NameCensus.

UK surname

Balsdon

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Balsdon surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 434, ranked #11,102, down from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Bideford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, West Devon and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balsdon is 489 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.6%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

434

2016, ranked #11,102

Peak year

1911

489 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Balsdon had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016, ranked #11,102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 489 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Balsdon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Balsdon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Balsdon 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 190 #10,852
1861 historical 208 #11,642
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 336 #10,158
1901 historical 403 #9,442
1911 historical 489 #7,959
1997 modern 421 #10,589
1998 modern 440 #10,581
1999 modern 443 #10,577
2000 modern 434 #10,730
2001 modern 433 #10,561
2002 modern 428 #10,880
2003 modern 425 #10,765
2004 modern 420 #10,889
2005 modern 425 #10,667
2006 modern 428 #10,659
2007 modern 431 #10,703
2008 modern 427 #10,892
2009 modern 442 #10,844
2010 modern 465 #10,618
2011 modern 471 #10,418
2012 modern 450 #10,654
2013 modern 434 #11,158
2014 modern 433 #11,262
2015 modern 434 #11,142
2016 modern 434 #11,102

Geography

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Where Balsdons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Bideford, 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 Torridge, West Devon, South Hams, Bristol and Cornwall. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bideford Devon
4 Shebbear Devon
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 008 Torridge
2 West Devon 001 West Devon
3 South Hams 012 South Hams
4 Bristol 008 Bristol, City of
5 Cornwall 001 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Balsdon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Balsdon

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Balsdon is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Balsdon is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Balsdon falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Balsdon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Balsdon

The surname Balsdon is of English origin, believed to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire during the late medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name Balsdon, a small hamlet located near the village of King's Stanley.

Balsdon is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "bald" meaning "bold" or "brave," and "dun" meaning "hill" or "down." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived on or near a prominent hill or mound in the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Balsdon can be found in the Gloucestershire Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a Richard de Balsdon is listed as a taxpayer. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region by the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Balsdon family was known to have held land and property in the parish of King's Stanley. A notable figure from this period was John Balsdon (c. 1535-1610), a wealthy landowner and yeoman farmer.

During the English Civil War (1642-1651), a Richard Balsdon (1610-1675) served as a captain in the Parliamentarian forces, fighting against the Royalists. He is mentioned in several contemporary accounts of the conflict.

In the 18th century, the Balsdon family maintained their connections to Gloucestershire. William Balsdon (1745-1821) was a prominent figure in the local community, serving as a churchwarden and overseer of the poor for the parish of King's Stanley.

Another noteworthy individual was Thomas Balsdon (1823-1891), a scholar and educator who served as the headmaster of King's Stanley Grammar School for several decades in the mid-19th century.

While the surname Balsdon remains relatively uncommon, it continues to be associated with its historical roots in the county of Gloucestershire and the hamlet that bears its name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Balsdon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balsdon 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 183 Balsdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.27x.

County Total Index
Devon 183 34.27x
Cornwall 16 5.51x
Gloucestershire 16 3.18x
Glamorgan 12 2.69x
Durham 10 1.31x
Surrey 6 0.48x
Lancashire 4 0.13x
Northumberland 4 1.05x
Sussex 4 0.92x
Kent 2 0.23x
Middlesex 2 0.08x
Royal Navy 2 6.54x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.92x
Somerset 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Black Torrington in Devon leads with 34 Balsdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4415.58x.

Place Total Index
Black Torrington 34 4415.58x
Shebbear 16 2000.00x
Ilfracombe 12 218.18x
St Giles On The Heath 9 3750.00x
Stoke Damerel 9 24.08x
Barnstaple 8 95.47x
Bideford 7 122.38x
Bristol St Peter 7 388.89x
Frithelstock 7 1400.00x
Northam 7 179.95x
Westoe 7 16.18x
Broadwoodwidger 6 983.61x
Buckland Brewer 6 923.08x
Wear Gifford 6 1538.46x
Cardiff St John 5 34.27x
Henbury 5 203.25x
Lambeth 5 2.24x
Lamerton 5 490.20x
Okehampton 5 248.76x
St Mewan 5 561.80x
Yealmpton 5 609.76x
Brighton 4 4.58x
Dolton 4 606.06x
Halwell 4 689.66x
Horton 4 211.64x
Stowford 4 1176.47x
Swansea Town 4 10.92x
West Derby 4 4.49x
Westleigh 4 909.09x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 6.33x
Fremington 3 277.78x
Holsworthy 3 198.68x
South Shields 3 44.12x
Stratton 3 189.87x
Broad Clist 2 108.70x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.30x
Colebrooke 2 322.58x
Crediton 2 39.53x
Devonport 2 32.57x
Falmouth 2 19.46x
Kenwyn 2 26.35x
Landulph 2 454.55x
Lewtrenchard 2 740.74x
Little Torrington 2 425.53x
Royal Navy 2 7.65x
Swansea Lower 2 87.72x
Bradford 1 303.03x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 10.82x
Chew Stoke 1 163.93x
Coryton 1 500.00x
Exeter St David 1 21.93x
Horfield 1 19.76x
Kentisbeare 1 135.14x
Laneast 1 434.78x
Lee 1 7.87x
Lewisham 1 2.14x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 2.33x
Newington 1 1.06x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.43x
Pyworthy 1 227.27x
St Clement 1 33.00x
Tormoham 1 4.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 14
Ann 9
Grace 7
Jane 7
Emma 5
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Sarah 4
Susan 4
Alice 3
Bessie 3
Margaret 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Dorothy 2
Eva 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Rhoda 2
Sabina 2
Tryphena 2
Beatrice 1
Blanch 1
Catherine 1
Daisy 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Elisa 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Judith 1
Kitty 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Margrate 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Norah 1
Rosia 1
Rosina 1
Sophia 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
James 18
John 15
George 10
Richard 8
Alfred 5
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alwin 1
Amos 1
Arthur 1
Courteny 1
Fredrick 1
Gideon 1
Hanmoe 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Marwood 1
Noah 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Balsdon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Balsdon surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Balsdon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016. That gives Balsdon a modern rank of #11,102.

What does the Balsdon surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Balsdon map show?

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