NameCensus.

UK surname

Bygrave

A surname derived from a placename in Hertfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 578 people recorded with the Bygrave surname, ranking it #6,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 979, ranked #5,896, up from #6,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Biggleswade, London parishes and Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Shepway and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bygrave is 1,071 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.4%.

1881 census count

578

Ranked #6,027

Modern count

979

2016, ranked #5,896

Peak year

1999

1,071 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bygrave had 578 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 979 in 2016, ranked #5,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 912 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Bygrave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bygrave surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bygrave 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 382 #6,266
1861 historical 312 #8,127
1881 historical 578 #6,027
1891 historical 693 #5,657
1901 historical 750 #5,941
1911 historical 912 #4,892
1997 modern 1,042 #5,306
1998 modern 1,065 #5,388
1999 modern 1,071 #5,395
2000 modern 1,047 #5,480
2001 modern 1,033 #5,446
2002 modern 1,070 #5,395
2003 modern 1,039 #5,428
2004 modern 1,028 #5,486
2005 modern 1,003 #5,532
2006 modern 1,003 #5,553
2007 modern 1,016 #5,536
2008 modern 1,019 #5,565
2009 modern 1,034 #5,621
2010 modern 1,056 #5,627
2011 modern 1,009 #5,776
2012 modern 996 #5,756
2013 modern 997 #5,841
2014 modern 1,008 #5,821
2015 modern 985 #5,886
2016 modern 979 #5,896

Geography

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Where Bygraves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Biggleswade, London parishes, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton, Lambeth and Stevenage. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Shepway, Manchester, St Albans and Swale. 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 Biggleswade Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton Hertfordshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Stevenage Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 014 Central Bedfordshire
2 Shepway 003 Shepway
3 Manchester 024 Manchester
4 St Albans 018 St Albans
5 Swale 007 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bygrave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bygrave

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Bygrave surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Bygrave household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Bygrave is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bygrave is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bygrave 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 Bygrave is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bygrave

The surname Bygrave is of English origin, derived from a place name. It is believed to have originated in the village of Bygrave, located in the county of Hertfordshire, England. This village name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bi" and "graefe," which together mean "by the grove" or "near the grove."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bygrave can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Bigrave." This historical record suggests that the name has been in use since at least the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "de Bigraue" and "de Bygrave," indicating a connection to the village of Bygrave. During this period, the use of surnames became more widespread, and people often adopted names based on their place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals with the surname Bygrave include:

1. Sir William Bygrave (c. 1490-1568), an English courtier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. John Bygrave (1637-1712), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Brief Exposition of the Church Catechism." 3. Mary Bygrave (1768-1845), a British writer and poet known for her collections of poetry, such as "Poems on Various Subjects" (1789). 4. Edmund Bygrave (1804-1876), a British landscape painter and watercolorist, whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries. 5. Alfred Bygrave (1842-1915), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the former Royal College of Music.

Throughout the centuries, variations of the spelling have been recorded, including Bygrave, Biggrave, Bigrave, and Biggrave. These variations often reflect regional dialects or phonetic interpretations of the original place name.

While the surname Bygrave is not among the most common in England, it has a long and well-documented history, with references dating back to the Middle Ages. The name's origins in the village of Bygrave and its connection to the Old English language provide a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bygrave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bygrave 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. Bedfordshire leads with 115 Bygraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.39x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 115 39.39x
Hertfordshire 113 29.08x
Middlesex 99 1.76x
Norfolk 60 6.92x
Surrey 54 1.97x
Northamptonshire 28 5.28x
Essex 21 1.89x
Yorkshire 21 0.38x
Gloucestershire 13 1.18x
Staffordshire 10 0.53x
Derbyshire 8 0.91x
Warwickshire 8 0.56x
Devon 6 0.51x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.88x
Monmouthshire 3 0.74x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.39x
Berkshire 2 0.47x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Oxfordshire 2 0.57x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.28x
Durham 1 0.06x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.49x
Suffolk 1 0.15x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stotfold in Bedfordshire leads with 76 Bygraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 1359.57x.

Place Total Index
Stotfold 76 1359.57x
Stevenage 29 480.93x
Lambeth 21 4.27x
Biggleswade 20 209.21x
Wallington 19 5135.14x
Aynho 17 1574.07x
Keighley 12 20.15x
Bristol St James St Paul 11 29.83x
Heigham 11 23.64x
Norwich St Margaret 11 814.81x
St Luke London 11 12.16x
Stoke 11 84.88x
Hackney London 10 3.16x
Radwell 10 5263.16x
Wolverhampton 10 6.83x
Hitchin 9 51.31x
Paddington London 9 4.34x
Norwich St Julian 8 219.18x
Norwich St Saviour 8 263.16x
Sundon 8 1095.89x
West Ham 8 3.26x
Wheathampstead 8 178.17x
Willesden 8 15.05x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.86x
Camberwell 7 1.94x
Helmdon 7 686.27x
Whittington 7 57.33x
Enfield 6 16.22x
Newington 6 2.88x
Norwich St Swithin 6 400.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 6.64x
St George Hanover Square 6 6.04x
Tottenham 6 6.68x
Chelsea London 5 2.94x
Cheshunt 5 36.79x
Maldon All Sts 5 226.24x
Meppershall 5 333.33x
Offley 5 197.63x
Aston 4 1.02x
Friern Barnet 4 32.21x
Hinderwell 4 83.86x
New Brentford 4 134.68x
Norwich St Giles 4 143.88x
Norwich St Paul 4 77.07x
Shoreditch London 4 1.64x
Teddington London 4 31.32x
Ware 4 35.91x
Watford 4 13.28x
Battersea 3 1.45x
Bermondsey 3 1.79x
Bramfield 3 612.24x
Campton 3 280.37x
Hammersmith London 3 2.16x
Holbeck 3 8.10x
Islington London 3 0.55x
Kings Sutton 3 127.12x
Leyton 3 15.65x
Norwich St Benedict 3 77.72x
Rushden 3 576.92x
St Woollos 3 6.59x
Tewin 3 294.12x
Aylsham 2 38.76x
Barkway 2 130.72x
Chiswick 2 6.49x
Clewer 2 11.53x
Clifford Chambers 2 270.27x
Digswell 2 454.55x
Kensington London 2 0.64x
Leighton Buzzard 2 15.92x
Linslade 2 59.88x
Newark Upon Trent 2 7.32x
Norwich St Clement 2 19.90x
Settle 2 46.73x
St Albans St Peter 2 15.26x
St Marylebone London 2 0.66x
Warwick St Nicholas 2 19.18x
Weston 2 106.95x
Woodham Walter 2 198.02x
Dedham 1 29.59x
Everton 1 0.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 29
Sarah 16
Emma 15
Eliza 12
Ann 11
Emily 11
Annie 10
Ellen 10
Alice 7
Hannah 6
Harriet 6
Maria 6
Agnes 5
Kate 5
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Anne 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Jane 3
Lydia 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Pemley 2
Priscilla 2
Rosa 2
Ruth 2
Susanah 2
Betsy 1
Emleine 1
Emmeline 1
Lavina 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 32
George 24
James 21
Thomas 18
Arthur 13
Charles 11
Henry 11
Samuel 7
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Harry 5
Walter 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Richard 4
Alfred 3
Daniel 3
Fredrick 3
Herbert 3
Levi 3
Mark 3
Albert 2
David 2
Dennis 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Horace 2
Noah 2
Stuart 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Augustas 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Edgar 1
Eskine 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Granville 1
Jim 1
Leonard 1
Nathaniel 1
Nicholas 1
Reginald 1
Reubin 1
Robt. 1
W.H. 1

FAQ

Bygrave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bygrave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 578 people were recorded with the Bygrave surname. That placed it at #6,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bygrave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 979 in 2016. That gives Bygrave a modern rank of #5,896.

What does the Bygrave surname mean?

A surname derived from a placename in Hertfordshire, England.

What does the Bygrave map show?

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