NameCensus.

UK surname

Bagg

A habitational surname derived from an English place name referring to a small hill or mound.

In the 1881 census there were 517 people recorded with the Bagg surname, ranking it #6,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 381, ranked #12,317, down from #6,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winsham , Cricket St Thomas, London parishes and Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Fenland and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bagg is 571 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.3%.

1881 census count

517

Ranked #6,593

Modern count

381

2016, ranked #12,317

Peak year

1911

571 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bagg had 517 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016, ranked #12,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 571 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bagg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bagg surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bagg 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 444 #5,543
1861 historical 464 #5,600
1881 historical 517 #6,593
1891 historical 562 #6,758
1901 historical 565 #7,393
1911 historical 571 #7,092
1997 modern 433 #10,375
1998 modern 443 #10,526
1999 modern 446 #10,513
2000 modern 446 #10,516
2001 modern 435 #10,526
2002 modern 418 #11,084
2003 modern 403 #11,210
2004 modern 395 #11,390
2005 modern 398 #11,231
2006 modern 403 #11,187
2007 modern 398 #11,411
2008 modern 387 #11,767
2009 modern 386 #12,044
2010 modern 377 #12,529
2011 modern 382 #12,272
2012 modern 377 #12,238
2013 modern 390 #12,151
2014 modern 397 #12,076
2015 modern 388 #12,188
2016 modern 381 #12,317

Geography

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Where Baggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winsham , Cricket St Thomas, London parishes, Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent, Southampton St Mary and Melcombe Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Fenland, South Somerset and North Dorset. 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 Winsham , Cricket St Thomas Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent Somerset
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Melcombe Regis Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 014 Sedgemoor
2 Fenland 004 Fenland
3 South Somerset 022 South Somerset
4 North Dorset 003 North Dorset
5 South Somerset 002 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bagg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bagg

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Bagg is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bagg 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bagg

The surname BAGG is of Anglo-Saxon origin, dating back to the early medieval period in England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bagga," which referred to a bag or sack, and was likely an occupational name for someone who made or carried bags.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BAGG can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources in England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Bagge" and "Bagg," indicating that the spelling had not yet been standardized. During this time, the surname was concentrated primarily in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in East Anglia.

One notable bearer of the name was John Bagg, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in the early 15th century (circa 1400-1470). He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a alderman and bailiff.

Another individual of note was Thomas Bagg, a clergyman and scholar who was born in Wiltshire in 1554 and later became the Vicar of Mersham in Kent. He was known for his writings on theology and his involvement in religious debates during the Reformation.

In the 17th century, the BAGG surname spread to other parts of England, including London and the West Country. One notable figure from this period was Robert Bagg (1630-1692), a mercer (textile merchant) and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London.

During the 18th century, the name BAGG appeared in various parish records and historical documents across England, with concentrations in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One individual of note was William Bagg (1750-1825), a successful businessman and landowner from Gloucestershire.

In the 19th century, the BAGG surname continued to be found throughout England, with some members of the family emigrating to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia. One notable individual from this period was Charles Bagg (1819-1895), a British writer and journalist who published works on literature and travel.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bagg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bagg 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. Dorset leads with 124 Baggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.03x.

County Total Index
Dorset 124 37.03x
Somerset 119 14.49x
Middlesex 84 1.65x
Surrey 28 1.13x
Hampshire 19 1.82x
Essex 18 1.79x
Devon 17 1.60x
Gloucestershire 13 1.30x
Berkshire 12 3.13x
Glamorgan 9 1.01x
Staffordshire 9 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 8 2.48x
Warwickshire 7 0.54x
Channel Islands 6 3.97x
Kent 6 0.34x
Lancashire 6 0.10x
Durham 5 0.33x
Wiltshire 5 1.11x
Lincolnshire 4 0.49x
Sussex 4 0.47x
Brecknockshire 3 2.94x
Flintshire 3 2.19x
Norfolk 3 0.38x
Suffolk 3 0.48x
Cheshire 2 0.18x
Monmouthshire 1 0.27x
Northumberland 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.32x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 19 Baggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.84x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 19 3.84x
Mark 19 989.58x
Mile End Old Town London 19 17.50x
Loders 12 722.89x
Evershot 11 1264.37x
Huntspill 11 327.38x
Winsham 11 733.33x
Ide 10 862.07x
Leyton 10 57.64x
New Windsor 10 77.70x
Southampton St Mary 10 15.21x
Spitalfields London 10 26.06x
Weston Super Mare 10 48.22x
Corscombe 9 789.47x
Ryme Instrinsica 9 2571.43x
Swansea Town 9 12.36x
Clerkenwell London 8 6.64x
Forest Gate 8 571.43x
Maiden Newton 8 571.43x
March 8 73.94x
Powerstock 8 559.44x
Winterborne Steepleton 8 3076.92x
Birmingham 7 1.63x
Bradpole 7 255.47x
Bridgewater 7 31.40x
Crewkerne 7 80.28x
East Molesey 7 121.32x
South Stoneham 6 26.46x
Thorncombe 6 312.50x
Weymouth 6 94.64x
Wimbledon 6 21.50x
Ashcott 5 400.00x
Banwell 5 166.67x
Bow London 5 7.70x
Broadwinsor 5 228.31x
Camberwell 5 1.53x
Hackney London 5 1.75x
Oldham 5 2.56x
Owermoigne 5 675.68x
Radipole 5 216.45x
Shoreditch London 5 2.26x
South Hamlet 5 80.78x
St Sampson 5 73.42x
Stafford St Mary 5 20.51x
Street 5 112.61x
Berwick Bassett 4 1739.13x
Cheddar 4 96.85x
Compton Dando 4 701.75x
East Stoke 4 392.16x
Harborne 4 7.25x
Lambeth 4 0.90x
Milborne St Andrew 4 404.04x
Stoke Under Hambdon 4 148.70x
Swineshead 4 149.25x
Topsham 4 79.84x
Westoe 4 4.65x
Wookey 4 220.99x
Abbotsbury 3 175.44x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.35x
Brighton 3 1.73x
Bristol St Paul In 3 11.25x
Chatham 3 6.26x
Churchill 3 229.01x
Hanmer 3 283.02x
Llangattock 3 36.10x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.92x
Uphill 3 265.49x
Altrincham 2 10.16x
Bristol St James In 2 13.60x
Charlton 2 17.30x
Dorchester St Peter 2 82.30x
Hadleigh 2 33.17x
Huish Episcopi 2 170.94x
Kensington London 2 0.71x
Melcombe Regis 2 14.41x
Merriott 2 83.33x
Pawlett 2 215.05x
St Pancras London 2 0.49x
Weare 2 175.44x
Exeter St David 1 11.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 27
George 17
Henry 17
James 11
Charles 9
Thomas 9
Albert 8
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
Joseph 8
Robert 8
Alfred 7
Edward 5
Ernest 5
Walter 5
David 4
Edwin 4
Richard 4
Frank 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Benjamin 2
Maurice 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Archibald 1
Benj. 1
Benjn. 1
Chas 1
Chas. 1
Elijah 1
Emily 1
Enos 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Johnan 1
Leonard 1
Leslie 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Matthias 1
Moses 1
Oliver 1
Reginald 1
Reuben 1
Williator 1

FAQ

Bagg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bagg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 517 people were recorded with the Bagg surname. That placed it at #6,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bagg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016. That gives Bagg a modern rank of #12,317.

What does the Bagg surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from an English place name referring to a small hill or mound.

What does the Bagg map show?

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