NameCensus.

UK surname

Ba

A Vietnamese surname of unknown meaning, possibly derived from a place name or other unknown origin.

In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Ba surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 194, ranked #19,976, up from #26,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Birmingham and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ba is 194 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 280.4%.

1881 census count

51

Ranked #26,428

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

2016

194 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ba had 51 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 51 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ba surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ba surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ba 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 1 #33,412
1881 historical 51 #26,428
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 15 #36,409
1998 modern 8 #37,334
1999 modern 10 #37,072
2000 modern 16 #36,316
2001 modern 14 #36,372
2002 modern 18 #36,067
2003 modern 16 #36,304
2004 modern 25 #35,610
2005 modern 37 #34,815
2006 modern 38 #35,003
2007 modern 56 #33,875
2008 modern 59 #33,827
2009 modern 59 #34,072
2010 modern 67 #33,713
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 138 #25,218
2015 modern 156 #23,106
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Bas 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 Brent, Birmingham, Hackney and Haringey. 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 Brent 021 Brent
2 Birmingham 097 Birmingham
3 Brent 027 Brent
4 Hackney 012 Hackney
5 Haringey 006 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ba

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ba

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Ba surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ba 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Ba is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Ba 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

Ba falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ba 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Ba

The surname "Ba" is believed to have originated in China, with its roots dating back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Old Chinese word "bā," which means "prosperous" or "flourishing." This name was initially associated with families from the Guangdong and Fujian provinces in southern China.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the name "Ba" appeared in various official records and manuscripts, indicating its presence among the upper echelons of society. One notable mention is found in the "Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government," a historical text compiled during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).

The earliest recorded individual bearing the surname "Ba" was Bā Jìngyán, a renowned Confucian scholar and poet who lived from 767 to 830 AD. He was known for his contributions to the literary and philosophical circles of his time.

In the 13th century, the name "Ba" was associated with the town of Bāzhōu, located in present-day Sichuan province. This place name likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.

Throughout Chinese history, several prominent figures have carried the surname "Ba." One such individual was Bā Jīn (1904-2005), a celebrated writer and playwright who is considered one of the foremost authors of the 20th century in China.

Another notable bearer of the name was Bā Rénxǐng (1720-1797), a revered Qing Dynasty scholar and artist renowned for his expertise in calligraphy, poetry, and painting.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the name "Ba" was also associated with the town of Bāzhōuchéng in Hebei province. This place name was sometimes used as a surname by locals, leading to variations like "Bazhou" and "Bazhoucheng."

The name "Ba" has also been recorded in other parts of Asia, such as Vietnam, where it is sometimes spelled as "Bà" or "Bạ." In Vietnam, the name is believed to have originated from Chinese immigrants who settled in the country during various periods throughout history.

While the surname "Ba" is not as common as some other Chinese surnames, it has a rich historical legacy and has been carried by numerous notable individuals over the centuries, contributing to the cultural and intellectual fabric of China and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ba families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ba 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. Yorkshire leads with 7 Bas recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.06x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 7 8.06x
Northumberland 1 7.67x
Nottinghamshire 1 8.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Buckton in Yorkshire leads with 7 Bas recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Buckton 7 0.00x
Hexham 1 500.00x
Nottingham St Mary 1 32.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Hannah 1
Isabel 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
George 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 Ba households.

FAQ

Ba surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ba surname in 1881?

In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Ba surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ba surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Ba a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Ba surname mean?

A Vietnamese surname of unknown meaning, possibly derived from a place name or other unknown origin.

What does the Ba map show?

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