NameCensus.

UK surname

Bainbridge

From the Old English for "bean farmer" or referring to someone who lived near a bridge.

In the 1881 census there were 4,203 people recorded with the Bainbridge surname, ranking it #1,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,055, ranked #950, up from #1,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bainbridge is 7,376 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.9%.

1881 census count

4,203

Ranked #1,070

Modern count

7,055

2016, ranked #950

Peak year

2000

7,376 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bainbridge had 4,203 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,055 in 2016, ranked #950.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,029 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bainbridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bainbridge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bainbridge 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 2,504 #1,187
1861 historical 2,598 #1,133
1881 historical 4,203 #1,070
1891 historical 4,053 #1,186
1901 historical 5,331 #1,058
1911 historical 6,029 #858
1997 modern 7,059 #921
1998 modern 7,303 #925
1999 modern 7,374 #922
2000 modern 7,376 #918
2001 modern 7,250 #907
2002 modern 7,335 #917
2003 modern 7,118 #923
2004 modern 7,131 #923
2005 modern 7,056 #918
2006 modern 7,022 #927
2007 modern 7,053 #928
2008 modern 7,063 #933
2009 modern 7,209 #935
2010 modern 7,325 #938
2011 modern 7,190 #942
2012 modern 7,025 #944
2013 modern 7,143 #951
2014 modern 7,190 #947
2015 modern 7,073 #954
2016 modern 7,055 #950

Geography

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Where Bainbridges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington, Gateshead, Bishop Wearmouth and Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Eden. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Darlington Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 065 County Durham
2 Eden 007 Eden
3 County Durham 059 County Durham
4 County Durham 064 County Durham
5 Eden 006 Eden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bainbridge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bainbridge

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bainbridge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bainbridge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bainbridge 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

Bainbridge 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

Bainbridge falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bainbridge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bainbridge

The surname Bainbridge is of English origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name derived from the place name Bainbridge, a village in the Yorkshire Dales region of northern England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "bæcen" meaning "beacon" and "brycg" meaning "bridge," referring to a bridge near a signaling beacon.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bainbridge can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where it appears as "de Baynbrygg." This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name is mentioned in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where it is listed as "Baynbryg." This historical record provides valuable insights into the early distribution and prevalence of the surname in Yorkshire.

During the 16th century, the spelling of the name appears to have stabilized to its modern form of "Bainbridge." This can be seen in the Wills and Administrations of Yorkshire from 1543, which include the entry "Bainbridge, William, of Askrigg."

One notable individual bearing the Bainbridge surname was Christopher Bainbridge (c. 1462-1514), an English prelate who served as Archbishop of York and later as a Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church.

Another prominent figure was Commodore William Bainbridge (1774-1833), a naval officer in the United States Navy who commanded the USS Constitution during the War of 1812. His daring exploits and victories against the British earned him widespread recognition.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with Beryl Bainbridge (1932-2010), an acclaimed English novelist and playwright who was nominated for the Booker Prize five times throughout her prolific career.

The Bainbridge surname also has connections to the world of science. Emilia Bainbridge (1800-1873) was a British botanist and bryologist who made significant contributions to the study of mosses and liverworts in the 19th century.

Additionally, the surname has been linked to the town of Bainbridge, Ohio, which was established in the early 19th century and likely named after the naval commander William Bainbridge.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bainbridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bainbridge 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. Durham leads with 1,476 Bainbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.08x.

County Total Index
Durham 1,476 12.08x
Yorkshire 707 1.74x
Lancashire 438 0.90x
Northumberland 351 5.75x
Cumberland 237 6.70x
Westmorland 176 19.50x
Middlesex 138 0.34x
Lincolnshire 100 1.52x
Derbyshire 91 1.42x
Staffordshire 77 0.56x
Nottinghamshire 74 1.34x
Cheshire 59 0.65x
Surrey 47 0.23x
Kent 31 0.22x
Sussex 30 0.43x
Essex 19 0.23x
Lanarkshire 18 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 17 0.65x
Worcestershire 14 0.26x
Stirlingshire 13 0.86x
Norfolk 11 0.17x
Gloucestershire 10 0.12x
Hampshire 8 0.10x
Midlothian 7 0.13x
Ayrshire 5 0.16x
Fife 5 0.21x
Leicestershire 5 0.11x
Shropshire 5 0.14x
Berkshire 4 0.13x
Berwickshire 4 0.80x
Channel Islands 4 0.33x
Glamorgan 4 0.06x
Northamptonshire 3 0.08x
Warwickshire 3 0.03x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.05x
Bedfordshire 2 0.09x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.34x
Monmouthshire 2 0.07x
Roxburghshire 2 0.27x
Royal Navy 2 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.04x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Isle of Man 1 0.13x
Somerset 1 0.02x
Suffolk 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanhope in Durham leads with 120 Bainbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.14x.

Place Total Index
Stanhope 120 95.14x
Gateshead 88 9.62x
Stockton On Tees 80 13.59x
Darlington 60 12.72x
Bishopwearmouth 53 5.05x
Stranton 44 10.70x
Forest Frith 41 384.25x
Leeds 41 1.78x
Wallsend 41 21.16x
Bradford 34 3.45x
Wolsingham 34 30.54x
Elswick 33 6.77x
Newcastle On Tyne St 33 10.42x
Bishop Auckland 32 19.53x
West Derby 32 2.25x
Westoe 32 4.62x
Shildon 31 31.58x
Brandon Byshottles 30 19.60x
Mickleton 30 320.17x
Accrington 29 6.55x
Lunedale 29 536.04x
Wolstanton 29 6.89x
Houghton Le Spring 28 33.16x
Middleton In Teesdale 28 86.85x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 28 7.67x
Bulwell 26 21.61x
Hutton Rudby 25 205.59x
Salford 25 1.74x
Alston 24 36.84x
Dalton In Furness 24 12.76x
Middlesbrough 24 4.53x
Ravensworth 24 636.60x
Barnard Castle 23 38.09x
Barrow In Furness 23 3.47x
Romaldkirk 23 591.26x
Tanfield 23 15.83x
Burton 22 231.82x
Whickham 22 19.57x
Cowpen 21 14.93x
Lancaster 21 7.24x
Cotherston 20 222.47x
Newbiggin 20 230.95x
Sculcoates 20 3.10x
Chirton 19 13.74x
Long Marton 19 188.49x
Whitburn 19 66.74x
Benwell 18 26.96x
Everton 18 1.16x
Lynesack Softley 18 54.55x
Preston 18 1.38x
Boldon 17 39.04x
Skelton 17 166.67x
Threlkeld 17 288.62x
Byker 16 5.30x
Hetton Le Hole 16 10.34x
Southwick 16 13.83x
Stainmore 16 229.89x
Thornaby 16 10.52x
Tynemouth 16 4.89x
Westgate 16 4.23x
Crook Billy Row 15 9.59x
Hutton Henry 15 58.32x
Kirkdale 15 1.83x
Liverpool 15 0.51x
East Thickley 14 56.54x
Ford 14 38.25x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 14 2.65x
Hove 14 4.61x
Ingleby Greenhow 14 254.55x
Monkwearmouth Shore 14 5.87x
Nottingham St Mary 14 0.98x
Tottenham 14 2.14x
Castle Sowerby 13 165.82x
Falkirk 13 3.67x
Monkwearmouth 13 11.12x
Newfield 13 80.25x
North Bedburn 13 38.08x
Sheffield 13 1.00x
St Andrewthe Less 13 4.38x
Westward 13 88.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 328
Elizabeth 193
Jane 163
Sarah 159
Margaret 113
Ann 98
Hannah 74
Annie 68
Isabella 64
Eliza 30
Ellen 29
Alice 27
Martha 26
Emma 25
Catherine 23
Agnes 22
Emily 22
Ada 20
Dorothy 20
Frances 20
Maria 19
Harriet 17
Edith 16
Charlotte 15
Florence 14
Anne 12
Esther 12
Margt. 12
Eleanor 11
Susannah 11
Ethel 10
Fanny 10
Matilda 10
Kate 9
Lydia 9
Susan 9
Elizth. 8
Grace 8
Nancy 8
Phoebe 8
Harriett 7
Louisa 7
Margret 7
Rose 7
Barbara 6
Caroline 6
Laura 6
Minnie 6
Selina 6
Amy 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 356
William 252
Thomas 211
George 166
Robert 114
James 103
Joseph 91
Henry 66
Charles 48
Edward 43
Richard 36
Ralph 25
Samuel 25
Arthur 22
Matthew 20
Walter 18
Alfred 17
Isaac 17
Francis 16
Wm. 14
Geo. 12
Herbert 12
Thos. 12
Albert 11
Frederick 11
Frank 10
Harry 9
Anthony 8
Robt. 8
Tom 8
Bartholomew 7
Christopher 7
Ernest 7
Jacob 6
Jonathan 6
Peter 6
Chas. 5
Michael 5
Miles 5
Percy 5
Reuben 5
Cuthbert 4
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Fredrick 4
Mathew 4
Nicholas 4
Philip 4
Roger 4
W. 4

FAQ

Bainbridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bainbridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,203 people were recorded with the Bainbridge surname. That placed it at #1,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bainbridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,055 in 2016. That gives Bainbridge a modern rank of #950.

What does the Bainbridge surname mean?

From the Old English for "bean farmer" or referring to someone who lived near a bridge.

What does the Bainbridge map show?

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