NameCensus.

UK surname

Balsillie

In the 1881 census there were 177 people recorded with the Balsillie surname, ranking it #13,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, down from #13,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cupar, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cupar East, North Lincolnshire and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balsillie is 209 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.1%.

1881 census count

177

Ranked #13,889

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

1901

209 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Balsillie had 177 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 209 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Balsillie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Balsillie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Balsillie 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 97 #17,484
1861 historical 137 #16,465
1881 historical 177 #13,889
1891 historical 206 #14,597
1901 historical 209 #14,712
1911 historical 39 #29,025
1997 modern 142 #21,856
1998 modern 145 #22,139
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 131 #23,672
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 140 #22,876
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 128 #24,117
2005 modern 122 #24,817
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 112 #27,061
2009 modern 123 #26,098
2010 modern 128 #26,036
2011 modern 122 #26,647
2012 modern 121 #26,829
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 130 #26,093
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Balsillies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cupar, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Cameron and St. Andrews and St Leonards. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cupar East, North Lincolnshire, High Peak, St Andrews North and Strathkinness and Alva. 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 Cupar Fife
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Cameron Fife
5 St. Andrews and St Leonards Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cupar East Fife
2 North Lincolnshire 016 North Lincolnshire
3 High Peak 001 High Peak
4 St Andrews North and Strathkinness Fife
5 Alva Clackmannanshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Balsillie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Balsillie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Balsillie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Balsillie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Balsillie is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Balsillie is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Balsillie 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 Balsillie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Balsillie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balsillie 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. Fife leads with 97 Balsillies recorded in 1881 and an index of 94.90x.

County Total Index
Fife 97 94.90x
Midlothian 31 13.40x
Angus 19 11.88x
Lanarkshire 10 1.79x
Northumberland 6 2.34x
Stirlingshire 6 9.42x
Berwickshire 5 23.91x
Ayrshire 3 2.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 18 Balsillies recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.34x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 19.34x
Dundee 14 23.45x
St Andrews 14 301.08x
Ceres 12 975.61x
Cameron 11 1864.41x
Pittenweem 8 634.92x
Forgan 7 357.14x
Kemback 7 1372.55x
Edinburgh Canongate 6 101.87x
Tynemouth 6 43.60x
Liff Benvie 5 20.59x
Old Monkland 5 22.56x
Whitsome 5 1515.15x
Barony 4 2.83x
Crail 4 384.62x
Cupar 4 90.09x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 4 73.13x
Kinghorn 4 184.33x
Kingsbarns 4 851.06x
Newburgh 4 307.69x
Carnbee 3 483.87x
Falkirk 3 20.12x
Irvine 3 83.57x
Kilmany 3 810.81x
Larbert 3 78.74x
Largo 3 225.56x
Strathmiglo 3 245.90x
Kennoway 2 215.05x
Leuchars 2 155.04x
South Leith 2 7.68x
Collessie 1 84.75x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 1 62.50x
Govan 1 0.72x
Kilconquhar 1 81.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Isabella 1
Laura 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Balfour 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 Balsillie households.

Occupation Count
Boat Builder 1

FAQ

Balsillie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Balsillie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 177 people were recorded with the Balsillie surname. That placed it at #13,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Balsillie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Balsillie a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Balsillie map show?

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