UK surname
An English locational surname derived from a place called Baile.
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Baile surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 64, ranked #34,098, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newcastle St Andrew, London parishes and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baile is 106 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.3%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
64
2016, ranked #34,098
Peak year
1861
106 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Baile surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Baile 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 | 48 | #24,615 |
| 1861 | historical | 106 | #20,147 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 43 | #29,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 80 | #24,821 |
| 1997 | modern | 75 | #30,109 |
| 1998 | modern | 62 | #31,735 |
| 1999 | modern | 63 | #31,798 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 60 | #32,446 |
| 2004 | modern | 60 | #32,684 |
| 2005 | modern | 58 | #33,094 |
| 2006 | modern | 60 | #33,235 |
| 2007 | modern | 58 | #33,731 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 60 | #34,202 |
| 2012 | modern | 56 | #34,510 |
| 2013 | modern | 60 | #34,378 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 64 | #34,112 |
| 2016 | modern | 64 | #34,098 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newcastle St Andrew, London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, St Leonard Bromley and Sefton. 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 | Newcastle St Andrew | Northumberland |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Sefton | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Baile 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 Baile, 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 Baile surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Baile 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, Baile 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 Baile is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Baile, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BAILE originated in Ireland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic word 'baile,' which means 'town' or 'homestead.' This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived in a prominent town or village, or perhaps owned a large homestead.
The earliest recorded instances of the name BAILE can be found in Irish annals and manuscripts dating back to the 12th century. For example, the Annals of Ulster mention a "Muircheartach Ua Baile" in 1171, who was likely a chieftain or nobleman from a prominent family with the surname.
In the 14th century, the name BAILE appeared in the Annals of Connacht, which documented the activities of various Irish clans and families. This suggests that the BAILE surname was well-established among the Irish nobility and gentry by this time.
One notable individual with the BAILE surname was Seán Baile (c. 1530-1595), an Irish poet and scholar from County Mayo. He was renowned for his mastery of the Irish language and his compositions in the traditional bardic style.
Another prominent figure was Eoghan Baile (1615-1671), a Catholic priest and historian from County Tipperary. He wrote extensively on Irish history and culture, and his works were influential in preserving the nation's historical heritage.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BAILE surname appeared in various records and documents related to land ownership and property disputes in Ireland. This suggests that the name was associated with landed gentry and influential families during this period.
In the 18th century, Aodh Baile (1732-1806) was a renowned Irish harpist and composer from County Monaghan. He was renowned for his mastery of the traditional Irish harp and his compositions, which helped preserve the country's rich musical heritage.
Another notable figure was Caitríona Baile (1785-1859), a traditional Irish storyteller and folklorist from County Mayo. She was renowned for her vast repertoire of Irish folktales and her skill in preserving and transmitting these oral traditions.
Throughout history, the BAILE surname has been associated with various place names and localities in Ireland, such as Baileborous (Borosoleigh), Bailedehyn (Ballydehob), and Baile Mhuirne (Ballyvourney). These place names likely derived from or influenced the BAILE surname over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baile 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. Middlesex leads with 20 Bailes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.60x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 20 | 3.60x |
| Carmarthenshire | 10 | 42.68x |
| Brecknockshire | 4 | 35.97x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.61x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.73x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 4.00x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 2.14x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 2.07x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 2.42x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.81x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.91x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 4.39x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.53x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.34x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanelly in Carmarthenshire leads with 9 Bailes recorded in 1881 and an index of 170.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Llanelly | 9 | 170.45x |
| St Pancras London | 7 | 15.64x |
| Bromley London | 5 | 40.88x |
| Devynnock | 4 | 1481.48x |
| Ealing | 4 | 80.48x |
| Everton | 4 | 19.02x |
| Aston | 3 | 7.77x |
| Bulwell | 3 | 184.05x |
| Sculcoates | 3 | 34.36x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 6.47x |
| Oystermouth | 2 | 266.67x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 25.58x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 7.30x |
| Llandingat | 1 | 188.68x |
| Meldon | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Nesbit In Castle Ward | 1 | 0.00x |
| Newton | 1 | 400.00x |
| Normanby In | 1 | 68.03x |
| Pudlestone | 1 | 2000.00x |
| St Clement Danes London | 1 | 86.96x |
| Tarporley | 1 | 384.62x |
| Theydon Bois | 1 | 588.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Baile 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 Baile 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 Baile households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Barrister In Actual Practice | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Commission Merchant | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farmer Of 150 Acres Emp 1 Man | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| Gasfitter | 1 |
| General Serv (Domestic) | 1 |
| Governess (...) Teacher | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Maid | 1 |
| Mariners Widow | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Railway Estate Agent | 1 |
| Railway Shunter | 1 |
| Sapper RE | 1 |
| Solicitor | 1 |
| Surveyor | 1 |
| Tallow Merchants Laborer | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
| Wife of Railway Estate Agent | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Baile surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 64 in 2016. That gives Baile a modern rank of #34,098.
An English locational surname derived from a place called Baile.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Baile 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.