NameCensus.

UK surname

Baba

A Muslim honorific title given to respected religious leaders or holy men.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Baba surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 286, ranked #15,240, up from #33,498 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baba is 286 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9433.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

286

2016, ranked #15,240

Peak year

2016

286 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baba had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016, ranked #15,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Baba surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baba surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Baba 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 10 #33,026
1911 historical 16 #31,804
1997 modern 76 #29,997
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 91 #28,937
2000 modern 85 #29,598
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 86 #29,752
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 136 #24,485
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 213 #18,422
2013 modern 228 #17,864
2014 modern 245 #17,140
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 286 #15,240

Geography

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Where Babas 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, Wandsworth, Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea and Lewisham. 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 023 Brent
2 Wandsworth 037 Wandsworth
3 Greenwich 021 Greenwich
4 Kensington and Chelsea 001 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Lewisham 033 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Baba

These lists show first names that appear often with the Baba 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 Baba

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

Baba 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

Baba falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Baba 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 Baba, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Baba

The surname BABA is believed to have originated from Romania, where it is considered to be an occupational name derived from the Romanian word "babă," meaning "old woman" or "midwife." This name likely emerged during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 14th or 15th century.

In its earliest usage, the name BABA may have referred to individuals who worked as midwives or nurses, or perhaps to those who were associated with caring for the elderly. Over time, it transitioned into a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

Among the earliest recorded instances of the BABA surname is its appearance in a 16th-century document from the Principality of Wallachia, which was a historical Romanian state located in present-day southern Romania. This document mentions a certain "Ioan BABA," though little is known about this individual's specific role or background.

Another notable early bearer of the BABA surname was Mihai BABA, a Romanian nobleman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a high-ranking official in the court of Mihai Viteazul, the Prince of Wallachia, and played a significant role in the political affairs of the region during that turbulent period.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Ienăchiță BABA made a name for himself as a successful merchant and philanthropist in the city of Bucharest. He was known for his charitable contributions, particularly in supporting the construction and maintenance of churches and monasteries.

Moving into the 19th century, the BABA surname gained further recognition with the birth of Gheorghe BABA in 1828. He was a renowned Romanian poet and writer, celebrated for his contributions to the development of modern Romanian literature. His works often explored themes of nationalism and the rural life of his homeland.

Another notable bearer of the BABA surname was Nicolae BABA, a Romanian military officer and politician who lived from 1843 to 1919. He played a significant role in the Romanian War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire and later served as a member of the Romanian Parliament.

While the BABA surname originated in Romania and has deep roots in that region, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its earliest and most significant historical associations remain firmly rooted in Romanian history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Baba families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baba 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. Lanarkshire leads with 1 Babas recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.96x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1 7.96x
Middlesex 1 2.57x
Royal Navy 1 217.39x
Surrey 1 5.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan Church in Lanarkshire leads with 1 Babas recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Govan Church 1 0.00x
Lambeth 1 29.50x
St Marylebone London 1 48.31x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 1
Herbert 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 Baba households.

FAQ

Baba surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baba surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Baba surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baba surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016. That gives Baba a modern rank of #15,240.

What does the Baba surname mean?

A Muslim honorific title given to respected religious leaders or holy men.

What does the Baba map show?

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