UK surname
A name derived from a heraldic device associated with a specific family or clan.
In the 1881 census there were 139 people recorded with the Badge surname, ranking it #16,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62, ranked #34,227, down from #16,228 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ealing, Chiswick, St Hilary and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Badge is 191 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 55.4%.
1881 census count
139
Ranked #16,228
Modern count
62
2016, ranked #34,227
Peak year
1861
191 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Badge surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Badge surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 114 | #15,716 |
| 1861 | historical | 191 | #12,467 |
| 1881 | historical | 139 | #16,228 |
| 1891 | historical | 167 | #17,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 152 | #17,916 |
| 1911 | historical | 148 | #18,023 |
| 1997 | modern | 74 | #30,218 |
| 1998 | modern | 81 | #29,849 |
| 1999 | modern | 76 | #30,546 |
| 2000 | modern | 69 | #31,273 |
| 2001 | modern | 66 | #31,394 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 59 | #32,787 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 63 | #32,943 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 64 | #33,402 |
| 2009 | modern | 62 | #33,832 |
| 2010 | modern | 61 | #34,143 |
| 2011 | modern | 60 | #34,202 |
| 2012 | modern | 52 | #34,709 |
| 2013 | modern | 57 | #34,538 |
| 2014 | modern | 60 | #34,400 |
| 2015 | modern | 58 | #34,470 |
| 2016 | modern | 62 | #34,227 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ealing, Chiswick, St Hilary, St Marylebone, London parishes and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | St Hilary | Cornwall |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 2 |
| 5 | Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Badge surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Badge, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Badge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Badge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Badge is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Badge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Badge, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BADGE is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "badg," which referred to a badge or emblem worn on clothing to identify a person's occupation or allegiance.
BADGE is thought to have originated in the counties of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, where some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a mention of a Richard Badg from Worcestershire, which is one of the earliest known references to the surname.
During the Middle Ages, the use of surnames was still developing, and many people were known by their occupation or a distinguishing characteristic. The surname BADGE likely referred to someone who made or wore badges, possibly a tradesman or an official of some kind.
One notable early bearer of the surname was John Badge, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Additionally, the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1332 mention a Thomas Badge, suggesting the name was present in both neighboring counties during that time period.
In the 15th century, there are records of a family named Badge residing in the village of Badgeworth, near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. This place name is believed to be derived from the surname, indicating the family's long-standing presence in the region.
Among the notable historical figures with the surname BADGE was Sir William Badge (c. 1480-1558), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. Another notable individual was John Badge (c. 1550-1612), a clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Cleveland in Yorkshire.
Other early bearers of the surname include Richard Badge (c. 1600-1675), a farmer and landowner in Warwickshire, and Thomas Badge (c. 1620-1690), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol.
The BADGE surname continues to be found throughout England, particularly in the West Midlands and South West regions, reflecting its historical origins and the migration patterns of families over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Badge surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 55 Badges recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 55 | 35.32x |
| Devon | 38 | 13.27x |
| Middlesex | 15 | 1.09x |
| Glamorgan | 9 | 3.76x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 1.98x |
| Kent | 4 | 0.85x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.15x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.22x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 4.91x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 3.64x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.24x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.22x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 2.29x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ealing in Middlesex leads with 11 Badges recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ealing | 11 | 89.50x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 11 | 49.89x |
| St Erth | 11 | 1170.21x |
| Kilkhampton | 9 | 1956.52x |
| Launcells | 7 | 2692.31x |
| St Hilary Marazion | 7 | 1666.67x |
| Gelligaer | 6 | 109.69x |
| Lifton | 6 | 869.57x |
| Milton Damerel | 5 | 2272.73x |
| Runcorn | 5 | 71.43x |
| St Hilary | 5 | 1111.11x |
| Stoke Damerel | 5 | 24.95x |
| Aston | 4 | 4.19x |
| Greenwich | 4 | 18.26x |
| Ludgvan | 4 | 322.58x |
| Black Torrington | 3 | 731.71x |
| Camborne | 3 | 46.73x |
| Llandaff | 3 | 37.64x |
| Padstow | 3 | 291.26x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 4.09x |
| St Helier | 2 | 15.07x |
| Bollin Fee | 1 | 74.07x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 1 | 3.74x |
| Croydon | 1 | 2.69x |
| Dewsbury | 1 | 7.15x |
| East Stonehouse | 1 | 17.73x |
| Govan | 1 | 0.91x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 3.05x |
| Kelly | 1 | 909.09x |
| Llanthetty | 1 | 416.67x |
| Milton Abbott | 1 | 243.90x |
| Northlew | 1 | 277.78x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 1.98x |
| Pancrasweek | 1 | 666.67x |
| Pembroke St Mary | 1 | 17.76x |
| Perranuthnoe | 1 | 238.10x |
| Phillack | 1 | 49.75x |
| South Shields | 1 | 27.47x |
| St Austell | 1 | 18.80x |
| St Breock | 1 | 119.05x |
| St Mary Magdalene | 1 | 87.72x |
| St Stephen | 1 | 181.82x |
| Stowford | 1 | 555.56x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 8.26x |
| Werrington | 1 | 322.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Badge surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Mary | 6 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Laura | 2 |
| Priscilla | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Arabella | 1 |
| Bithiah | 1 |
| Blanche | 1 |
| Charity | 1 |
| Deures | 1 |
| Dewand | 1 |
| Dewence | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Fanney | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Henry | 1 |
| Janie | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lavina | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| M.A. | 1 |
| Malinda | 1 |
| Margarett | 1 |
| Margarey | 1 |
| Margery | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Nanny | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Rhoda | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Rosina | 1 |
| Stella | 1 |
| Tresia | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Badge surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Badge households.
FAQ
In 1881, 139 people were recorded with the Badge surname. That placed it at #16,228 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 62 in 2016. That gives Badge a modern rank of #34,227.
A name derived from a heraldic device associated with a specific family or clan.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Badge bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.