NameCensus.

UK surname

But

A French surname derived from the Old French word "but," meaning "boundary" or "limit."

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the But surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Plymouth, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for But is 112 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 489.5%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

2016

112 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • But had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 31 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

But surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

But surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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But 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 31 #27,734
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1901 historical 24 #31,365
1997 modern 41 #33,552
1998 modern 48 #33,111
1999 modern 40 #33,967
2000 modern 42 #33,791
2001 modern 40 #33,842
2002 modern 42 #33,951
2003 modern 44 #33,875
2004 modern 43 #34,149
2005 modern 43 #34,328
2006 modern 51 #33,992
2007 modern 57 #33,800
2008 modern 69 #32,962
2009 modern 79 #32,372
2010 modern 80 #32,670
2011 modern 68 #33,613
2012 modern 75 #33,263
2013 modern 74 #33,483
2014 modern 82 #32,992
2015 modern 95 #31,749
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Buts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Plymouth, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Brent, Liverpool and Ealing. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Plymouth 024 Plymouth
2 Newcastle-under-Lyme 015 Newcastle-under-Lyme
3 Brent 006 Brent
4 Liverpool 053 Liverpool
5 Ealing 026 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with But

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for But

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the But surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every But household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, But is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

But is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

But 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 But 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
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of But

The surname "But" is believed to have originated from the Old French word "but," which means "target" or "mark to shoot at." This name likely emerged during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Norman French surnames were introduced to Britain.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "But" can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Butt" or "Bute." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a target or shooting range, or perhaps someone who was an excellent marksman.

In the 13th century, the surname "But" is found in various records from the county of Yorkshire, particularly in the areas around Ripon and Beverley. This indicates that the name was well-established in northern England during this period.

One notable early bearer of the surname was Sir John But (c. 1290-1349), a English knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence and the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his bravery in battle and is mentioned in several contemporary chronicles.

Another prominent figure was William But (c. 1415-1489), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire. He was involved in the wool trade and served as a Member of Parliament for Boston in 1467.

In the 16th century, the surname "But" appears to have spread to other parts of England, including London and the Midlands. One example is Thomas But (c. 1520-1585), a prominent goldsmith and member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London.

During the 17th century, the name "But" was also found in Scotland, possibly introduced by English settlers or through intermarriage. One notable Scot with this surname was Robert But (c. 1630-1698), a Presbyterian minister and religious writer from Fife.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Captain John But (c. 1680-1745), an English naval officer who served in the War of the Spanish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession. He is mentioned in several naval records and dispatches from the time.

As the surname "But" spread across Britain and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, such as "Butt," "Butts," and "Bute." However, the core meaning and origins of the name remained largely unchanged, linked to the concept of a target or mark for shooting.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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But families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the But 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. Cheshire leads with 6 Buts recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.95x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 6 13.95x
Devon 3 7.40x
Somerset 3 9.56x
Buckinghamshire 2 16.98x
Sussex 2 6.09x
Gloucestershire 1 2.62x
Kent 1 1.50x
Lanarkshire 1 1.59x
Staffordshire 1 1.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheadle in Cheshire leads with 6 Buts recorded in 1881 and an index of 731.71x.

Place Total Index
Cheadle 6 731.71x
Stockley Pomeroy 3 30000.00x
Wingrave 2 3333.33x
Ardingly 1 1000.00x
Barony 1 6.27x
Bristol Temple 1 400.00x
Dinder 1 10000.00x
Lee 1 103.09x
Portishead 1 434.78x
Shenstone 1 588.24x
Taunton St Mary 1 172.41x
Withyam 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charlotte 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Jane 1
Jeney 1
Minnie 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Adon 1
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Henry 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 But households.

FAQ

But surname: questions and answers

How common was the But surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the But surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the But surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives But a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the But surname mean?

A French surname derived from the Old French word "but," meaning "boundary" or "limit."

What does the But map show?

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