NameCensus.

UK surname

Balmforth

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the bald forehead" or "an oblong hill."

In the 1881 census there were 1,134 people recorded with the Balmforth surname, ranking it #3,528 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 907, ranked #6,265, down from #3,528 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Batley and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, Wakefield and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balmforth is 1,417 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.0%.

1881 census count

1,134

Ranked #3,528

Modern count

907

2016, ranked #6,265

Peak year

1911

1,417 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Balmforth had 1,134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,528 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 907 in 2016, ranked #6,265.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,417 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Balmforth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Balmforth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Balmforth 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 679 #3,828
1861 historical 802 #3,425
1881 historical 1,134 #3,528
1891 historical 1,159 #3,687
1901 historical 1,287 #3,865
1911 historical 1,417 #3,408
1997 modern 987 #5,561
1998 modern 996 #5,696
1999 modern 1,001 #5,710
2000 modern 995 #5,713
2001 modern 969 #5,730
2002 modern 999 #5,691
2003 modern 937 #5,897
2004 modern 947 #5,853
2005 modern 934 #5,859
2006 modern 912 #5,972
2007 modern 929 #5,943
2008 modern 908 #6,092
2009 modern 931 #6,082
2010 modern 958 #6,084
2011 modern 943 #6,100
2012 modern 944 #6,013
2013 modern 951 #6,076
2014 modern 949 #6,129
2015 modern 924 #6,203
2016 modern 907 #6,265

Geography

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Where Balmforths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Batley, Bradford, Huddersfield and Dewsbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, Wakefield and Kirklees. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Dewsbury Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 026 Calderdale
2 Wakefield 035 Wakefield
3 Calderdale 020 Calderdale
4 Calderdale 015 Calderdale
5 Kirklees 005 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Balmforth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Balmforth

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Balmforth, 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 Balmforth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Balmforth 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Balmforth is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Balmforth is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Balmforth falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Balmforth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Balmforth

The surname Balmforth originates from England, primarily in the Yorkshire region, during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "bealdan" meaning "bold" and "fryth" meaning "wood" or "forest," suggesting that the name likely referred to a person who lived in a bold or brave forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Baldfrith." This suggests that the name may have been in use even earlier than the 13th century.

In the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Baldefrith" or "Balmforth." It is believed that the name may have been associated with a particular location or village, as many surnames during that time were derived from place names.

One notable individual with the surname Balmforth was Sir Thomas Balmforth (1493-1567), a wealthy landowner and member of the English gentry from Yorkshire. He was known for his contributions to the local community and his involvement in various legal disputes over land ownership.

Another historically significant figure was John Balmforth (1621-1695), a Puritan minister and religious writer who authored several influential works on theology and Christian living during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name appears in various parish records and legal documents, such as the marriage of William Balmforth and Elizabeth Smith in 1732, recorded in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Wakefield, Yorkshire.

During the Industrial Revolution, the Balmforth family played a role in the textile industry, with several members owning and operating mills in the Yorkshire region. One notable example was James Balmforth (1798-1876), a successful wool merchant and mill owner in Huddersfield.

Another prominent individual was Sir Robert Balmforth (1824-1891), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Sheffield. He made significant contributions to the local community, including the founding of the Balmforth Orphanage and the Balmforth Convalescent Home.

While the surname Balmforth is predominantly found in England, particularly in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, it has also been carried to other parts of the world through migration and immigration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Balmforth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balmforth 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. Yorkshire leads with 991 Balmforths recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.04x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 991 9.04x
Lancashire 73 0.56x
Middlesex 21 0.19x
Derbyshire 11 0.64x
Lincolnshire 9 0.51x
Cheshire 8 0.33x
Durham 6 0.18x
Essex 4 0.18x
Surrey 3 0.06x
Bedfordshire 2 0.35x
Hampshire 2 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 95 Balmforths recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.35x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 95 15.35x
Clayton 49 182.63x
Elland Cum Greetland 47 95.18x
Batley 42 40.31x
Halifax 36 22.37x
Huddersfield 36 22.54x
Linthwaite 36 156.25x
Stainland Cum Old 36 191.90x
Lockwood 33 83.67x
Longwood 31 175.44x
Shitlington 31 273.37x
Dewsbury 27 24.02x
Pudsey 23 39.26x
Cleckheaton 22 54.48x
Bramley In Bramley 21 50.05x
Liversedge 20 40.98x
Gomersal 16 31.27x
Northowram 15 19.52x
Holy Trinity 14 5.31x
Nether Hallam 14 9.44x
Ovenden 13 26.64x
Almondbury 12 22.64x
Habergham Eaves 12 10.00x
Hunslet 12 7.02x
Manningham 12 8.89x
Skircoat 12 27.76x
Newholme Cum Dunsley 11 728.48x
Rastrick 11 36.12x
Rossington 11 820.90x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 11 21.60x
Upperthong 11 118.03x
Eccleshill 10 37.48x
Horton In Bradford 10 5.84x
Wardleworth 10 13.33x
Bradford 9 3.39x
Epworth 9 109.09x
Kirkdale 9 4.08x
Southowram 9 26.90x
Wavertree 9 21.42x
Wooldale 9 48.41x
Altrincham 8 18.75x
Armley 8 16.55x
Golcar 8 27.61x
Hook 8 33.18x
Killamarsh 8 74.28x
St Marylebone London 8 1.35x
Thornton In Bradford 8 21.92x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 17.58x
Barwick In Elmet 7 83.33x
Calverley Cum Farsley 7 22.49x
Fixby 7 366.49x
Kirkburton 7 54.18x
Norland 7 93.09x
Templenewsam 7 88.16x
Honley 6 31.27x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 6 21.70x
Mirfield 6 9.97x
Slaithwaite 6 52.59x
Soothill 6 15.15x
Wetherby 6 84.03x
Wolsingham 6 20.01x
Kellington 5 427.35x
Openshaw 5 8.13x
West Derby 5 1.30x
Barrow In Furness 4 2.24x
Liverpool 4 0.50x
Lockton 4 264.90x
Poplar London 4 1.92x
South Shoebury 4 45.61x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.05x
Wakefield 4 4.75x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 8.00x
Burnley 3 2.71x
Churwell 3 40.16x
Farnley In Bramley 3 21.93x
Goole 3 16.33x
Holbeck 3 4.13x
Hulme 3 1.09x
Lambeth 3 0.31x
Ugthorpe 3 326.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 78
Sarah 72
Elizabeth 41
Emma 27
Martha 25
Annie 23
Hannah 21
Alice 18
Ann 18
Emily 16
Jane 14
Clara 13
Ada 11
Ellen 11
Louisa 11
Eliza 10
Harriet 10
Margaret 9
Grace 7
Charlotte 6
Edith 6
Maria 5
Rachel 5
Rebecca 5
Agnes 4
Caroline 4
Susan 4
Anne 3
Bertha 3
Leah 3
Lily 3
Lizzie 3
Lydia 3
Matilda 3
Ruth 3
Amy 2
Beatrice 2
Betsy 2
Betty 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Georgina 2
Isabella 2
Lilly 2
M. 2
May 2
Rose 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 62
William 55
James 36
Joseph 31
Thomas 31
George 29
Charles 21
Samuel 13
Henry 12
Benjamin 10
Fred 10
Walter 9
Alfred 8
Harry 8
Albert 7
Joe 7
Tom 7
Frank 6
Richard 6
Herbert 5
Abraham 4
Arthur 4
David 4
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Wm. 4
Edgar 3
Edwin 3
Eli 3
Ephraim 3
Ernest 3
Matthew 3
Adam 2
Andrew 2
Ben 2
Benjn. 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Ezra 2
Fred. 2
Fredk. 2
Jas. 2
Jonathan 2
Jonathon 2
Joshua 2
Oliver 2
Orlando 2
Robert 2
Sam 2

FAQ

Balmforth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Balmforth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,134 people were recorded with the Balmforth surname. That placed it at #3,528 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Balmforth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 907 in 2016. That gives Balmforth a modern rank of #6,265.

What does the Balmforth surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the bald forehead" or "an oblong hill."

What does the Balmforth map show?

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