NameCensus.

UK surname

Baldry

A locational surname originating from Baldry in Bedfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,406 people recorded with the Baldry surname, ranking it #2,951 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,693, ranked #3,690, down from #2,951 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Beccles and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baldry is 1,964 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.4%.

1881 census count

1,406

Ranked #2,951

Modern count

1,693

2016, ranked #3,690

Peak year

1911

1,964 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baldry had 1,406 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,951 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,693 in 2016, ranked #3,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,964 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Baldry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baldry surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Baldry 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 898 #3,065
1861 historical 694 #3,891
1881 historical 1,406 #2,951
1891 historical 1,513 #2,918
1901 historical 1,860 #2,827
1911 historical 1,964 #2,528
1997 modern 1,803 #3,327
1998 modern 1,873 #3,346
1999 modern 1,922 #3,282
2000 modern 1,884 #3,326
2001 modern 1,877 #3,271
2002 modern 1,921 #3,280
2003 modern 1,858 #3,297
2004 modern 1,863 #3,289
2005 modern 1,809 #3,357
2006 modern 1,797 #3,379
2007 modern 1,776 #3,451
2008 modern 1,748 #3,520
2009 modern 1,767 #3,556
2010 modern 1,762 #3,626
2011 modern 1,744 #3,614
2012 modern 1,700 #3,647
2013 modern 1,731 #3,644
2014 modern 1,745 #3,633
2015 modern 1,716 #3,648
2016 modern 1,693 #3,690

Geography

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Where Baldrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Beccles, Ipswich St Mary Stoke and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Beccles Suffolk
4 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 004 Waveney
2 Waveney 007 Waveney
3 Waveney 012 Waveney
4 Waveney 013 Waveney
5 Waveney 003 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Baldry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Baldry

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Baldry is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Baldry is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Baldry falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Baldry

The surname Baldry has its roots in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name from the village of Baldersby in Yorkshire, which was recorded as "Baldresbi" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is derived from the Old Norse personal name "Baldric" combined with the Old Norse word "by," meaning a farm or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Baldry appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, where a Robert de Baldresbi is mentioned. In the 13th century, the surname was also found in various forms, such as Baldresby, Baldrisby, and Baldreby, reflecting the evolution of spelling over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Baldry include John Baldry (1932-2005), a British blues singer and actor known for his powerful vocals and performances with groups like Steampacket and Bluesology. Another notable figure was Robert Baldry (1690-1757), an English lawyer and politician who served as a member of parliament for the borough of Chippenham in Wiltshire.

Sir Ralph Baldry (1894-1972) was a British civil servant who served as the Clerk of the House of Commons from 1950 to 1962. He played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running of parliamentary proceedings during a period of significant political change in the United Kingdom.

In the literary world, Alma Baldry (1884-1983) was a British children's author and illustrator who wrote and illustrated numerous books, including "The Little White Rabbit" and "The Greedy Rabbit." Her works were widely popular and enjoyed by generations of young readers.

Another notable figure was Sir William Baldry (1855-1932), a British civil engineer and railway manager who made significant contributions to the development of the Indian railway system during the British Raj. He served as the Chief Commissioner of Railways in India from 1908 to 1912.

While the surname Baldry has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and various historical events. However, its roots can be traced back to the small village of Baldersby in Yorkshire, where the name was first recorded centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Baldry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baldry 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. Suffolk leads with 489 Baldrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.25x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 489 29.25x
Norfolk 280 13.27x
Middlesex 207 1.51x
Surrey 86 1.29x
Essex 68 2.51x
Kent 57 1.22x
Yorkshire 46 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 25 2.88x
Lincolnshire 25 1.14x
Durham 18 0.44x
Hampshire 15 0.53x
Sussex 14 0.61x
Westmorland 12 3.98x
Lancashire 11 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.43x
Midlothian 7 0.38x
Derbyshire 6 0.28x
Bedfordshire 5 0.70x
Northumberland 5 0.24x
Hertfordshire 4 0.42x
Devon 3 0.11x
Wiltshire 3 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 1.22x
Somerset 2 0.09x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Monmouthshire 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.23x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Stirlingshire 1 0.20x
Warwickshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beccles in Suffolk leads with 35 Baldrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 130.06x.

Place Total Index
Beccles 35 130.06x
St Pancras London 32 2.90x
Lowestoft 30 37.99x
Great Yarmouth 25 14.30x
Kirby Cane 23 1167.51x
Lambeth 22 1.84x
Frostenden 20 1104.97x
Ipswich St Margaret 20 35.26x
Camberwell 19 2.17x
Oulton 17 300.89x
Bexley 16 38.65x
Bury St Edmunds St James 16 35.83x
Ipswich St Mathew 16 34.15x
St Andrewthe Great 16 142.35x
Watton 15 226.24x
Halesworth 14 118.14x
Hammersmith London 14 4.14x
Aldringham 13 541.67x
Kelsale 13 280.17x
Leiston 13 113.24x
Clerkenwell London 12 3.70x
Kensington London 12 1.57x
Marham 12 339.94x
Wickham Market 12 173.66x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 11 35.07x
Ditchingham 11 217.82x
Garboldisham 11 364.24x
Westminster St John 11 6.58x
Badingham 10 316.46x
Bungay Holy Trinity 10 116.55x
Horham 10 625.00x
Manthorpe Cum Little 10 59.59x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 10 165.56x
Shildon 10 30.48x
Wattisfield 10 442.48x
West Tofts 10 1123.60x
Hackney London 9 1.17x
Holme 9 720.00x
Ipswich St Helen 9 45.41x
Islington London 9 0.68x
Lakenham 9 30.02x
Leeds 9 1.17x
Poplar London 9 3.47x
Pulham St Mary Virgin 9 232.56x
Saxmundham 9 145.16x
Worlingworth 9 298.01x
Basford 8 9.38x
Brandeston 8 425.53x
Ealing 8 6.52x
Heigham 8 7.06x
Norwich St George Tombland 8 215.63x
Norwich St Saviour 8 108.11x
Putney 8 12.79x
Southwark St Saviour 8 11.34x
Stoke Newington London 8 7.48x
Thurlton 8 406.09x
Barnes 7 24.75x
Dovercourt 7 73.45x
Hillingdon 7 16.00x
Ipswich St Nicholas 7 76.00x
Linthorpe 7 8.62x
Little Oakley 7 466.67x
Mettingham 7 409.36x
Middleton 7 296.61x
Old Artillery Ground 7 59.22x
Rollesby 7 265.15x
South Elmham St Peter 7 1944.44x
St Marylebone London 7 0.96x
St Osyth 7 106.22x
Tottenham 7 3.20x
West Bilney 7 666.67x
Brampton 6 19.98x
Church 6 26.09x
Dennington 6 161.73x
Flamborough 6 91.05x
Hempnall 6 144.93x
Holme On Spalding Moor 6 67.34x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 6 38.68x
St Botolph Aldgate London 6 21.23x
West Ham 6 1.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 87
George 75
John 50
James 45
Charles 38
Henry 36
Arthur 31
Thomas 29
Robert 25
Edward 24
Alfred 17
Frederick 17
Joseph 15
Samuel 15
Ernest 11
Walter 10
Herbert 9
Albert 8
Benjamin 6
Frank 6
Fredk. 6
Richard 6
David 5
Edgar 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Frederic 4
Harry 4
Stephen 4
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Horace 3
Isaac 3
Percy 3
Sidney 3
Archibald 2
Bertie 2
Clifford 2
Edwd. 2
Jeremiah 2
Leonard 2
Oscar 2
Peter 2
Spencer 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Elliot 1
Wm.B. 1

FAQ

Baldry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baldry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,406 people were recorded with the Baldry surname. That placed it at #2,951 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baldry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,693 in 2016. That gives Baldry a modern rank of #3,690.

What does the Baldry surname mean?

A locational surname originating from Baldry in Bedfordshire, England.

What does the Baldry map show?

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