NameCensus.

UK surname

Balkwill

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "the well near the ridge".

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Balkwill surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 329, ranked #13,798, down from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hatherleigh and Shebbear. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Isles of Scilly and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balkwill is 439 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.6%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

329

2016, ranked #13,798

Peak year

1911

439 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Balkwill had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016, ranked #13,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 439 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Balkwill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Balkwill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Balkwill 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 217 #9,784
1861 historical 225 #10,843
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 355 #9,721
1901 historical 381 #9,799
1911 historical 439 #8,671
1997 modern 347 #12,251
1998 modern 382 #11,779
1999 modern 384 #11,800
2000 modern 377 #11,903
2001 modern 367 #11,968
2002 modern 369 #12,144
2003 modern 332 #12,914
2004 modern 326 #13,122
2005 modern 327 #13,011
2006 modern 327 #13,092
2007 modern 337 #12,950
2008 modern 336 #13,095
2009 modern 335 #13,381
2010 modern 336 #13,613
2011 modern 328 #13,730
2012 modern 327 #13,654
2013 modern 329 #13,810
2014 modern 327 #13,976
2015 modern 324 #13,965
2016 modern 329 #13,798

Geography

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Where Balkwills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hatherleigh, Shebbear and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Isles of Scilly, Exeter and South Hams. 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 Hatherleigh Devon
4 Shebbear Devon
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 014 Pembrokeshire
2 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire
3 Isles of Scilly 001 Isles of Scilly
4 Exeter 015 Exeter
5 South Hams 010 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Balkwill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Balkwill

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Balkwill is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Balkwill 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

Balkwill falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Balkwill

The surname Balkwill is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "bæle" meaning "fire" or "beacon" and "wil" meaning "stream" or "creek." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a stream or creek where a beacon or signal fire was lit.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Balchwinus is mentioned in Devonshire. The spelling variations Balchwinus and Balchwin appear in various medieval records, indicating the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the name Balkwill appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, which were records of financial transactions made by the Crown. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its original location in Devonshire.

During the 14th century, a prominent figure named John Balkwill was a member of the clergy in Somerset. He is mentioned in several church records from that time period.

In the 16th century, a notable Balkwill was Thomas Balkwill, who was born in Exeter in 1522. He was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Exeter in 1570.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Balkwill was Sir Amyas Balkwill, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a military commander and served as the Governor of Plymouth during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 18th century, a prominent member of the Balkwill family was Robert Balkwill, who was born in Barnstaple in 1720. He was a prosperous merchant and landowner, and his estate was known as Balkwill House.

The name Balkwill has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Balkwill Farm in Devon and Balkwill Manor in Somerset. These place names likely originated from individuals with the Balkwill surname who owned or lived in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Balkwill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balkwill 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. Devon leads with 176 Balkwills recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.08x.

County Total Index
Devon 176 33.08x
Middlesex 31 1.21x
Cornwall 22 7.60x
Essex 12 2.38x
Gloucestershire 9 1.80x
Kent 5 0.57x
Surrey 3 0.24x
Hampshire 2 0.38x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Northumberland 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Marland Peters in Devon leads with 25 Balkwills recorded in 1881 and an index of 10869.57x.

Place Total Index
Marland Peters 25 10869.57x
Hatherleigh 23 1742.42x
Sheepwash 13 3611.11x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 26.84x
Fulham London 10 26.98x
East Ham 9 96.15x
Bristol St Paul In 8 59.93x
Great Torrington 8 264.90x
Shebbear 8 1000.00x
South Huish 8 3076.92x
Stoke Damerel 7 18.80x
Tavistock 7 115.51x
Antony 6 215.05x
Malborough 6 284.36x
Merton 6 1176.47x
St George Hanover Square 6 13.32x
St Luke London 6 14.64x
Lewisham 5 10.75x
Milton Damerel 5 1190.48x
St Mary Magdalene 5 234.74x
Stokeinteignhead 5 877.19x
Tintagel 5 632.91x
Germansweek 4 1739.13x
Islington London 4 1.61x
Lidford 4 167.36x
Black Torrington 3 389.61x
Calstock 3 52.91x
Huish 3 3000.00x
Plymouth Charles The 3 12.80x
Plympton St Mary 3 97.72x
Uplyme 3 375.00x
West Ham 3 2.69x
Buckland Brewer 2 307.69x
Finchley 2 20.41x
Holsworthy 2 133.33x
Kingsbridge 2 149.25x
Newington 2 2.12x
St Erme 2 454.55x
West Alvington 2 266.67x
Barnstaple 1 11.98x
Beddington 1 20.75x
Beerferris 1 96.15x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.90x
Birkenhead 1 2.22x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 5.98x
Combeinteignhead 1 263.16x
Compton Gifford 1 59.88x
Elswick 1 3.29x
Exeter St David 1 22.03x
Frithelstock 1 204.08x
Highampton 1 384.62x
Holdenhurst 1 7.28x
Huntshaw 1 588.24x
Langtree 1 156.25x
Little Torrington 1 212.77x
Northlew 1 149.25x
Portsmouth 1 8.29x
Shute 1 196.08x
St Gennys 1 232.56x
St Pancras London 1 0.49x
St Stephen Coleman Street 1 111.11x
Stonehouse East 1 37.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 12
Ann 8
Susan 6
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Sarah 4
Annie 3
Bertha 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Grace 3
Hannah 3
Henrietta 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Annette 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Cathne. 1
Cealis 1
Celia 1
Clara 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Helena 1
Lavinia 1
Lillian 1
Lucy 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Mark 1
Maud 1
Melora 1
Miriam 1
Norah 1
Pollie 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 19
Thomas 14
George 8
James 8
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Harry 3
Henry 3
Isaac 3
Stephen 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Sidney 2
Abraham 1
Arther 1
Augustas 1
Cephas 1
Courtenay 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Esau 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Lewis 1
Ruben 1
Samuel 1
Silas 1
Sydney 1
W. 1
Wallace 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Balkwill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Balkwill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Balkwill surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Balkwill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016. That gives Balkwill a modern rank of #13,798.

What does the Balkwill surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "the well near the ridge".

What does the Balkwill map show?

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