UK surname
A surname likely derived from the Arabic word "badi" meaning desert dweller.
In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Bady surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #30,872 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Wandsworth and Poulton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bady is 133 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.8%.
1881 census count
19
Ranked #30,872
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
133 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bady surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bady surname density by area, 1861 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 | 34 | #27,194 |
| 1861 | historical | 133 | #16,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 19 | #30,872 |
| 1891 | historical | 24 | #32,320 |
| 1901 | historical | 10 | #33,026 |
| 1911 | historical | 3 | #33,789 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Wandsworth, Poulton, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Almondbury. 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 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Wandsworth | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Poulton | Lancashire |
| 4 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bady 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 Bady, 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 Bady surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bady 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, Bady 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 Bady is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bady, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BADY is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bæddel," which referred to a messenger or herald. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Robert Bady, a landowner in Wiltshire, England, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. Another early record is that of John Bady, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.
Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Baddy, Badie, and Badye. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name in official documents.
In the 15th century, the name appeared in the form of "Badye" in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family, who were prominent landowners and noblemen in Norfolk, England. This suggests that the BADY surname had gained some recognition among the gentry during that period.
One notable figure bearing the BADY surname was William Bady (c. 1530-1592), an English Protestant reformer and clergyman who served as a chaplain to Archbishop Matthew Parker. He was known for his involvement in the translation of the Bishops' Bible, one of the earliest English translations of the Bible.
Another individual of note was John Bady (1615-1683), a English barrister and legal writer who authored several treatises on English law. His works, such as "An Introduction to the Knowledge of the Laws and Government of England," were widely influential in legal circles during the 17th century.
In the 18th century, the BADY surname was associated with the Bady family of Gloucestershire, England. This family produced several notable figures, including Thomas Bady (1720-1784), a wealthy merchant and landowner, and his son, Robert Bady (1752-1823), who served as a member of parliament for Northampton.
The surname BADY has also been found in various other parts of England, as well as in Wales and Scotland, suggesting that it may have had multiple points of origin or that individuals bearing the name migrated to different regions over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bady 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. Surrey leads with 7 Badys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 7 | 7.76x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 3.24x |
| Durham | 1 | 1.81x |
| Fife | 1 | 9.12x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 4.03x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 23.58x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 3.63x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wandsworth in Surrey leads with 7 Badys recorded in 1881 and an index of 393.26x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wandsworth | 7 | 393.26x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 40.44x |
| St George Hanover Square | 2 | 61.35x |
| Burntisland | 1 | 322.58x |
| Edinburgh Tolbooth | 1 | 714.29x |
| Gateshead | 1 | 24.21x |
| Nether Hallam | 1 | 40.32x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 69.93x |
| Pool | 1 | 312.50x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bady surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bady 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 Bady households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Servant (Dom) | 2 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| General Smith & Gasfitter | 1 |
| Grinder (Cutler) | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Servant Gentlemans | 1 |
| Umberla Maker | 1 |
| Watchmaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Bady surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Bady a modern rank of #37,385.
A surname likely derived from the Arabic word "badi" meaning desert dweller.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bady 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.