NameCensus.

UK surname

Baggs

An English occupational surname for a maker or carrier of bags.

In the 1881 census there were 693 people recorded with the Baggs surname, ranking it #5,229 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 661, ranked #8,066, down from #5,229 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Purbeck.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baggs is 923 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.6%.

1881 census count

693

Ranked #5,229

Modern count

661

2016, ranked #8,066

Peak year

1911

923 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baggs had 693 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,229 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 661 in 2016, ranked #8,066.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 923 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Baggs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baggs surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Baggs 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 476 #5,228
1861 historical 512 #5,112
1881 historical 693 #5,229
1891 historical 798 #5,045
1901 historical 861 #5,313
1911 historical 923 #4,855
1997 modern 743 #6,933
1998 modern 757 #7,041
1999 modern 756 #7,105
2000 modern 763 #7,016
2001 modern 728 #7,134
2002 modern 742 #7,167
2003 modern 729 #7,154
2004 modern 703 #7,367
2005 modern 683 #7,497
2006 modern 655 #7,756
2007 modern 645 #7,914
2008 modern 667 #7,761
2009 modern 678 #7,836
2010 modern 681 #7,943
2011 modern 692 #7,748
2012 modern 661 #7,966
2013 modern 671 #7,997
2014 modern 681 #7,952
2015 modern 669 #8,002
2016 modern 661 #8,066

Geography

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Where Baggs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and Walcott, Charlcome. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Purbeck and Wiltshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Walcott, Charlcome Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
2 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 015 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Purbeck 005 Purbeck
5 Wiltshire 047 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Baggs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Baggs

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Baggs is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Baggs is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Baggs falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Baggs

The surname Baggs is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'bag' or 'bagge', meaning a bag or pouch. It likely originated as an occupational name for a bag maker or someone who carried bags, such as a tradesman or merchant.

The earliest known records of the name Baggs date back to the late 13th century in counties like Devon, Dorset, and Somerset in southwest England. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 include references to individuals with the surname Baggs, spelled as 'Bagge'.

During the medieval period, the name Baggs appeared in various forms, including Bagge, Bagg, and Baggis. It was often associated with place names like Baggridge in Gloucestershire and Bagborough in Somerset, reflecting the geographic origins of different branches of the Baggs family.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Baggs, a prominent merchant from Bristol who lived in the 15th century. He is mentioned in historical records from the city, highlighting the Baggs family's involvement in trade and commerce.

In the 16th century, the name Baggs can be found in the parish records of several English counties, indicating its widespread distribution. For instance, the baptism of William Baggs was recorded in the parish of Bere Regis, Dorset, in 1582.

Another significant figure was Sir Edward Baggs (1617-1683), a wealthy landowner and member of Parliament for Chippenham in Wiltshire during the reign of King Charles II. He played a role in the Restoration of the monarchy after the English Civil War.

The Baggs family also had connections to the American colonies. One of the earliest known immigrants with the surname was Richard Baggs, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and became a prominent figure in the colony's early history.

Throughout the centuries, various branches of the Baggs family spread across England and beyond, with some members achieving notable positions in fields such as politics, business, and academia. For example, John Baggs (1784-1860) was a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Gloucestershire, while Thomas Baggs (1808-1885) was a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Staffordshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Baggs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baggs 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 145 Baggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.45x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 145 10.45x
Dorset 104 23.41x
Middlesex 99 1.46x
Somerset 61 5.60x
Gloucestershire 43 3.24x
Surrey 34 1.03x
Warwickshire 26 1.52x
Lancashire 25 0.31x
Kent 24 1.04x
Yorkshire 21 0.31x
Wiltshire 19 3.17x
Berkshire 18 3.54x
Sussex 15 1.31x
Buckinghamshire 10 2.44x
Glamorgan 9 0.76x
Essex 8 0.60x
Devon 6 0.43x
Herefordshire 5 1.80x
Hertfordshire 4 0.86x
Lanarkshire 4 0.18x
Monmouthshire 3 0.61x
Norfolk 2 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.22x
Oxfordshire 2 0.48x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x
Northamptonshire 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 1.24x
Worcestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 43 Baggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.81x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 43 15.81x
Walcot 24 41.35x
St Pancras London 23 4.22x
Hannington 20 3076.92x
Wool 18 1525.42x
Aston 17 3.62x
Islington London 14 2.13x
Ashe 13 2826.09x
Wareham Lady St Mary 10 291.55x
Winfrith Newburgh 10 448.43x
Bedminster 9 8.79x
Camberwell 9 2.08x
Llangynwyd Lower 9 857.14x
Melcombe Regis 9 48.89x
Taunton St Mary 9 45.00x
Burnham 8 153.26x
Chilworth 8 1509.43x
Lambeth 8 1.36x
Lewisham 8 6.50x
Poplar London 8 6.26x
Portsmouth 8 25.04x
Southampton St Mary 8 9.17x
Sutton Coldfield 8 44.57x
Swindon 8 17.23x
West Ham 8 2.71x
Westbury On Severn East 8 26.65x
Westbury On Trym 8 17.79x
Yeovil 8 36.13x
Bromley London 7 4.70x
Kingsclere 7 110.41x
Osmington 7 795.45x
St George Hanover Square 7 5.87x
West Lulworth 7 886.08x
Yeadon 7 46.20x
Basingstoke 6 37.59x
Bishopstoke 6 168.54x
Bristol St James In 6 30.72x
Burley In Wharfdale 6 101.35x
Cookham 6 37.88x
Hammersmith London 6 3.60x
Liverpool 6 1.23x
Salford 6 2.54x
St George In East London 6 9.42x
Stoke Abbott 6 468.75x
Wandsworth 6 9.21x
Weymouth 6 71.26x
Bristol St Paul In 5 14.14x
Godmanstone 5 1282.05x
Hulme 5 2.98x
Maidstone 5 7.27x
Moss Side 5 11.83x
Preston On Wye 5 943.40x
Randwick 5 190.84x
Sherborne 5 38.20x
Shoreditch London 5 1.70x
Swainswick 5 340.14x
Wootton 5 1428.57x
Broadway 4 227.27x
Charminster 4 113.31x
Chippenham 4 31.85x
East Garston 4 373.83x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.78x
Overton 4 120.48x
Stoke 4 70.05x
Bentley 3 184.05x
Binfield 3 76.92x
Brighton 3 1.30x
Burton Bradstock 3 136.99x
Canterbury St Mary 3 19.35x
Dalziel 3 12.74x
Hilperton 3 157.07x
Keymer 3 37.22x
Paddington London 3 1.21x
Prestbury 3 91.19x
Reading St Mary 3 7.37x
Whitwood 3 31.48x
Wolverton 3 697.67x
Hatfield 2 21.14x
St Marylebone London 2 0.55x
Yarmouth 2 109.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 21
Eliza 16
Ann 15
Alice 13
Emily 13
Emma 13
Charlotte 11
Jane 11
Annie 8
Ada 7
Edith 6
Ellen 6
Fanny 6
Hannah 6
Amelia 5
Clara 5
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Maria 5
Agnes 4
Eleanor 4
Julia 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Amy 3
Anne 3
Eva 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Rebecca 3
Rosa 3
Sophia 3
Anna 2
Bessie 2
Ella 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Grace 2
Helen 2
Isabel 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Nellie 2
Susan 2
Eugenes 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
James 26
Henry 23
Thomas 23
Charles 22
John 22
George 20
Frederick 11
Albert 9
Edward 8
Harry 8
Robert 8
Walter 8
Alfred 6
Ernest 6
Arthur 5
Joseph 5
Daniel 4
David 4
Edwin 4
Richard 4
Stephen 3
Edmund 2
Eli 2
Fredwick 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Jacob 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Uriah 2
Wm. 2
Aurthur 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
Cornelious 1
Cornelius 1
Elias 1
Elizabeth 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Marcus 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Morris 1
Moses 1
Nicholas 1
Patrick 1
Wyndham 1

FAQ

Baggs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baggs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 693 people were recorded with the Baggs surname. That placed it at #5,229 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baggs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 661 in 2016. That gives Baggs a modern rank of #8,066.

What does the Baggs surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a maker or carrier of bags.

What does the Baggs map show?

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