UK surname
A French surname that may have originated as a geographical name referring to a village or locality.
In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Bailly surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 53, ranked #34,727, down from #22,225 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sunderland, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bailly is 117 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.8%.
1881 census count
80
Ranked #22,225
Modern count
53
2016, ranked #34,727
Peak year
1861
117 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bailly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bailly 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 | 41 | #25,926 |
| 1861 | historical | 117 | #18,635 |
| 1881 | historical | 80 | #22,225 |
| 1891 | historical | 114 | #22,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 94 | #23,588 |
| 1911 | historical | 42 | #28,691 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 40 | #33,856 |
| 1999 | modern | 42 | #33,778 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 42 | #33,658 |
| 2002 | modern | 42 | #33,951 |
| 2003 | modern | 40 | #34,215 |
| 2004 | modern | 41 | #34,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 35 | #35,191 |
| 2007 | modern | 42 | #34,905 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 47 | #34,856 |
| 2010 | modern | 55 | #34,536 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 51 | #34,756 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 54 | #34,700 |
| 2015 | modern | 52 | #34,775 |
| 2016 | modern | 53 | #34,727 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sunderland, London parishes, St Pancras and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. 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 | Sunderland | Durham |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bailly 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 Bailly, 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 Bailly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bailly 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, Bailly 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 Bailly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bailly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bailly originates from France and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "bailli," which means a bailiff or a local administrator of a feudal estate. The name was primarily associated with individuals who held this administrative position during the Middle Ages.
The Bailly surname was widespread in various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. It is believed to have emerged in areas where the feudal system was prominent, and local officials were appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations of the estates.
Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries mention individuals bearing the name Bailly in various official documents and charters. For instance, Jean Bailly is mentioned in a charter from 1289, indicating the presence of this surname during that time period.
One notable historical reference to the name Bailly can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in England in 1086. The Domesday Book includes entries of individuals with the surname Bailli, which is likely a variant spelling of Bailly.
The earliest recorded examples of the Bailly surname can be traced back to the 12th century. Some notable individuals with this surname include:
1. Jean de Bailly (1325-1388), a French cleric and diplomat who served as the Archbishop of Avignon. 2. Roch Bailly (1619-1679), a French mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets. 3. Jean-Sylvain Bailly (1736-1793), a French astronomer and politician who played a prominent role during the French Revolution. 4. Joseph Bailly (1744-1833), a French-American pioneer and fur trader who founded the first non-native settlement in Indiana, known as Bailly Homestead. 5. Camille Bailly (1832-1917), a French painter and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings.
The Bailly surname has also been associated with several place names in France, such as Bailly-en-Rivière, Bailly-Carrois, and Bailly-Romainvilliers, among others. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Bailly surname who had a significant presence or influence in these locations during medieval times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bailly 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 31 Baillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 31 | 3.78x |
| Renfrewshire | 13 | 20.48x |
| Angus | 8 | 10.54x |
| Somerset | 7 | 5.31x |
| Ayrshire | 6 | 9.79x |
| Kent | 5 | 1.79x |
| Channel Islands | 3 | 12.36x |
| Durham | 3 | 1.23x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.50x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.45x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.10x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.76x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 10.25x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paisley High Church in Renfrewshire leads with 13 Baillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 257.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Paisley High Church | 13 | 257.43x |
| Bethnal Green London | 8 | 22.48x |
| Dundee | 8 | 28.24x |
| St Marylebone London | 7 | 16.00x |
| Chelsea London | 6 | 24.31x |
| Fivehead | 6 | 5000.00x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 9.10x |
| Dalmellington | 3 | 166.67x |
| Greenwich | 3 | 23.01x |
| St George Hanover Square | 3 | 20.79x |
| Hastings St Mary | 2 | 58.14x |
| Kirkmichael | 2 | 357.14x |
| St Helier | 2 | 25.32x |
| Wingate | 2 | 119.76x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 4.64x |
| Dover St Mary Virgin | 1 | 36.90x |
| Girvan | 1 | 64.94x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 9.47x |
| Horncastle | 1 | 74.07x |
| Leeds | 1 | 2.18x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 4.51x |
| Rotherhithe | 1 | 9.88x |
| Sutton | 1 | 34.60x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 7.66x |
| Trinity | 1 | 178.57x |
| Weston Super Mare | 1 | 30.03x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bailly 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 Bailly 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 Bailly households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Scolar | 5 |
| Court Dressmaker | 2 |
| Jeweller Journeyman | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Artist Decorator (Painter) | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Gas Attendant | 1 |
| Independant | 1 |
| Ingeneer | 1 |
| Iron Works Lab | 1 |
| Jeweller Polisher | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Ladies Companion | 1 |
| Mistress Of Work | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Poulterer | 1 |
| Professor Of French | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Sweedenburgian Minister Of Croft St Church | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Bailly surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 53 in 2016. That gives Bailly a modern rank of #34,727.
A French surname that may have originated as a geographical name referring to a village or locality.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bailly 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.