NameCensus.

UK surname

Baber

An English occupational surname referring to a barber or a person who shaves and trims hair.

In the 1881 census there were 610 people recorded with the Baber surname, ranking it #5,754 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,336, ranked #4,507, up from #5,754 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Batcombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Forest of Dean and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baber is 1,370 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 119.0%.

1881 census count

610

Ranked #5,754

Modern count

1,336

2016, ranked #4,507

Peak year

2012

1,370 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baber had 610 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,754 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,336 in 2016, ranked #4,507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 998 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Baber surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baber surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Baber 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 439 #5,600
1861 historical 508 #5,149
1881 historical 610 #5,754
1891 historical 822 #4,932
1901 historical 894 #5,174
1911 historical 998 #4,553
1997 modern 1,244 #4,574
1998 modern 1,291 #4,607
1999 modern 1,306 #4,583
2000 modern 1,329 #4,482
2001 modern 1,274 #4,565
2002 modern 1,326 #4,491
2003 modern 1,295 #4,503
2004 modern 1,311 #4,452
2005 modern 1,281 #4,490
2006 modern 1,273 #4,531
2007 modern 1,293 #4,505
2008 modern 1,302 #4,504
2009 modern 1,324 #4,533
2010 modern 1,342 #4,566
2011 modern 1,351 #4,489
2012 modern 1,370 #4,383
2013 modern 1,364 #4,464
2014 modern 1,369 #4,476
2015 modern 1,367 #4,434
2016 modern 1,336 #4,507

Geography

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Where Babers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Batcombe and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Forest of Dean and Mendip. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 Batcombe Somerset
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 020 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Bath and North East Somerset 026 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Forest of Dean 005 Forest of Dean
4 Mendip 006 Mendip
5 Mendip 010 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Baber

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Baber

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Baber is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Baber 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

Baber falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Baber is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Baber

The surname Baber has its origins in India, where it is believed to have first emerged during the 16th century. It is derived from the Persian word "babur," which translates to "tiger" or "panther." This surname is closely associated with the Mughal Empire and its founder, Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur.

Babur, who lived from 1483 to 1530, was a direct descendant of Timur (also known as Tamerlane) and the first Mughal emperor of India. He left a detailed memoir, the Baburnama, which provides valuable insights into his life and the early years of the Mughal dynasty.

The surname Baber can be traced back to the Timurid dynasty, which ruled parts of Central Asia and Persia from the 14th to the 16th century. It is believed that some members of this dynasty adopted the surname Baber as a reference to their illustrious ancestor, Babur.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Baber can be found in the Akbarnama, a historical work written in the 16th century that chronicles the life and reign of Akbar, the third Mughal emperor and the son of Humayun. The Akbarnama mentions several individuals with the surname Baber who served in the Mughal court or held important positions during Akbar's reign.

Another notable figure with the surname Baber was Noor Jehan Begum, also known as Nur Jahan, who lived from 1577 to 1645. She was the wife of Jahangir, the fourth Mughal emperor, and is renowned for her intelligence, beauty, and political influence during her husband's reign.

In later centuries, the surname Baber continued to be associated with individuals of notable standing in various fields. For example, Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, one of the most celebrated poets of the Urdu language, was born in 1797 to a family with the surname Baber.

Additionally, Sir David Baber, born in 1775, was a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Bombay from 1827 to 1832. He played a significant role in the expansion of British influence in India during the early 19th century.

While the surname Baber has its roots in India and Central Asia, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Baber families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baber 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. Gloucestershire leads with 146 Babers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.43x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 146 12.43x
Somerset 135 14.00x
Middlesex 110 1.84x
Surrey 60 2.06x
Lancashire 30 0.42x
Monmouthshire 21 4.85x
Wiltshire 14 2.64x
Sussex 12 1.19x
Hampshire 11 0.90x
Cornwall 10 1.47x
Kent 10 0.49x
Carmarthenshire 8 3.17x
Derbyshire 7 0.75x
Devon 7 0.56x
Hertfordshire 7 1.70x
Yorkshire 5 0.08x
Channel Islands 4 2.25x
Cumberland 4 0.78x
Essex 4 0.34x
Glamorgan 3 0.29x
Berkshire 2 0.44x
Dorset 1 0.25x
Durham 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 51 Babers recorded in 1881 and an index of 93.87x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 51 93.87x
Batcombe 28 2204.72x
Mangotsfield 21 179.33x
Bedminster 20 22.08x
Kensington London 17 5.11x
St Pancras London 17 3.53x
Croydon 16 9.88x
Hammersmith London 13 8.81x
Stapleton 13 58.35x
Trevethin 12 29.35x
Willesden 12 21.25x
Clifton 11 18.52x
Portsea 11 4.57x
Battersea 10 4.54x
Bitton 10 97.85x
Camberwell 10 2.61x
Aberystruth 9 23.58x
Little Bolton 9 9.85x
Queen Charlton 9 3750.00x
Southill 9 865.38x
Burrington 8 860.22x
Hutton 8 1126.76x
Mile End Old Town London 8 6.28x
Publow 8 727.27x
Timsbury 8 273.97x
Winterbourne 8 123.27x
Heap 7 18.57x
Islington London 7 1.21x
Kingston On Thames 7 9.99x
Llanedy 7 147.37x
Tansley 7 503.60x
Trowbridge 7 29.90x
Yatton 7 186.67x
Barnes 6 48.62x
Eastbourne 6 12.91x
Hackney London 6 1.79x
Newington 6 2.71x
Shenley 6 220.59x
Siston 6 285.71x
Brighton 5 2.45x
Bromley London 5 3.79x
Chew Magna 5 147.93x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.54x
East Harptree 5 370.37x
Frome 5 21.68x
Little Lever 5 55.01x
Speldhurst 5 48.08x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.54x
Bitton Oldland 4 33.31x
Bristol St Paul In 4 12.78x
Caldewgate 4 14.16x
Sheffield 4 2.12x
St Peter Port 4 12.18x
Stoke Damerel 4 4.58x
Tottenham 4 4.19x
West Harptree 4 416.67x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 2.71x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.90x
Hulme 3 2.02x
Litton 3 681.82x
Lytham 3 27.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 3.12x
Ramsbury 3 62.50x
St Giles Cripplegate 3 37.74x
Westbury On Trym 3 7.54x
Awre 2 82.64x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 5.11x
Clevedon 2 19.94x
Lambeth 2 0.38x
Llandaff 2 5.76x
Navestock 2 116.96x
North Bradley 2 51.68x
Norton St Philip 2 190.48x
Paddington London 2 0.91x
Penge 2 5.23x
Reading St Lawrence 2 20.79x
Stapleford Abbots 2 198.02x
Stoke Gifford 2 281.69x
Walcot 2 3.89x
Weston Super Mare 2 8.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 31
Henry 27
George 25
John 24
Charles 16
Albert 13
Alfred 13
Edward 12
James 10
Frederick 9
Samuel 9
Joseph 8
Robert 7
Walter 7
Francis 6
Thomas 6
Arthur 5
Harry 5
Ernest 4
Richard 4
Benjamin 3
Edgar 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Alexander 2
C. 2
Clement 2
Edmund 2
Gilbert 2
Nathaniel 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Bertie 1
Daniel 1
Esan 1
Escombe 1
Eustace 1
Fred 1
Fredk 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Gabriel 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Johnson 1
Jonah 1
Joshua 1
Matthew 1
Medorn 1
Oliver 1
Zenas 1

FAQ

Baber surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baber surname in 1881?

In 1881, 610 people were recorded with the Baber surname. That placed it at #5,754 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baber surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,336 in 2016. That gives Baber a modern rank of #4,507.

What does the Baber surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a barber or a person who shaves and trims hair.

What does the Baber map show?

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