NameCensus.

UK surname

Baillie

An occupational surname for a bailiff or law officer.

In the 1881 census there were 3,121 people recorded with the Baillie surname, ranking it #1,442 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,438, ranked #1,232, up from #1,442 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Haddington, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ07, IZ09 and Mosstodloch, Portgordon and seaward.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baillie is 5,438 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.2%.

1881 census count

3,121

Ranked #1,442

Modern count

5,438

2016, ranked #1,232

Peak year

2016

5,438 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baillie had 3,121 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,442 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,438 in 2016, ranked #1,232.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,113 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Baillie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baillie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Baillie 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 1,998 #1,450
1861 historical 2,081 #1,390
1881 historical 3,121 #1,442
1891 historical 3,560 #1,347
1901 historical 4,113 #1,371
1911 historical 892 #4,994
1997 modern 5,071 #1,290
1998 modern 5,208 #1,301
1999 modern 5,246 #1,302
2000 modern 5,251 #1,294
2001 modern 5,067 #1,310
2002 modern 5,185 #1,307
2003 modern 5,108 #1,295
2004 modern 5,144 #1,291
2005 modern 5,113 #1,276
2006 modern 5,112 #1,276
2007 modern 5,148 #1,280
2008 modern 5,243 #1,269
2009 modern 5,359 #1,271
2010 modern 5,414 #1,287
2011 modern 5,321 #1,289
2012 modern 5,203 #1,293
2013 modern 5,312 #1,287
2014 modern 5,370 #1,282
2015 modern 5,365 #1,262
2016 modern 5,438 #1,232

Geography

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Where Baillies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Haddington, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ07, IZ09, Mosstodloch, Portgordon and seaward, Upper Nithsdale and Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Haddington Haddington
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ07 East Lothian
2 IZ09 East Lothian
3 Mosstodloch, Portgordon and seaward Moray
4 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
5 Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Baillie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Baillie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Baillie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Baillie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Baillie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Baillie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Baillie falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Baillie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Baillie

The surname BAILLIE originated in Scotland and has its roots in the Anglo-Norman French word "baillie" or "bailif", which means an officer or overseer. The name first appeared in the 12th century and was used to refer to those who held the position of a bailiff or local administrator.

The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to the reign of King David I of Scotland in the 12th century. Several members of the BAILLIE family were granted lands in various parts of Scotland, including Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, and Berwickshire, for their services to the crown.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BAILLIE surname is found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of documents from the late 13th century that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Several BAILLIEs are listed in these rolls, suggesting that the name was already well-established by that time.

In the 14th century, a branch of the BAILLIE family settled in the town of Lamington in Lanarkshire. This branch later became known as the Baillies of Lamington, and they played a significant role in Scottish history. One notable member of this family was William BAILLIE, who fought alongside William Wallace during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

Another prominent figure bearing the BAILLIE surname was Robert BAILLIE, a Presbyterian minister and theologian who lived from 1602 to 1662. He was a vocal opponent of the religious policies of King Charles I and played a crucial role in the events leading up to the English Civil War.

The BAILLIE name is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Baillieston and Bailliesmills, which further reinforces its historical significance in the country.

Other notable BAILLIEs throughout history include:

1. Joanna BAILLIE (1762-1851), a Scottish poet and playwright considered one of the most influential literary figures of her time.

2. Matthew BAILLIE (1761-1823), a renowned Scottish anatomist and physician who made significant contributions to the field of pathology.

3. Alexander BAILLIE (1757-1833), a Scottish officer in the British Army who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became the governor of the Leeward Islands.

4. Evan BAILLIE (1742-1835), a Scottish merchant and banker who co-founded the prestigious Baillie Gifford investment firm in Edinburgh.

5. Robert BAILLIE (1599-1662), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and leader during the Covenanter movement in the 17th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Baillie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baillie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 787 Baillies recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.03x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 787 8.03x
Midlothian 484 11.92x
Ayrshire 210 9.26x
Angus 155 5.52x
East Lothian 134 33.37x
Renfrewshire 122 5.19x
Middlesex 104 0.34x
Fife 92 5.13x
Lancashire 79 0.22x
Stirlingshire 69 6.17x
West Lothian 61 13.36x
Buteshire 55 29.94x
Selkirkshire 53 19.32x
Kent 50 0.48x
Surrey 46 0.31x
Nairnshire 44 47.55x
Sutherland 44 18.87x
Perthshire 41 3.01x
Durham 36 0.40x
Wigtownshire 36 8.94x
Caithness 35 8.43x
Aberdeenshire 29 1.03x
Inverness-shire 29 3.20x
Essex 25 0.42x
Cheshire 20 0.30x
Yorkshire 17 0.06x
Gloucestershire 16 0.27x
Northumberland 16 0.35x
Hampshire 14 0.23x
Orkney 14 4.20x
Argyllshire 13 1.54x
Dunbartonshire 13 1.60x
Banffshire 12 1.91x
Clackmannanshire 11 4.39x
Peeblesshire 11 7.71x
Cumberland 10 0.38x
Leicestershire 10 0.30x
Norfolk 10 0.21x
Berwickshire 9 2.45x
Devon 9 0.14x
Dorset 8 0.40x
Somerset 8 0.16x
Dumfriesshire 6 0.90x
Glamorgan 6 0.11x
Royal Navy 6 1.66x
Sussex 6 0.12x
Roxburghshire 5 0.91x
Derbyshire 4 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 0.91x
Herefordshire 3 0.24x
Kincardineshire 3 0.81x
Lincolnshire 3 0.06x
Berkshire 2 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.10x
Cornwall 2 0.06x
Northamptonshire 2 0.07x
Ross-shire 2 0.24x
Staffordshire 2 0.02x
Channel Islands 1 0.11x
Denbighshire 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.05x
Kinross-shire 1 1.30x
Morayshire 1 0.21x
Oxfordshire 1 0.05x
Shetland 1 0.32x
Suffolk 1 0.03x
Wiltshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 196 Baillies recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.08x.

Place Total Index
Govan 196 8.08x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 189 11.57x
Barony 185 7.46x
Glasgow 98 5.63x
Dundee 57 5.44x
Haddington 42 70.85x
Dalziel 38 36.03x
Abbotshall 37 55.17x
Cumbrae 37 191.51x
Old Monkland 36 9.25x
Lasswade 34 36.61x
Nairn 33 58.76x
Prestonpans 32 118.83x
Selkirk 31 40.11x
Carluke 27 30.33x
Clyne 27 143.69x
Dalkeith 26 32.45x
South Leith 25 5.47x
Bothwell 24 9.03x
Latheron 24 34.56x
Slamannan 24 39.20x
Abbey 23 6.42x
Cambusnethan 23 10.56x
Cramond 23 74.72x
Bathgate 22 22.20x
Hamilton 22 8.04x
Inverness 21 9.22x
Stevenston 21 35.51x
Auckinleck 20 28.47x
Blantyre 20 19.59x
Inveresk 20 18.19x
Liff Benvie 20 4.69x
New Monkland 20 6.90x
Shotts 20 17.05x
Boness 19 30.19x
Lambeth 19 0.72x
Cockpen 18 37.92x
East Greenock 18 8.11x
Ardrossan 17 21.65x
Bishopwearmouth 17 2.20x
Crichton 17 150.18x
Barrow In Furness 16 3.27x
Kilwinning 16 21.84x
Larbert 16 23.93x
Penicuik 16 28.99x
Arbroath 15 16.12x
Brechin 15 13.59x
Dreghorn 15 36.51x
Paisley High Church 15 8.02x
Shettleston 15 17.09x
Dalserf 14 14.31x
Liberton 14 22.33x
Sorn 14 31.41x
Yester 14 145.08x
Cupar 13 16.66x
Everton 13 1.13x
Galashiels 13 12.82x
Kilbarchan 13 18.21x
Aberdeen Old Machar 12 2.05x
Glasserton 12 96.15x
Maryhill 12 6.25x
Neilston 12 10.17x
Riccarton Hurlford 12 30.15x
St Vigeans 12 7.92x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 11 2.09x
Auldearn 11 81.36x
Denny 11 18.49x
Greenwich 11 2.28x
Muiravonside 11 38.73x
Paddington London 11 0.99x
Paisley Low Church 11 14.79x
Westoe 11 2.15x
Dailly 10 43.22x
Duddingston 10 12.27x
Liverpool 10 0.46x
Maybole 10 14.47x
Orphir 10 94.43x
Redenhall 10 55.22x
Tranent 10 18.43x
Twickenham 10 7.69x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 31
James 20
Robert 19
George 14
Thomas 12
Charles 10
Alexander 8
Henry 8
David 7
Richard 5
Andrew 3
Edward 3
Herbert 3
Augustus 2
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Hugh 2
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Zerub 2
Alexandra 1
Alfred 1
Alick 1
Arthur 1
Astor 1
Basil 1
Colin 1
Douglas 1
Duncan 1
Erain 1
Ernest 1
Fernand 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Kenneth 1
Kirby 1
Metcalfe 1
Michael 1
Neil 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Robt. 1
Roger 1

FAQ

Baillie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baillie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,121 people were recorded with the Baillie surname. That placed it at #1,442 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baillie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,438 in 2016. That gives Baillie a modern rank of #1,232.

What does the Baillie surname mean?

An occupational surname for a bailiff or law officer.

What does the Baillie map show?

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