NameCensus.

UK surname

Ballington

A habitational surname denoting someone from any of several places named Ballington in England.

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Ballington surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 136, ranked #25,377, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Matlock, St Alkmund and Radcliffe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, High Peak and South Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ballington is 151 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.0%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

1998

151 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ballington had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 134 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ballington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ballington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ballington 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 74 #20,443
1861 historical 129 #17,271
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 124 #20,163
1911 historical 134 #19,131
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 151 #21,578
1999 modern 147 #22,110
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 132 #23,625
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 130 #24,053
2007 modern 127 #24,748
2008 modern 134 #24,249
2009 modern 132 #24,929
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 132 #25,303
2012 modern 135 #24,952
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 139 #24,956
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

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Where Ballingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Matlock, St Alkmund, Radcliffe, St Peter and Elmton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, South Derbyshire and Hart. 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 Matlock Derbyshire
2 St Alkmund Derbyshire
3 Radcliffe Lancashire
4 St Peter Derbyshire
5 Elmton Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 003 Derbyshire Dales
2 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
3 High Peak 003 High Peak
4 South Derbyshire 004 South Derbyshire
5 Hart 010 Hart

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ballington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ballington

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Ballington is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ballington is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ballington falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ballington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ballington

The surname BALLINGTON is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English place name "Balingtun," which comprised the elements "bæling," meaning "dweller," and "tun," meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This suggests that the name was likely borne by individuals who resided in such a settlement or enclosure.

The name BALLINGTON can be traced back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record includes references to places like Balingtun in Essex, indicating the presence of the surname or its variant spellings in that region during the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BALLINGTON can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1194, where a certain William de Balingtun is mentioned. This suggests that the surname had already taken its modern form by the late 12th century.

Over the centuries, the name has been subject to various spelling variations, including Ballingdon, Balinton, and Balyntone, likely due to regional dialects and scribal errors in record-keeping. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the place name Ballingdon, a village in Essex, which could have contributed to the surname's evolution.

Notable individuals bearing the surname BALLINGTON include:

1. John Ballington (c. 1612-1692), an English settler in Virginia and a prominent figure in the early colonial era. 2. Samuel Ballington (1680-1757), an English clergyman and author known for his work "A View of the Ancient and Present State of the Churches of Door, Home-Lacy, and Free-Chapel Milborne." 3. William Ballington (1716-1794), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Gloucestershire. 4. Mary Ballington (1802-1890), a British philanthropist and social reformer, known for her efforts in improving the living conditions of the working class. 5. Thomas Ballington (1838-1918), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Victorian era and participated in several notable campaigns.

The surname BALLINGTON has a rich history rooted in English place names and medieval settlements. While its origins can be traced back to the 11th century, it has endured through the ages, reflecting the diverse tapestry of English surname traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ballington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ballington 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. Derbyshire leads with 56 Ballingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.96x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 56 35.96x
Staffordshire 13 3.87x
Warwickshire 12 4.78x
Lancashire 8 0.68x
Glamorgan 3 1.73x
Nottinghamshire 3 2.24x
Yorkshire 3 0.30x
Wiltshire 2 2.27x
Oxfordshire 1 1.63x
Perthshire 1 2.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Matlock in Derbyshire leads with 29 Ballingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1387.56x.

Place Total Index
Matlock 29 1387.56x
Derby St Alkmund 15 321.20x
Birmingham 12 14.35x
Radcliffe 8 140.60x
Castle Church 7 346.53x
Cheadle 5 310.56x
Derby St Peter 4 80.65x
Derby St Werburgh 4 44.49x
Aberdare 3 25.23x
Manningham 3 24.71x
Nottingham St Mary 3 8.65x
Melksham 2 130.72x
Ardoch 1 263.16x
Ashover 1 129.87x
Darley 1 158.73x
Derby St Michael 1 303.03x
Hook Norton 1 238.10x
Litchurch 1 15.95x
Whittington 1 144.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 5
Mary 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Jessie 1
Martha 1
May 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Roseamond 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Subella 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 7
Thomas 7
Harry 4
Henry 4
Herbert 4
John 4
Charles 3
Samuel 3
William 3
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Zacharia 2
Adrian 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
C. 1
Christopher 1
Edward 1
H. 1
Harold 1
James 1
Jesse 1
Josiah 1
Saml. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ballington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ballington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Ballington surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ballington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Ballington a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Ballington surname mean?

A habitational surname denoting someone from any of several places named Ballington in England.

What does the Ballington map show?

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