NameCensus.

UK surname

Bah

A French surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for someone stubborn.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Bah surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,026, ranked #5,685, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark and Greenwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bah is 1,026 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102500.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

1,026

2016, ranked #5,685

Peak year

2016

1,026 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bah had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,026 in 2016, ranked #5,685.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Bah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bah 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 8 #31,867
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 132 #23,394
1999 modern 160 #20,943
2000 modern 200 #18,209
2001 modern 196 #18,146
2002 modern 268 #15,081
2003 modern 309 #13,559
2004 modern 369 #11,967
2005 modern 461 #10,022
2006 modern 515 #9,277
2007 modern 577 #8,604
2008 modern 646 #7,952
2009 modern 721 #7,460
2010 modern 758 #7,320
2011 modern 747 #7,334
2012 modern 863 #6,446
2013 modern 914 #6,274
2014 modern 980 #5,957
2015 modern 1,015 #5,741
2016 modern 1,026 #5,685

Geography

Back to top

Where Bahs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southwark and Greenwich. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southwark 015 Southwark
2 Southwark 017 Southwark
3 Southwark 021 Southwark
4 Southwark 022 Southwark
5 Greenwich 005 Greenwich

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bah

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bah

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bah, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Bah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Bah 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bah is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bah 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

Bah falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bah is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bah, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bah

The surname "BAH" is believed to have originated in Germany, dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "bah," which means "stream" or "brook." This surname was likely given to someone who lived near a small stream or watercourse.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "BAH" can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Brandenburg region of Germany, which dates back to the 14th century. In this document, a person named "Heinrich Bah" is mentioned in relation to a land transaction from the year 1376.

During the 15th century, the surname "BAH" appeared in various records across different regions of Germany. One notable example is Hans Bah, a merchant from the city of Nuremberg, who was born in 1432 and died in 1498. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his involvement in local politics.

In the 16th century, the surname "BAH" spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Switzerland. One prominent bearer of this name was Johannes Bah, a Swiss theologian and reformer who lived from 1516 to 1588. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and was a close associate of John Calvin.

As time passed, the surname "BAH" underwent minor spelling variations, such as "Bah," "Bahe," and "Bahm." These variations can be found in historical records from different regions of Germany and neighboring countries.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname "BAH" was Johann Bah, a German composer and organist who lived from 1639 to 1718. He was renowned for his contributions to the development of organ music and his compositions for the Lutheran church.

In the 19th century, the surname "BAH" gained more prominence with the birth of Friedrich Bah, a German philosopher and educator who lived from 1811 to 1892. He is considered one of the most influential thinkers of his time and is best known for his work on education and the concept of "cultural literacy."

It is important to note that while the surname "BAH" has a rich history and has been borne by several notable individuals throughout the centuries, it remains a relatively uncommon surname, especially outside of its region of origin in Germany and neighboring countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bah 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Bahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tottenham in Middlesex leads with 1 Bahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 666.67x.

Place Total Index
Tottenham 1 666.67x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jacob 1

Top occupations

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 Bah households.

Occupation Count
Bakers Assistnt 1

FAQ

Bah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Bah surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,026 in 2016. That gives Bah a modern rank of #5,685.

What does the Bah surname mean?

A French surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for someone stubborn.

What does the Bah map show?

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