NameCensus.

UK surname

Baldie

A nickname surname derived from early life baldness or tonsure.

In the 1881 census there were 156 people recorded with the Baldie surname, ranking it #15,114 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 193, ranked #20,039, down from #15,114 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cupar, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Balmullo and Gauldry, Cupar West and Springfield and Auchtermuchty and Gateside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baldie is 196 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.7%.

1881 census count

156

Ranked #15,114

Modern count

193

2016, ranked #20,039

Peak year

2011

196 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baldie had 156 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,114 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016, ranked #20,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 177 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Baldie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baldie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Baldie 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 71 #20,875
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 156 #15,114
1891 historical 148 #18,506
1901 historical 177 #16,342
1911 historical 23 #30,923
1997 modern 156 #20,593
1998 modern 168 #20,181
1999 modern 171 #20,072
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 172 #19,696
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 169 #20,092
2004 modern 176 #19,731
2005 modern 173 #19,851
2006 modern 180 #19,526
2007 modern 185 #19,402
2008 modern 192 #19,143
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 191 #20,015
2011 modern 196 #19,538
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 190 #20,201
2014 modern 189 #20,441
2015 modern 190 #20,272
2016 modern 193 #20,039

Geography

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Where Baldies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cupar, London parishes, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Largo. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Balmullo and Gauldry, Cupar West and Springfield, Auchtermuchty and Gateside, Stanley and Murthly and Cupar Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Cupar Fife
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Largo Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Balmullo and Gauldry Fife
2 Cupar West and Springfield Fife
3 Auchtermuchty and Gateside Fife
4 Stanley and Murthly Perth and Kinross
5 Cupar Central Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Baldie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Baldie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Baldie, 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 Baldie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Baldie 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Baldie is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Baldie is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Baldie falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Baldie 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 Baldie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Baldie

The surname Baldie has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in Scotland. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "beald," meaning bold or bald.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Baldie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document listing Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Baldyn," a variant spelling of Baldie.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure bearing the surname Baldie was Sir John Baldie, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Sir John Baldie was recorded as being present at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, one of the most significant victories for the Scottish forces.

The name Baldie has also been associated with various place names throughout Scotland. One example is the village of Baldie in Angus, which may have derived its name from a person with the surname Baldie or from the Scottish Gaelic word "bàldaidh," meaning a small town or village.

During the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Baldie was William Baldie, a Scottish theologian and clergyman who served as the Bishop of Dunblane from 1555 to 1558.

In the 19th century, John Baldie (1822-1899) was a Scottish-born civil engineer who made significant contributions to the development of railways in Australia. He was responsible for surveying and constructing several critical rail lines in Victoria and New South Wales.

Another individual of note with the surname Baldie was Alexander Baldie (1859-1924), a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the Baldie Company, a successful manufacturer of textile machinery, and was known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting educational institutions and hospitals.

Throughout its history, the surname Baldie has undergone various spelling variations, including Baldy, Baldey, and Bawdie, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Baldie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baldie 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. Fife leads with 85 Baldies recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.58x.

County Total Index
Fife 85 95.58x
Midlothian 20 9.94x
Lanarkshire 10 2.06x
Perthshire 10 14.83x
Kent 9 1.76x
Angus 6 4.31x
Surrey 5 0.68x
Middlesex 3 0.20x
Stirlingshire 2 3.61x
Derbyshire 1 0.43x
Inverness-shire 1 2.23x
Northumberland 1 0.45x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Largo in Fife leads with 21 Baldies recorded in 1881 and an index of 1826.09x.

Place Total Index
Largo 21 1826.09x
St Andrews 16 395.06x
North Leith 9 96.67x
Kilmany 8 2424.24x
Logie 8 330.58x
Monimail 8 1818.18x
Leslie 7 311.11x
West Calder 7 176.32x
Forgan 6 352.94x
Arngask 5 1785.71x
Glasgow 5 5.80x
Maryhill 5 52.58x
Plumstead 5 29.27x
Camberwell 4 4.17x
Cupar 4 103.36x
Lee 4 53.76x
Dundee 3 5.77x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 3.71x
Liff Benvie 3 14.20x
Newburgh 3 265.49x
Anstruther Easter 2 312.50x
Kilrenny 2 121.95x
St Anne Soho London 2 23.31x
Stirling 2 28.61x
Bermondsey 1 2.24x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 21.10x
Ceres 1 93.46x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 3.30x
Edinburgh New 1 64.10x
Enfield 1 10.14x
Ferry Port On Craig 1 68.49x
Kilspindie 1 277.78x
Logie 1 500.00x
Scone 1 83.33x
Staveley 1 23.98x
Strath 1 73.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Lousie 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1
Sybil 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
Henry 2
John 2
Alex 1
Alexander 1
David 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Baldie households.

FAQ

Baldie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baldie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 156 people were recorded with the Baldie surname. That placed it at #15,114 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baldie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016. That gives Baldie a modern rank of #20,039.

What does the Baldie surname mean?

A nickname surname derived from early life baldness or tonsure.

What does the Baldie map show?

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