NameCensus.

UK surname

Babington

A locational surname derived from a place name, likely related to the village of Babington in Somersetshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 295 people recorded with the Babington surname, ranking it #9,842 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 438, ranked #11,028, down from #9,842 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, High Peak and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Babington is 454 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.5%.

1881 census count

295

Ranked #9,842

Modern count

438

2016, ranked #11,028

Peak year

2002

454 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Babington had 295 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,842 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016, ranked #11,028.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 394 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Babington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Babington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Babington 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 202 #10,323
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 295 #9,842
1891 historical 332 #10,251
1901 historical 361 #10,196
1911 historical 394 #9,394
1997 modern 416 #10,696
1998 modern 422 #10,928
1999 modern 443 #10,577
2000 modern 452 #10,394
2001 modern 450 #10,226
2002 modern 454 #10,367
2003 modern 428 #10,709
2004 modern 411 #11,053
2005 modern 418 #10,812
2006 modern 434 #10,543
2007 modern 435 #10,613
2008 modern 436 #10,710
2009 modern 439 #10,911
2010 modern 443 #11,046
2011 modern 426 #11,267
2012 modern 427 #11,120
2013 modern 443 #10,968
2014 modern 449 #10,926
2015 modern 439 #11,035
2016 modern 438 #11,028

Geography

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Where Babingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and St John Horsleydown. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, High Peak, Isle of Wight and Aylesbury Vale. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 St John Horsleydown London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 057 Leeds
2 High Peak 010 High Peak
3 Isle of Wight 017 Isle of Wight
4 Leeds 100 Leeds
5 Aylesbury Vale 023 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Babington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Babington

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Babington is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Babington 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

Babington 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 Babington 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 Babington, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Babington

The surname Babington has its origins in England, emerging in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bæbing" and "tun," meaning "Bæbing's estate or settlement." Bæbing was a personal name during that era.

Early records show the name was concentrated in the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The Babington family is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners and their estates after the Norman Conquest. The name appears as "Babintone" in this historical document.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Sir John Babington, who lived in the 13th century. He was a knight and landowner in Derbyshire. Another notable figure was Anthony Babington (c. 1561-1586), an English gentleman who conspired against Queen Elizabeth I and was executed for his involvement in the Babington Plot to assassinate the monarch.

The surname Babington has been associated with various place names over time. For instance, there are villages called Babington in Somerset and Cambridgeshire, which may have derived their names from individuals bearing this surname.

Other historical figures with the Babington surname include Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859), a British historian and Whig politician, and Gervase Babington (1550-1610), an English botanist and one of the founding fellows of the Royal College of Physicians.

Another notable individual was Reverend Churchill Babington (1821-1889), an English naturalist and archaeologist. He made significant contributions to the study of British flora and served as a professor at the University of Cambridge.

While the surname Babington originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and ancestry. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval English settlements and the Old English language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Babington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Babington 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. Surrey leads with 56 Babingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.

County Total Index
Surrey 56 3.99x
Lincolnshire 34 7.39x
Warwickshire 31 4.27x
Lancashire 28 0.82x
Cheshire 23 3.62x
Middlesex 20 0.70x
Ayrshire 18 8.36x
Sussex 14 2.89x
Gloucestershire 9 1.59x
Staffordshire 7 0.72x
Yorkshire 7 0.25x
Fife 6 3.52x
Kent 5 0.51x
Lanarkshire 5 0.54x
Wiltshire 5 1.96x
Durham 4 0.47x
Hampshire 4 0.68x
Suffolk 4 1.14x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.10x
Dorset 2 1.06x
Leicestershire 2 0.63x
Norfolk 2 0.45x
Devon 1 0.17x
Glamorgan 1 0.20x
Herefordshire 1 0.85x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 2.40x
Midlothian 1 0.26x
Perthshire 1 0.77x
Rutland 1 4.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 22 Babingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.01x.

Place Total Index
Aston 22 11.01x
Southwark St John 22 250.00x
Lambeth 13 5.18x
Camberwell 12 6.53x
Louth 11 104.36x
Birmingham 9 3.72x
Coningsby 9 681.82x
Kilwinning 9 129.50x
Altrincham 8 72.07x
Coylton 8 261.44x
Cheltenham 7 16.08x
Eastbourne 7 31.35x
West Bromwich 7 12.59x
Eastham 6 705.88x
Kilconquhar 6 295.57x
Manchester 6 3.91x
Over Darwen 6 22.00x
Ardwick 5 16.23x
Benniworth 5 1315.79x
East Grinstead 5 72.78x
Monks Coppenhall 5 20.86x
Mortlake 5 80.00x
Westwood 5 943.40x
Govan 4 1.74x
North Kyme 4 579.71x
Tonbridge 4 11.30x
Tottenham 4 8.73x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 11.67x
Clerkenwell London 3 4.42x
Higher Bebington 3 73.71x
Holy Trinity 3 4.37x
Hulme 3 4.21x
Paddington London 3 2.84x
Portsea 3 2.60x
Stranton 3 10.41x
Acton 2 11.86x
Ashby De La Zouch 2 27.03x
Brighton 2 2.04x
Bristol St Michael 2 41.32x
Cockfield 2 217.39x
Halesworth 2 80.32x
Little Hulton 2 35.40x
Newington 2 1.88x
Soothill 2 19.42x
St Andrewthe Less 2 9.61x
St Pancras London 2 0.86x
Weymouth 2 55.87x
Wimbotsham 2 357.14x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 3.77x
Ayr 1 9.84x
Barony 1 0.42x
Battersea 1 0.94x
Bishop Auckland 1 8.70x
Chelsea London 1 1.15x
Chester St Martin 1 99.01x
Colemore 1 1000.00x
Dawlish 1 22.37x
East Barkwith 1 303.03x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 12.50x
Farforth Cum Maidenwell 1 714.29x
Fulham London 1 2.40x
Gate Fulford 1 15.02x
Horncastle 1 21.05x
Kew 1 123.46x
Kirkbean 1 125.00x
Market Rasen 1 38.91x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 2.08x
Monzie 1 135.14x
Newton 1 3.80x
Spalding 1 10.95x
St Anne Soho London 1 6.09x
St George Botolph Lane 1 1111.11x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.97x
St Giles In Fields London 1 7.08x
Stauntonon Arrow 1 294.12x
Stretford 1 5.32x
Stretton 1 500.00x
Urmston 1 45.05x
Woolwich 1 2.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 6
Annie 5
Emily 5
Hannah 5
Alice 4
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Amy 3
Anna 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Nellie 3
Ann 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Isabel 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Katherine 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Theresa 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Arabella 1
Betsy 1
C.M. 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.R. 1
Ella 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Isabella 1
J. 1
J.E. 1
Johanna 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
William 13
Thomas 12
Charles 6
James 5
Arthur 4
Fred 4
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
George 3
Joseph 3
Christopher 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Basil 1
Benjamin 1
Chamberlin 1
Chas. 1
Churchill 1
Cyril 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Eustace 1
Festus 1
Frederick 1
Geoe 1
Gerard 1
H.C. 1
Hame 1
Israel 1
J. 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Moses 1
Nelson 1
Redmond 1
Reginald 1
Stanley 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
W. 1
W.H. 1
Will 1
Will. 1
Wm.Piele 1

FAQ

Babington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Babington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 295 people were recorded with the Babington surname. That placed it at #9,842 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Babington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016. That gives Babington a modern rank of #11,028.

What does the Babington surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name, likely related to the village of Babington in Somersetshire, England.

What does the Babington map show?

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