UK surname
A place name likely derived from a Norman French term for a bailiwick or administrative district.
In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Bailley surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #24,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Duns and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bailley is 138 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.7%.
1881 census count
62
Ranked #24,843
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
138 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bailley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bailley 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 | 73 | #20,581 |
| 1861 | historical | 138 | #16,365 |
| 1881 | historical | 62 | #24,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 42 | #31,018 |
| 1901 | historical | 21 | #31,686 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 17 | #36,164 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 15 | #36,982 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Duns, Edinburgh, Manchester and St Dunstan Stepney. 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 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Duns | Berwick |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bailley 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 Bailley, 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 Bailley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bailley 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, Bailley 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 Bailley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bailley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bailley is of English origin, deriving from the Old French word "baillif," which means "bailiff" or "steward." The name first appeared in England during the Norman Conquest of the 11th century, when many French words and names were introduced to the English language.
The name Bailley is believed to have originated in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in East Anglia, where many Norman settlers established themselves after the conquest. It was initially used as an occupational name for those who held the position of a bailiff, responsible for managing estates or overseeing the collection of rents and taxes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bailley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Baillif" in this historical document.
In the 13th century, a notable figure with the surname Bailley was Sir William Bailley, a knight from Lincolnshire who fought in the Barons' War against King Henry III. Another prominent individual was John Bailley, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who lived during the late 14th century and served as the city's mayor in 1387.
During the 15th century, the name Bailley was also associated with the village of Bayley in Lancashire, which was originally spelled as "Baylegh" or "Baylye." This place name likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname, such as Bayley, Bayly, and Baylie.
In the 16th century, a notable figure was Thomas Bailley (1489-1557), an English ecclesiastical judge and canon lawyer who served as the Master of the Court of Requests during the reign of King Henry VIII. Another individual was Richard Bailley (1553-1628), a renowned English poet and playwright who was a contemporary of Shakespeare.
Throughout history, the Bailley surname has been carried by several other notable individuals, including Sir William Bailley (1608-1675), a prominent English politician who served as a member of Parliament during the English Civil War, and John Bailley (1644-1701), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bailley 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 14 Bailleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.31x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 2.31x |
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 4.09x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 2.94x |
| Angus | 5 | 8.93x |
| Durham | 5 | 2.78x |
| Midlothian | 5 | 6.17x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.02x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 4.42x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.28x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.33x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 2.20x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.75x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.84x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.84x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 1 | 11.43x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 2.29x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 7.22x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 13.87x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.03x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 12.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 7 Bailleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.39x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mile End Old Town London | 7 | 54.39x |
| Old Monkland | 7 | 90.21x |
| St Clement Danes London | 6 | 480.00x |
| Trentham | 6 | 344.83x |
| Edinburgh New North | 5 | 704.23x |
| Benfieldside | 4 | 338.98x |
| Dundee | 3 | 14.35x |
| Dundonald | 2 | 119.76x |
| Liff Benvie | 2 | 23.53x |
| Aberystruth | 1 | 25.97x |
| Barnes | 1 | 80.00x |
| Bath St James | 1 | 98.04x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 9.40x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 1 | 52.36x |
| Caterham | 1 | 76.92x |
| Clapham | 1 | 13.23x |
| Exelby Leeming Newton | 1 | 714.29x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 2.88x |
| Harwich St Nicholas | 1 | 108.70x |
| Kelton | 1 | 138.89x |
| Kirkcolm | 1 | 263.16x |
| Llanfair Caereinion | 1 | 212.77x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 16.23x |
| Skircoat | 1 | 42.37x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 28.82x |
| Streatley | 1 | 769.23x |
| Wardleworth | 1 | 24.39x |
| Westoe | 1 | 9.80x |
| Widnes | 1 | 19.31x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bailley 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 Bailley 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 Bailley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Partners Bag Maker Leather | 3 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bag Maker Leather | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Gunner R M A | 1 |
| Housekeeper Domest | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Laundry Maid | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Marine | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Pauper | 1 |
| Private Scots Guards | 1 |
| River Police Officer | 1 |
| Serv General | 1 |
| Theological Student | 1 |
| Writer Painter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Bailley surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Bailley a modern rank of #36,679.
A place name likely derived from a Norman French term for a bailiwick or administrative district.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bailley 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.