NameCensus.

UK surname

Bygraves

In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Bygraves surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 264, ranked #16,172, up from #22,745 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Biggleswade, Bedford St Paul and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Cornwall and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bygraves is 270 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 247.4%.

1881 census count

76

Ranked #22,745

Modern count

264

2016, ranked #16,172

Peak year

2010

270 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bygraves had 76 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,745 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 264 in 2016, ranked #16,172.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 134 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bygraves surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bygraves surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bygraves 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 62 #26,041
1881 historical 76 #22,745
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 134 #19,131
1997 modern 246 #15,445
1998 modern 250 #15,675
1999 modern 251 #15,751
2000 modern 245 #15,955
2001 modern 233 #16,260
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 247 #15,733
2004 modern 243 #16,004
2005 modern 242 #15,987
2006 modern 251 #15,696
2007 modern 259 #15,519
2008 modern 266 #15,384
2009 modern 266 #15,711
2010 modern 270 #15,896
2011 modern 266 #15,937
2012 modern 253 #16,377
2013 modern 255 #16,551
2014 modern 269 #16,059
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 264 #16,172

Geography

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Where Bygraves' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Biggleswade, Bedford St Paul, London parishes, Northill, Sandy and Stotfold. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Cornwall, Bedford and Huntingdonshire. 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 Bedford St Paul Bedfordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Northill, Sandy Bedfordshire
5 Stotfold Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 004 Central Bedfordshire
2 Cornwall 040 Cornwall
3 Central Bedfordshire 005 Central Bedfordshire
4 Bedford 013 Bedford
5 Huntingdonshire 021 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bygraves

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bygraves

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bygraves is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bygraves 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

Bygraves falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bygraves is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Bygraves families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bygraves 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 29 Bygraves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.57x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 29 74.57x
Surrey 24 6.56x
Middlesex 7 0.93x
Hertfordshire 6 11.59x
Gloucestershire 4 2.72x
Essex 2 1.35x
Warwickshire 2 1.06x
Durham 1 0.45x
Royal Navy 1 11.17x
Yorkshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northill in Bedfordshire leads with 12 Bygraves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Northill 12 3333.33x
Southwark St John 9 391.30x
Bedford St Paul 7 262.17x
Biggleswade 6 472.44x
Lambeth 6 9.16x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 39.71x
Shoreditch London 5 15.36x
Dymock 4 1142.86x
Sundon 4 4000.00x
Bermondsey 3 13.42x
Great Amwell 3 576.92x
Hitchin 2 85.47x
Milverton 2 357.14x
Berkhampstead 1 86.21x
Bow London 1 10.46x
Holbeck 1 20.28x
Islington London 1 1.37x
Manuden 1 526.32x
Royal Navy 1 13.07x
South Shields 1 50.25x
Woodford 1 59.52x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Charles 5
George 4
John 4
James 3
Edwd. 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Thomas 2
Arthur 1
Collin 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Richard 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 Bygraves households.

FAQ

Bygraves surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bygraves surname in 1881?

In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Bygraves surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bygraves surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 264 in 2016. That gives Bygraves a modern rank of #16,172.

What does the Bygraves map show?

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