NameCensus.

UK surname

Babb

A surname of English origin, derived from a nickname meaning "baby" or "young child."

In the 1881 census there were 810 people recorded with the Babb surname, ranking it #4,611 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,098, ranked #5,347, down from #4,611 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, Stafford and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Babb is 1,226 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.6%.

1881 census count

810

Ranked #4,611

Modern count

1,098

2016, ranked #5,347

Peak year

1998

1,226 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Babb had 810 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,611 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,098 in 2016, ranked #5,347.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,009 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Babb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Babb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Babb 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 626 #4,140
1861 historical 533 #4,927
1881 historical 810 #4,611
1891 historical 865 #4,746
1901 historical 965 #4,874
1911 historical 1,009 #4,510
1997 modern 1,159 #4,859
1998 modern 1,226 #4,792
1999 modern 1,201 #4,930
2000 modern 1,203 #4,894
2001 modern 1,173 #4,912
2002 modern 1,181 #4,967
2003 modern 1,152 #4,985
2004 modern 1,158 #4,967
2005 modern 1,111 #5,095
2006 modern 1,107 #5,113
2007 modern 1,106 #5,163
2008 modern 1,143 #5,047
2009 modern 1,162 #5,086
2010 modern 1,156 #5,216
2011 modern 1,138 #5,227
2012 modern 1,083 #5,358
2013 modern 1,110 #5,333
2014 modern 1,117 #5,325
2015 modern 1,101 #5,345
2016 modern 1,098 #5,347

Geography

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Where Babbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), London parishes and St Dominick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, Stafford and Walsall. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Dominick Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 003 Kettering
2 Stafford 015 Stafford
3 Stafford 003 Stafford
4 Walsall 025 Walsall
5 Stafford 004 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Babb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Babb

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Babb 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

Babb 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

Babb 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 Babb is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Babb

The surname BABB has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "babba," meaning "father" or "ancestor." It was initially used as a nickname or patronymic, referring to the son or descendant of someone with that name.

The earliest recorded instances of the BABB surname can be found in various medieval records, including the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1194, where a certain William Babb is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, compiled in 1279, also feature an entry for a man named John Babb.

In the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their properties conducted in 1086 under the orders of William the Conquer, there are no direct mentions of the BABB surname. However, there are references to places with similar names, such as Babbingley in Norfolk, which may have contributed to the formation of the surname.

One of the earliest prominent individuals with the BABB surname was Sir John Babb (1470-1545), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Somerset, England. He served as Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1520 and played a significant role in the local community.

Another notable figure was Captain Thomas Babb (1617-1689), an English navigator and explorer who sailed to the West Indies and the Americas in the 17th century. He is credited with charting several islands and coastal regions in the Caribbean.

In the literary world, the poet and playwright Richard Babb (1763-1818) gained recognition for his works, including the play "The Bride of Abydos" and the poem "The Minstrel's Curse."

Moving into the 19th century, Mary Babb (1808-1892) was an influential educator and philanthropist from West Virginia. She founded the Woodburn Female Seminary, one of the earliest institutions of higher education for women in the region.

Lastly, Sir Walter Babb (1885-1962), a British civil engineer and public servant, made significant contributions to the development of infrastructure in India and other parts of the British Empire during the early 20th century.

Overall, the BABB surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with roots in England and a diverse array of notable individuals who have carried the name throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Babb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Babb 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. Devon leads with 156 Babbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.45x.

County Total Index
Devon 156 9.45x
Somerset 110 8.62x
Staffordshire 109 4.07x
Middlesex 93 1.17x
Cornwall 76 8.46x
Warwickshire 44 2.20x
Gloucestershire 36 2.31x
Lancashire 30 0.32x
Yorkshire 28 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 27 5.63x
Surrey 18 0.47x
Kent 15 0.55x
Glamorgan 12 0.87x
Hampshire 8 0.49x
Dorset 7 1.34x
Cheshire 6 0.34x
Monmouthshire 6 1.05x
Lincolnshire 5 0.39x
Sussex 5 0.37x
Durham 4 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.37x
Derbyshire 3 0.24x
Dumfriesshire 3 1.71x
Flintshire 3 1.41x
Royal Navy 2 2.12x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.31x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Shropshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 28 Babbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.23x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 28 24.23x
Birmingham 25 3.75x
Willenhall 21 41.88x
Bideford 19 107.47x
Plymouth St Andrew 19 14.94x
St Dominick 17 755.56x
Aston 16 2.91x
Hammersmith London 14 7.17x
Stone 13 37.97x
Wolverhampton 13 6.32x
Kilve 11 1833.33x
Kingston 11 428.02x
Leeds 11 2.48x
Marhamchurch 11 753.42x
Otterford 11 1000.00x
Taunton St Mary 11 46.95x
Tywardreath 11 190.64x
Wiveliscombe 11 154.49x
Great Missenden 10 169.20x
Clovelly 9 418.60x
Great Torrington 9 96.15x
Horton In Bradford 9 7.33x
North Hill 9 312.50x
St Ive 9 156.25x
Tipton 9 10.98x
Wycombe 9 25.18x
Alton 8 277.78x
Barnstaple 8 30.88x
Bedminster 8 6.67x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 15.43x
Culmstock 8 341.88x
Halton 8 1509.43x
Stockland Bristol 8 1538.46x
Westminster St John 8 8.28x
Williton 8 186.92x
Everton 7 2.33x
Hemyock 7 284.55x
Shoreditch London 7 2.04x
Stapleton 7 23.72x
Walsall Foreign 7 5.06x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.74x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 4.10x
Chew Magna 6 134.23x
Lower Llanvrechva 6 106.57x
Paddington London 6 2.06x
Plymouth Charles The 6 8.25x
Rushall 6 38.10x
Salford 6 2.17x
St Andrew Holborn London 6 17.47x
St George Hanover Square 6 4.29x
St Pancras London 6 0.94x
Standish With Langtree 6 51.77x
Bingley 5 9.99x
Bishops Nympton 5 158.73x
Burton Upon Trent 5 7.98x
Calstock 5 28.39x
Islington London 5 0.65x
Minster In Sheppey 5 11.15x
Shadwell London 5 22.53x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.13x
St Martin In Fields 5 10.53x
St Marylebone London 5 1.18x
Wilton 5 150.60x
Battersea 4 1.37x
Brighton 4 1.48x
Bristol St George 4 5.56x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 4 28.23x
Brixham 4 20.91x
Camberwell 4 0.79x
Devonport 4 21.09x
Dulverton 4 106.95x
Gateshead 4 2.26x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.45x
Portsea 4 1.26x
St Clement Danes London 4 24.38x
Stroud 4 13.21x
Tranmere 4 6.22x
Uttoxeter 4 29.20x
Walsall Borough 4 19.25x
Wootton Fitzpaine 4 655.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 60
John 54
Thomas 29
James 24
George 23
Charles 22
Henry 17
Alfred 13
Walter 12
Joseph 11
Samuel 10
Frederick 9
Arthur 7
Ernest 7
Richard 6
Benjamin 5
Edward 5
Francis 5
Frank 5
Abel 4
Edwin 4
Jeffery 4
Robert 4
Harry 3
Malcolm 3
Albert 2
Earnest 2
Edmund 2
Enoch 2
Herbert 2
Israel 2
Joel 2
Mark 2
David 1
Edgar 1
Fdk. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk 1
Herman 1
Jeoffry 1
Job 1
Jonah 1
Jos.Lucas 1
Leonard 1
Moses 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Babb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Babb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 810 people were recorded with the Babb surname. That placed it at #4,611 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Babb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,098 in 2016. That gives Babb a modern rank of #5,347.

What does the Babb surname mean?

A surname of English origin, derived from a nickname meaning "baby" or "young child."

What does the Babb map show?

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