UK surname
A surname referring to someone who was bald or had very little hair.
In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Baldy surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #19,750 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Hellingly. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baldy is 137 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.0%.
1881 census count
100
Ranked #19,750
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1851
137 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Baldy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Baldy surname density by area, 1881 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 | 137 | #13,812 |
| 1861 | historical | 137 | #16,465 |
| 1881 | historical | 100 | #19,750 |
| 1891 | historical | 100 | #24,045 |
| 1901 | historical | 77 | #25,627 |
| 1911 | historical | 79 | #24,903 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 83 | #29,638 |
| 1999 | modern | 80 | #30,152 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 82 | #29,714 |
| 2002 | modern | 79 | #30,499 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 60 | #33,235 |
| 2007 | modern | 62 | #33,346 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 66 | #33,768 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 71 | #33,693 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 77 | #33,272 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Hellingly, Brighton and Falmer. 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 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 3 | Hellingly | Sussex |
| 4 | Brighton | Sussex |
| 5 | Falmer | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Baldy 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 Baldy, 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 Baldy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Baldy 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, Baldy 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 Baldy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Baldy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Baldy is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "beald," meaning "bald" or "bold." It was initially used as a nickname for someone who was bald or had little hair, or alternatively, someone who was bold or courageous in character.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Baldy can be traced back to the late 12th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. It is believed that the surname may have originated as a descriptive name, distinguishing individuals by their physical appearance or personal traits.
One notable historical reference to the surname Baldy can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named Richard Baldy is mentioned. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names and occupations of individuals during that time period.
In the 13th century, the surname Baldy appeared in various spellings, such as Baldi, Balde, and Baudewyn, reflecting the regional variations and evolving orthography of the English language. Interestingly, the name is also linked to certain place names, such as Baldersby in Yorkshire, which may have influenced its development and distribution.
Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Baldy throughout history are:
1. William Baldy (c. 1390-1470), an English politician and member of the Parliament of England during the reign of Henry VI. 2. John Baldy (c. 1510-1586), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Salisbury from 1570 until his death. 3. Thomas Baldy (c. 1630-1689), an English merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the colonization of Pennsylvania in the 17th century. 4. Elizabeth Baldy (1766-1854), an American pioneer and one of the first settlers in the area that later became known as Baldwinsville, New York. 5. Jasper Baldy (1845-1919), an American Civil War veteran and influential figure in the establishment of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army.
While the surname Baldy may have originated as a descriptive term, it has evolved over the centuries to become a distinct and recognized family name, carried by individuals from various walks of life and across different regions of the English-speaking world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baldy 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. Sussex leads with 36 Baldys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.81x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 36 | 22.81x |
| Yorkshire | 23 | 2.48x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 0.85x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 2.73x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.44x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 2.08x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.25x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.36x |
| Angus | 3 | 3.46x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 3.10x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.54x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.69x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.73x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hellingly in Sussex leads with 15 Baldys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2830.19x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hellingly | 15 | 2830.19x |
| Falmer | 10 | 5555.56x |
| Kirk Smeaton | 9 | 7500.00x |
| Heathfield | 6 | 937.50x |
| Alverthorpe Cum Thornes | 4 | 118.69x |
| Ashborne | 4 | 400.00x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 4 | 16.73x |
| Eastbourne | 4 | 55.10x |
| Gorton | 4 | 38.31x |
| Snaith Cowick | 4 | 727.27x |
| Dundee | 3 | 9.27x |
| Fulham London | 3 | 22.09x |
| Greenwich | 3 | 20.12x |
| Wakefield | 3 | 42.13x |
| Ealing | 2 | 23.89x |
| Portsea | 2 | 5.32x |
| Rickmansworth | 2 | 112.36x |
| Southampton St Mary | 2 | 16.57x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.14x |
| Cadeby | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Charlbury | 1 | 153.85x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 4.52x |
| Darrington | 1 | 588.24x |
| Eltham | 1 | 53.48x |
| Gorleston | 1 | 34.48x |
| Methley | 1 | 76.34x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 5.02x |
| Saxlingham Nethergate | 1 | 588.24x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.00x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.45x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Baldy 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 Baldy 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 Baldy households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 20 |
| Ag Lab | 7 |
| Agri Labourer | 2 |
| Agrl Laborer | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| ((Dealers Son)) (No Occ) | 1 |
| Boot Maker Employing (4 Men) | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller | 1 |
| Cook & Housekeeper Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Currier | 1 |
| Currier Wife | 1 |
| Domestic Sert | 1 |
| Excavator (Navvy) | 1 |
| Gen Dealer | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Practicioner L.R.C.P.London | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Laborer (General) | 1 |
| Mariner Unemployed | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Plain Needle Work | 1 |
| Platelayer | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Shopman | 1 |
| Silk Weaver | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Under Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Baldy surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Baldy a modern rank of #33,441.
A surname referring to someone who was bald or had very little hair.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Baldy 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.