1 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 0.60x
Inverness-shire 1 1.38x
Oxfordshire 1 0.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitworth in Durham leads with 15 Bustons recorded in 1881 and an index of 284.63x.

Place Total Index
Whitworth 15 284.63x
Witton Le Wear 12 588.24x
Clee With Weelsby 10 118.06x
St Pancras London 9 4.62x
Norwich St Peter 8 327.87x
Eccleshall 7 225.81x
Rillington 7 958.90x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 13.43x
Dudley 6 15.62x
Great Yarmouth 6 19.47x
Lewisham 6 13.63x
Newark Upon Trent 6 51.19x
Newstead 6 5454.55x
Eltham 5 103.31x
Frindsbury 5 160.77x
Gateshead 5 9.28x
Islington London 5 2.13x
Kingston On Thames 5 17.66x
Newington 5 5.59x
Twyford 5 420.17x
Westminster St James 5 20.10x
Westoe 5 12.25x
Bishops Cleeve 4 333.33x
Dursley 4 205.13x
Hoyland Nether 4 68.03x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 34.54x
Stottesdon 4 421.05x
Streatham 4 22.28x
West Derby 4 4.76x
Birmingham 3 1.48x
Bishopwearmouth 3 4.86x
Bromley London 3 5.64x
Idridgehay Alton 3 1500.00x
Ruswarp 3 112.36x
St Marylebone London 3 2.32x
Worle 3 375.00x
Bushbury 2 136.05x
Gloucester St Michael 2 183.49x
Gorton 2 7.41x
Holy Trinity 2 3.47x
Stoke Bruern 2 285.71x
Stoke Poges 2 112.36x
Ardwick 1 3.86x
Ash Priors 1 625.00x
Bacton 1 263.16x
Barra 1 55.56x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.95x
Brightside Bierlow 1 2.13x
Canterbury St Mary 1 18.05x
Carshalton 1 22.17x
Chadderton 1 7.13x
Chardstock 1 90.91x
Chelsea London 1 1.37x
Cowbit 1 188.68x
East Ham 1 11.29x
Heworth 1 7.05x
High Buston 1 1250.00x
Huddersfield 1 2.86x
Huntley 1 285.71x
Kidlington 1 86.21x
Lapal 1 344.83x
Lesbury 1 126.58x
Middle Temple London 1 1250.00x
Newbury 1 17.18x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 5.36x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.19x
Old Sleaford 1 227.27x
Reigate Foreign 1 7.84x
Runcorn 1 8.12x
Snenton 1 7.81x
Speldhurst 1 23.81x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.35x
St Giles In Fields London 1 8.42x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.15x
Tewin 1 227.27x
Thornley 1 38.46x
Totnes 1 33.90x
Warrington 1 2.94x
Winkfield 1 33.22x
Yardley 1 12.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Mary 12
Sarah 12
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Emma 6
Jane 6
Maria 5
Emily 4
Ann 3
Clara 3
Isabella 3
Laura 3
Martha 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Cicely 2
Esther 2
Margaret 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Betty 1
Charlot 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Ellanor 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Hart. 1
Katie 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margery 1
Margt. 1
May 1
Prudence 1
Rebecca 1
Sharlott 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 20
Thomas 16
James 7
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Roger 5
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
George 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Anthony 1
Chs. 1
David 1
E. 1
Edmund 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Sarah 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Buston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Buston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Buston surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Buston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Buston a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Buston surname mean?

A locational surname suggesting origins from a place named Buston.

What does the Buston map show?

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