BICE
In the 1881 Census
Top Locations
See the bottom of the page for an explanation of the numeric columns.
Counties
Census Districts
Demographics
Numbers in brackets are the total recorded in the census. Note that for less common surnames, some of these may well be typos or transcription errors. See below for some more information on occupational titles.
Top male names
- Joseph (8)
- Charles (7)
- James (5)
- Luke (5)
- John (4)
- William (4)
- Thomas (4)
- Francis (3)
- Frederick (2)
- Frank (2)
- Malachi (2)
- Zaccheus (2)
- Benjamin (2)
- Samuel (2)
- Sidney (1)
- Tom (1)
- Andrew (1)
- Wm.A. (1)
- Richd. (1)
- Richard (1)
- Percey (1)
- Malahil (1)
- Lewis (1)
- Leed (1)
- Jno.A. (1)
- Jabez (1)
- George (1)
- Edwin (1)
- Zacchus (1)
Top female names
- Elizabeth (8)
- Mary (7)
- Annie (4)
- Fanny (3)
- Emma (3)
- Eliza (3)
- Catherine (3)
- Caroline (3)
- Sarah (3)
- Clara (2)
- Matilda (2)
- Edith (2)
- Louisa (1)
- Mabel (1)
- Lilla.B. (1)
- Margaret (1)
- Kate (1)
- Tamisine (1)
- Maria (1)
- Selina (1)
- Martha (1)
- Philippa (1)
- Phillippa (1)
- Mildred (1)
- Minnie (1)
- Nanny (1)
- Nany (1)
- Jessie (1)
- Harriot (1)
- Alice (1)
- Ann (1)
- Anna (1)
- Celia (1)
- Ada.J. (1)
- Edna (1)
- Elezabeth (1)
- Elinor (1)
- Elizabth. (1)
- Elizath. (1)
- Ellen (1)
- Fannie (1)
- Florance (1)
- Frances (1)
- Gertrude (1)
- Hannah (1)
- Harriet (1)
- Adaline (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (39)
- Dressmaker (4)
- Brick Labourer (4)
- Farmers Son (3)
- Tin Miner (3)
- Mariners Daur (2)
- Cotton Piecer (2)
- Carpenter (2)
- Farmer of 300 Empy.3 Men (1)
- Farmer of 330 Acres (1)
- Farmer of 240 Ac.Employing 4 Men 2 Boys and 2 Women (1)
- Farmer Of 50 Acres (1)
- Farmers Daur (1)
- Farmer of 180 Acres Empl. 3 Men (1)
- Farmer of 120 Acres. Employing l man & 3 boys (1)
- Farmers Wife (1)
- Farming 350 Acres Employing 4 Laborers 2 Boys (1)
- Gardener (1)
- Ironstone Miner (1)
- Housekeeper (1)
- Groom (1)
- General Servant Footman (1)
- General Servant Cook (1)
- General Serv (Domestic) (1)
- General Serv (1)
- General Laborer Wife (1)
- General Laborer (1)
- Gardener (4) (1)
- Farmer Farming 144 Acres (1)
- Farm Laborer (1)
- Carpenter & Farmer Of 17 Acres Wife (1)
- Carpenter & Farmer Of 17 Acres (1)
- Annuitant (1)
- Bricklayers Labourer (1)
- Blende Miner (Other) (1)
- Basket Maker (1)
- Bankers Clerk (1)
- (A.L.) (1)
- ((Wife)) (1)
- Chemist Asst (1)
- China Clay Contracter (1)
- Engine Driver Unemployed (1)
- Engine Driver (Mine) (1)
- Comml Clk Drugs And Chemist (1)
- Domestic Servant (1)
- Cotton Mule Spinner (1)
- Cotton Creeler (1)
- Cotton Back Tenter (1)
- Coalminer Wife (1)
- Coalminer (1)
Explanation of numeric columns in the county and district tables
The Total column shows the total number of people in that county or town with this surname. For example, there were 90 people with the surname Bice in the county of Cornwall in 1881.
The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.03% of the people in Cornwall were called Bice.
The Index column shows how more or less common a surname is in a particular location compared to the population as a whole. If the index is higher than 1, then you more likely to find a person with this name here than you would in the country as a whole. And if it's less than 1, you are less likely to find someone with this surname here. For example, the Bice surname has an index of 54.34 in Cornwall, meaning that you are 54.34 times as likely to find a Bice here than you would in the population as a whole.
The Total value is an absolute figure which takes no account of the size of the county or town, so it tends to be biased towards larger towns and counties. The Frequency and Index values are relative to the local population, so they give a better idea of where a surname is most concentrated.
A note on occupational titles
Occupational titles are presented exactly as recorded on the census and later transcribed, with no attempt made to unify names that are the same. So, for example, 'Ag Lab' and 'Agricultural Labourer' will apear as separate entries, and so will any misspellings of them.
'Scholar' was the census term for any child in education. Given that families tended to be large, this means that school children, or scholars, are almost always the largest recorded occupational group for any surname. A better idea of what the family breadwinners did for a living will be found in the other job titles.