NameCensus.

UK surname

Babey

A surname derived from the French "bébé" meaning baby or infant.

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Babey surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 135, ranked #25,505, down from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bramshaw, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, New Forest and Test Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Babey is 171 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.7%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

2005

171 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Babey had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Babey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Babey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Babey 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 78 #27,035
1901 historical 85 #24,636
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 156 #20,593
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 147 #22,110
2000 modern 150 #21,781
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 157 #21,261
2003 modern 163 #20,554
2004 modern 170 #20,146
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 165 #20,893
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 157 #22,271
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 145 #23,837
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 137 #25,345
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Babeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bramshaw, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, New Forest and Test Valley. 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 Bramshaw Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 062 Wiltshire
2 New Forest 004 New Forest
3 Test Valley 013 Test Valley
4 New Forest 003 New Forest
5 Test Valley 010 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Babey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Babey

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Babey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Babey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Babey is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Babey is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Babey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Babey

The surname BABEY has its origins in France, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "babein," meaning "to babble" or "to chatter," possibly referring to someone with a talkative nature or profession as a storyteller.

One of the earliest mentions of the BABEY name can be found in the Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, a medieval manuscript from the 12th century that records the names of individuals associated with the Saint-Père Abbey in Chartres, France. In this document, a certain "Robertus Babey" is listed as a witness to a land transaction.

During the Middle Ages, the BABEY name was most prevalent in the regions of Normandy and Picardy in northern France. The name can be found in various forms, including Babée, Babey, and Babeye, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named Jean Babey was recorded as a member of the clergy in the city of Rouen, Normandy. He is mentioned in the Livre des sentences de l'official de Rouen, a legal record of the time, for his involvement in a dispute over church property.

Another notable individual bearing the BABEY surname was Nicolas Babey, a French sculptor and architect who lived in the 16th century. He is best known for his work on the Château de Chambord, a renowned Renaissance château in the Loire Valley, where he contributed to the design and construction of the intricate stone carvings and decorative elements.

In the 17th century, the BABEY name gained prominence in the arts and literature. Jacques Babey (1594-1667) was a French poet and translator who published several works, including translations of ancient Greek and Latin texts. His contemporary, Pierre Babey (1610-1672), was a renowned painter and portraitist who worked for the French court and aristocracy.

As the centuries passed, the BABEY name continued to be carried by individuals in various fields, including academics, military officers, and business leaders. For instance, Édouard Babey (1821-1896) was a French historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of Burgundy, while Léon Babey (1856-1935) was a highly decorated French military officer who served in the Franco-Prussian War and World War I.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Babey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Babey 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. Hampshire leads with 38 Babeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.66x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 38 20.66x
Middlesex 30 3.34x
Wiltshire 13 16.38x
Durham 6 2.25x
Somerset 4 2.77x
Worcestershire 1 0.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bramshaw in Hampshire leads with 31 Babeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13478.26x.

Place Total Index
Bramshaw 31 13478.26x
Westminster St John 14 128.09x
Calne 8 490.80x
Islington London 8 9.20x
Escomb 6 487.80x
Poplar London 6 35.42x
Eling 5 268.82x
Downton 4 384.62x
Litton 3 4285.71x
Chelsea London 2 7.40x
Bathwick 1 62.50x
Dinton 1 714.29x
Elvetham 1 714.29x
Minstead 1 384.62x
Worcester St Peter 1 45.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Mary 4
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Cathrean 1
E.A. 1
Eleanor 1
Emelie 1
Emma 1
Felicia 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Hursly 1
Lavinia 1
Lillias 1
Margaret 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Susannah 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 7
William 6
John 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Charles 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
James 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Dan 1
Edward 1
Elliott 1
Ely 1
Fred 1
Fredick. 1
Henry 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Walter 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 Babey households.

FAQ

Babey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Babey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Babey surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Babey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Babey a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Babey surname mean?

A surname derived from the French "bébé" meaning baby or infant.

What does the Babey map show?

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