NameCensus.

UK surname

Buswell

A surname derived from a place name referring to a well near bushes.

In the 1881 census there were 880 people recorded with the Buswell surname, ranking it #4,309 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 883, ranked #6,385, down from #4,309 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Oxfordshire, Northampton and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buswell is 1,245 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.3%.

1881 census count

880

Ranked #4,309

Modern count

883

2016, ranked #6,385

Peak year

1911

1,245 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Buswell had 880 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,309 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 883 in 2016, ranked #6,385.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,245 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Buswell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Buswell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Buswell 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 620 #4,170
1861 historical 474 #5,489
1881 historical 880 #4,309
1891 historical 944 #4,388
1901 historical 1,113 #4,344
1911 historical 1,245 #3,808
1997 modern 916 #5,893
1998 modern 976 #5,788
1999 modern 987 #5,772
2000 modern 951 #5,918
2001 modern 922 #5,969
2002 modern 929 #6,041
2003 modern 902 #6,074
2004 modern 911 #6,034
2005 modern 895 #6,053
2006 modern 874 #6,178
2007 modern 891 #6,135
2008 modern 892 #6,163
2009 modern 918 #6,157
2010 modern 932 #6,208
2011 modern 917 #6,239
2012 modern 924 #6,125
2013 modern 922 #6,237
2014 modern 915 #6,299
2015 modern 889 #6,378
2016 modern 883 #6,385

Geography

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Where Buswells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures), Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Clipston and Welford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Oxfordshire, Northampton, Birmingham and Warwick. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) Leicestershire
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Clipston Leicestershire
5 Welford Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Oxfordshire 002 South Oxfordshire
2 Northampton 021 Northampton
3 Birmingham 111 Birmingham
4 Warwick 003 Warwick
5 Northampton 003 Northampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Buswell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Buswell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Buswell 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

Buswell 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

Buswell falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Buswell

The surname Buswell has its origins in England, and it is believed to have first appeared in the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bus" and "well," which together mean "a dwelling near a spring or well." This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who lived near a spring or well.

The earliest recorded reference to the name Buswell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from the year 1230, where a person named William Buswell is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a Robert Buswell.

In the 14th century, the surname Buswell was found in various parts of England, including Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk. Some of the early spellings of the name included Bussewelle, Bussewell, and Busewell.

One notable person with the surname Buswell was John Buswell, who was born in 1585 in Cambridgeshire. He was a Member of Parliament for the borough of Cambridge in the early 17th century.

Another significant figure was Sir Thomas Buswell, who lived in the 16th century and was a prominent landowner in Nottinghamshire. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1589.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Buswell family settled in the United States, with the first recorded instance being that of Henry Buswell, who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635.

A famous American with the surname Buswell was James Oliver Buswell III (1899-1977), who was a notable Christian theologian and author. He served as the president of Wheaton College in Illinois from 1926 to 1940.

Another noteworthy individual was Henry Foster Buswell (1820-1901), an American educator and author who served as the president of Lewisburg University (now Bucknell University) from 1858 to 1875.

Overall, the surname Buswell has a rich history that can be traced back to its English origins, and it has been borne by many notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Buswell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buswell 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. Northamptonshire leads with 246 Buswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.50x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 246 30.50x
Leicestershire 216 22.72x
Warwickshire 78 3.61x
Middlesex 68 0.79x
Oxfordshire 52 9.82x
Yorkshire 33 0.39x
Kent 19 0.65x
Lancashire 18 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 17 1.47x
Essex 16 0.95x
Gloucestershire 14 0.83x
Surrey 14 0.34x
Lanarkshire 11 0.40x
Bedfordshire 8 1.80x
Devon 8 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 7 1.35x
Worcestershire 7 0.63x
Brecknockshire 6 3.50x
Hertfordshire 6 1.02x
Lincolnshire 6 0.44x
Berkshire 5 0.78x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.92x
Herefordshire 3 0.85x
Norfolk 3 0.23x
Staffordshire 3 0.10x
Derbyshire 2 0.15x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.73x
Suffolk 2 0.19x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.59x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 58 Buswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.02x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 58 25.02x
Leicester St Mary 43 55.98x
Clipston 34 1666.67x
Birmingham 26 3.61x
Welford 23 842.49x
Hinckley 21 93.13x
Northampton St Giles 19 61.85x
Wootton 19 599.37x
Kettering 17 52.12x
Nottingham St Mary 17 5.69x
Moulton 15 334.82x
Great Billing 12 1052.63x
Little Bowden 12 425.53x
Rothwell 12 148.15x
Belgrave 11 51.26x
St Marylebone London 11 2.40x
Tankersley 11 173.78x
Loughborough 10 23.18x
Northampton St Sepulchre 10 24.37x
Sundridge 10 204.92x
Fulbrook 9 2812.50x
Kibworth Beauchamp 9 272.73x
Great Bowden 8 92.49x
Lambeth 8 1.07x
Leamington Priors 8 15.03x
Long Buckby 8 107.24x
Tormoham 8 10.59x
Coventry Holy Trinity 7 10.84x
Coventry St Michael 7 10.08x
Crick 7 257.35x
Islington London 7 0.84x
Kenilworth 7 57.42x
Kensington London 7 1.47x
Langford 7 191.78x
Northampton All Sts 7 25.58x
Northfield 7 32.96x
Old 7 660.38x
Barony 6 0.85x
Brixworth 6 173.91x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.66x
Edgbaston 6 8.95x
Edgware 6 250.00x
Grantham 6 33.58x
Hemel Hempstead 6 22.53x
Leicester All Sts 6 32.14x
Leicester Newarke 6 120.97x
Lower Heyford 6 389.61x
Lutterworth 6 103.63x
Middlesbrough 6 5.42x
Paddington London 6 1.90x
Stoke Lyne 6 368.10x
Stony Stratford West 6 168.07x
West Ham 6 1.61x
Woodford Cum Membris 6 348.84x
Bicester Market End 5 51.44x
Brecknock St John 5 34.58x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 3.16x
Burton Lazars 5 694.44x
Earls Barton 5 72.67x
Epping 5 72.67x
Glasgow 5 1.02x
Hannington 5 909.09x
Humberstone 5 64.02x
Leicester St Leonard 5 55.56x
Market Bosworth 5 145.77x
Scarborough 5 6.48x
Shoreditch London 5 1.35x
Sulby 5 2173.91x
Tottenham 5 3.66x
Widford 5 568.18x
Wisbech St Peter 5 18.36x
Yardley Hastings 5 144.51x
Bromley London 4 2.12x
Great Creaton 4 434.78x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.19x
Minster Lovell 4 266.67x
Reading St Mary 4 7.76x
St Bartholomew Less 4 90.70x
St Pancras London 4 0.58x
Westcote Barton 4 579.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Elizabeth 45
Sarah 35
Ann 21
Annie 21
Clara 13
Emma 11
Ada 10
Eliza 10
Emily 10
Louisa 10
Ellen 9
Maria 9
Charlotte 8
Florence 8
Jane 8
Kate 8
Alice 7
Caroline 7
Edith 7
Harriett 7
Esther 6
Martha 6
Agnes 5
Hannah 5
Harriet 5
Rebecca 5
Anna 4
Elizebeth 4
Lucy 4
Susan 4
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Julia 3
Lydia 3
Margaret 3
Catherine 2
Dinah 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Infant 2
Lavinia 2
M. 2
Matilda 2
Phoebe 2
Sophia 2
Winifred 2
Blanche 1
Eliz. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 54
William 39
Charles 24
George 24
Thomas 20
Edward 19
Arthur 16
Alfred 15
Henry 15
Harry 12
Albert 11
James 11
Samuel 11
Joseph 9
Walter 9
Edwin 6
Frederick 6
Robert 6
Wm. 6
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Edmund 4
Frank 3
Fred 3
Fred. 3
Isaac 3
Albin 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Fredk. 2
Oliver 2
Richard 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Victor 2
Ashby 1
Eustace 1
Florence 1
Fredr. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Isaiah 1
J.A. 1
Jno. 1
Jno.Geo. 1
Jonas 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1

FAQ

Buswell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Buswell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 880 people were recorded with the Buswell surname. That placed it at #4,309 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Buswell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 883 in 2016. That gives Buswell a modern rank of #6,385.

What does the Buswell surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a well near bushes.

What does the Buswell map show?

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