UK surname
An occupational surname referring to one who made wooden vessels or buckets.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Bailer surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Biddulph, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bailer is 193 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.9%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
193 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bailer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bailer surname density by area, 1891 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 193 | #12,371 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 119 | #21,415 |
| 1901 | historical | 11 | #32,907 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Biddulph, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras, St Marylebone and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. 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 | Biddulph | Cheshire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bailer 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 Bailer, 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 Bailer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bailer 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, Bailer 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 Bailer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bailer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bailer is believed to have its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the German word "bailer," which means "one who lives near a pile or heap." This suggests that the original bearers of the name may have lived near a pile of stones, dirt, or some other material.
In the 14th century, records show the name Bailer appearing in various German towns and villages. For example, a record from the year 1342 mentions a "Hans Bailer" residing in the town of Augsburg. Another document from 1378 lists a "Konrad Bailer" as a landowner in the village of Bamberg.
The name Bailer is also found in some old German manuscripts and chronicles. One notable example is the "Chronicon Hirsaugiense," a medieval chronicle written by the monks of Hirsau Abbey in the 11th century. The chronicle mentions a "Willehelm Bailer" who was a nobleman and benefactor of the abbey.
As the Bailer family spread throughout Germany and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Bailer, Bayler, and Beiler. In the 16th century, the name appears in records from the town of Nuremberg, where a "Hans Beiler" is listed as a merchant in 1542.
Several notable individuals have borne the surname Bailer throughout history. One of the earliest was Johann Bailer (1472-1535), a German theologian and reformer who played a role in the Protestant Reformation. Another was Johann Jakob Bailer (1642-1701), a German-Swiss mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.
In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the name Bailer was Wilhelm Bailer (1825-1897), a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Berlin. More recently, there was the Austrian film director and screenwriter Michael Bailer (1958-2021), known for his work in the German-language cinema.
It's worth noting that while the surname Bailer has its roots in Germany, it has also been adopted in other countries, particularly in areas with German migration or influence. However, the focus of this history has been on the name's German origins and early recorded instances.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bailer 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 11 Bailers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.34x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 6 Bailers recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.19x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hackney London | 6 | 42.19x |
| Islington London | 5 | 20.34x |
| Thornaby | 5 | 531.91x |
| Alverstoke | 3 | 159.57x |
| Devizes St James | 1 | 333.33x |
| Dorchester St Peter | 1 | 833.33x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 1 | 158.73x |
| Hough | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Kippax | 1 | 454.55x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 30.58x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 1 | 54.64x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bailer 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 Bailer 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 Bailer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Laundress | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Architect | 1 |
| Drapers Apprentice | 1 |
| Engineer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Independant | 1 |
| Sempstress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Sick Berths Steward (R.N.) | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Twine Maker | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Bailer surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Bailer a modern rank of #38,110.
An occupational surname referring to one who made wooden vessels or buckets.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bailer 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.