NameCensus.

UK surname

Bahia

A locational surname derived from the Brazilian state of Bahia.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gravesham, Hillingdon and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bahia is 811 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

787

2016, ranked #7,014

Peak year

2010

811 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 787 in 2016, ranked #7,014.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Bahia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bahia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bahia 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1997 modern 547 #8,694
1998 modern 590 #8,492
1999 modern 598 #8,458
2000 modern 605 #8,379
2001 modern 596 #8,335
2002 modern 623 #8,228
2003 modern 636 #7,954
2004 modern 685 #7,526
2005 modern 695 #7,392
2006 modern 687 #7,479
2007 modern 706 #7,372
2008 modern 720 #7,322
2009 modern 772 #7,081
2010 modern 811 #6,940
2011 modern 802 #6,935
2012 modern 775 #7,041
2013 modern 802 #6,938
2014 modern 798 #7,015
2015 modern 792 #6,990
2016 modern 787 #7,014

Geography

Back to top

Where Bahias 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 Gravesham, Hillingdon, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Slough. 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 Gravesham 002 Gravesham
2 Hillingdon 031 Hillingdon
3 Sandwell 032 Sandwell
4 Wolverhampton 002 Wolverhampton
5 Slough 002 Slough

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bahia

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bahia

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Bahia surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bahia household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bahia is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bahia 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

Bahia falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bahia 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Bahia

The surname Bahia is of Spanish origin, with roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is derived from the name of the Brazilian state of Bahia, which was initially colonized by the Portuguese and Spanish explorers during the Age of Discovery. The name Bahia itself is believed to have originated from the Portuguese phrase "Baía de Todos os Santos," meaning "Bay of All Saints."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Bahia can be found in the archives of the Spanish Inquisition, where a certain Juan de Bahia was listed as a prisoner in the year 1567. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have been among the early Spanish settlers or explorers in the region of Bahia, Brazil.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Diego de Bahia emerged as a renowned artist and painter in Seville, Spain. His works, which included religious paintings and portraits, can still be found in various churches and museums across Andalusia.

During the colonial era, the surname Bahia was also associated with several notable individuals in Brazil. For instance, Francisco de Bahia was a prominent landowner and plantation owner in the state of Bahia during the late 18th century, known for his contributions to the region's agricultural development.

Another notable figure was Antônio de Bahia, a Brazilian abolitionist and activist who played a significant role in the struggle against slavery in the 19th century. Born in 1823, he dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of enslaved Africans and their descendants in Brazil.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of Maria de Bahia, a celebrated Brazilian poet and writer of the early 20th century. Born in 1890, her works often explored themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of women in Brazilian society.

It is worth noting that the surname Bahia has also been associated with various places and geographical features beyond the state of Bahia itself. For instance, the city of Bahia Blanca in Argentina derives its name from the same linguistic roots, reflecting the influence of Spanish explorers and settlers in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Bahia surname: questions and answers

How common is the Bahia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 787 in 2016. That gives Bahia a modern rank of #7,014.

What does the Bahia surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the Brazilian state of Bahia.

What does the Bahia map show?

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