NameCensus.

UK surname

Balfe

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Baoilbhe, meaning "descendant of Baoilbhe."

In the 1881 census there were 40 people recorded with the Balfe surname, ranking it #28,011 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 397, ranked #11,941, up from #28,011 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Acton, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Kesteven, Tameside and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balfe is 423 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 892.5%.

1881 census count

40

Ranked #28,011

Modern count

397

2016, ranked #11,941

Peak year

2010

423 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Balfe had 40 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,011 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 397 in 2016, ranked #11,941.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 113 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Balfe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Balfe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Balfe 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 40 #28,011
1891 historical 43 #30,933
1901 historical 89 #24,154
1911 historical 113 #21,168
1997 modern 395 #11,106
1998 modern 410 #11,143
1999 modern 414 #11,156
2000 modern 399 #11,422
2001 modern 398 #11,276
2002 modern 394 #11,561
2003 modern 393 #11,401
2004 modern 374 #11,843
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 370 #11,940
2007 modern 378 #11,877
2008 modern 398 #11,525
2009 modern 408 #11,541
2010 modern 423 #11,470
2011 modern 402 #11,828
2012 modern 392 #11,898
2013 modern 409 #11,714
2014 modern 407 #11,848
2015 modern 393 #12,059
2016 modern 397 #11,941

Geography

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Where Balfes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Acton, Manchester, Liverpool and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Kesteven, Tameside, North East Derbyshire and Dover. 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 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Manchester Cheshire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Kesteven 003 North Kesteven
2 Tameside 011 Tameside
3 Tameside 026 Tameside
4 North East Derbyshire 011 North East Derbyshire
5 Dover 011 Dover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Balfe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Balfe

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Balfe 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

Balfe is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Balfe 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 Balfe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Balfe

The surname Balfe originated in Ireland, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "balbh" or "balb," meaning "dumb" or "stammering." This name may have been given as a descriptive nickname to someone who had a speech impediment or difficulty communicating effectively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Balfe can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, which mentions a John Balfe in County Wexford in 1586. This suggests that the name was present in the southeastern region of Ireland during that time period.

The Balfe surname has been linked to various places throughout Ireland, including County Wexford, County Kildare, and County Kilkenny. Some variations in spelling include Balf, Balfe, and Baulf, likely due to the influence of regional dialects and the evolution of language over time.

In the 17th century, the name Balfe appeared in Irish records, such as the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665, which listed several individuals with this surname in County Wexford. This indicates that the Balfe family had established roots in that area during that time.

One notable figure with the surname Balfe was Michael William Balfe, an Irish composer and violinist who lived from 1808 to 1870. He is best known for his operas, including "The Bohemian Girl," which premiered in London in 1843 and became a great success.

Another individual of historical significance was James Balfe, born in 1808 in County Wexford. He was a prominent Irish lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1866 to 1878.

In the late 19th century, John Balfe, born in 1844 in County Kilkenny, was a renowned Irish-American architect who designed many notable buildings in New York City, including the New York County Courthouse and the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Edward Balfe, born in 1876 in County Wexford, was a distinguished Irish historian and author who wrote extensively on the history and culture of Ireland, particularly in the early 20th century.

Lastly, Michael Balfe, born in 1808 in Dublin, was an Irish poet and songwriter whose works captured the essence of Irish life and folklore during the 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Balfe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balfe 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. Lancashire leads with 23 Balfes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.97x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 23 4.97x
Cheshire 6 6.97x
Surrey 5 2.63x
Middlesex 4 1.03x
Bedfordshire 1 4.95x
Hampshire 1 1.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 7 Balfes recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.86x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 7 89.86x
Ardwick 6 143.88x
Brinnington 6 750.00x
Liverpool 5 17.79x
Camberwell 4 16.06x
Hampton London 4 625.00x
Reddish 2 312.50x
Aldershot 1 37.31x
Clifton 1 526.32x
Everton 1 6.78x
Frimley 1 185.19x
Habergham Eaves 1 23.64x
Walton On Hill 1 39.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 4
Catherine 3
Emma 2
Henrietta 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Esney 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Gertude 1
Helen 1
Kathleen 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Francis 2
Henry 2
James 2
Edmond 1
Edward 1
George 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Richard 1
Walter 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 Balfe households.

FAQ

Balfe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Balfe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 40 people were recorded with the Balfe surname. That placed it at #28,011 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Balfe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 397 in 2016. That gives Balfe a modern rank of #11,941.

What does the Balfe surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Baoilbhe, meaning "descendant of Baoilbhe."

What does the Balfe map show?

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