NameCensus.

UK surname

Bance

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley".

In the 1881 census there were 331 people recorded with the Bance surname, ranking it #9,071 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 538, ranked #9,457, down from #9,071 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kintbury, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gravesham, Redbridge and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bance is 562 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.5%.

1881 census count

331

Ranked #9,071

Modern count

538

2016, ranked #9,457

Peak year

1999

562 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bance had 331 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,071 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 538 in 2016, ranked #9,457.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 538 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Bance surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bance surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bance 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 366 #6,987
1881 historical 331 #9,071
1891 historical 460 #7,953
1901 historical 455 #8,641
1911 historical 538 #7,408
1997 modern 559 #8,557
1998 modern 558 #8,824
1999 modern 562 #8,825
2000 modern 558 #8,841
2001 modern 553 #8,772
2002 modern 562 #8,835
2003 modern 558 #8,740
2004 modern 552 #8,833
2005 modern 537 #8,951
2006 modern 533 #9,044
2007 modern 540 #9,015
2008 modern 536 #9,139
2009 modern 543 #9,261
2010 modern 544 #9,430
2011 modern 529 #9,555
2012 modern 544 #9,245
2013 modern 559 #9,212
2014 modern 553 #9,343
2015 modern 550 #9,308
2016 modern 538 #9,457

Geography

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Where Bances are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kintbury, London parishes, Lambeth and Wrotham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gravesham, Redbridge, Croydon and Elmbridge. 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 Kintbury Berkshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Wrotham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gravesham 005 Gravesham
2 Redbridge 014 Redbridge
3 Redbridge 034 Redbridge
4 Croydon 042 Croydon
5 Elmbridge 006 Elmbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bance

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bance

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Bance surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bance household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bance is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bance is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bance falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bance

The surname Bance originates from England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "bance," which means "bench" or "seat." This suggests that the name may have originated from someone who worked as a bench maker or had a connection to benches in some way.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bance surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named Roger Bance is mentioned. This indicates that the name was present in the East Midlands region of England during the medieval period.

In the 13th century, the Bance surname appears in various records from different counties in England, such as Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. This suggests that the name had spread across various regions during this time.

The Bance surname is also mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which were administrative records that documented landowners and their holdings. This provides evidence of the name's presence in the region during the late 13th century.

One notable bearer of the Bance surname was John Bance, who was born in Cambridgeshire in the late 15th century. He was a prominent clergyman and served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk from 1516 until his death in 1538.

Another individual with the Bance surname was William Bance, who was born in Oxfordshire in the early 16th century. He was a scholar and author, known for his work titled "A New and Profitable Treatise on Navigation," published in 1589.

In the 17th century, the Bance surname can be found in various parish records across England, indicating its continued presence throughout the country. One notable example is Thomas Bance, who was born in Berkshire in 1632 and became a successful merchant in London.

During the 18th century, the Bance surname appeared in various court records and legal documents. For instance, John Bance, born in Oxfordshire in 1712, was a prominent lawyer and served as a magistrate in his local community.

In the 19th century, the Bance surname gained recognition through individuals such as Henry Bance, born in Gloucestershire in 1832. He was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Music.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the Bance surname across different regions of England, spanning multiple centuries and encompassing various professions and achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bance families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bance 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. Surrey leads with 82 Bances recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.23x.

County Total Index
Surrey 82 5.23x
Middlesex 71 2.21x
Kent 64 5.83x
Berkshire 43 17.80x
Hampshire 30 4.55x
Devon 12 1.79x
Sussex 8 1.47x
Essex 6 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 5 2.57x
Oxfordshire 3 1.51x
Gloucestershire 2 0.32x
Dorset 1 0.47x
Northamptonshire 1 0.33x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 24 Bances recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.56x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 24 27.56x
Lewisham 19 32.44x
St Pancras London 16 6.18x
Southampton St Mary 13 31.33x
Wrotham 13 357.14x
Beddington 11 181.22x
Chelsea London 11 11.34x
Inkpen 11 1447.37x
Limehouse London 10 28.30x
Kintbury 9 481.28x
St George Hanover Square 9 15.87x
Farnham 8 65.57x
Hornsey 8 19.65x
Hurst 8 253.16x
Newbury 8 103.36x
Steventon 8 2500.00x
Charlton Next Woolwich 7 61.14x
Battersea 6 5.07x
Camberwell 6 2.92x
Chatham 6 19.85x
Bermondsey 5 5.22x
Chalfont St Peter 5 312.50x
Egg Buckland 5 438.60x
Epsom 5 65.45x
Hartley 5 1785.71x
Lambeth 5 1.78x
Lewes All Sts 5 231.48x
Sevenoaks 5 56.18x
Tottenham 5 9.75x
Beenham 4 689.66x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.72x
East Woodhay 4 238.10x
St Martin In Fields 4 20.76x
Thorpe 4 579.71x
Ealing 3 10.43x
Hungerford 3 91.74x
Plymouth Charles The 3 10.16x
Tamerton Foliott 3 232.56x
West Ham 3 2.14x
Cheltenham 2 4.11x
Egham 2 20.77x
Grays Thurrock 2 33.84x
Henley On Thames 2 49.14x
Kensington London 2 1.12x
Kingston On Thames 2 5.31x
Lewes St John Under 2 270.27x
Woodmancote 2 2222.22x
Basingstoke 1 13.18x
Battle 1 27.32x
Bentworth 1 161.29x
Carshalton 1 16.67x
Christchurch 1 6.99x
Cogenhoe 1 256.41x
Colchester St Peter 1 39.37x
Fawkham 1 384.62x
Frittenden 1 98.04x
Hammersmith London 1 1.26x
Hillingdon 1 9.75x
Longfield 1 277.78x
Penge 1 4.86x
Richmond 1 4.55x
Shipbourne 1 178.57x
Snitterfield 1 111.11x
St George Martyr London 1 15.34x
Stansted 1 222.22x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.13x
Thame 1 27.62x
Tipton 1 3.01x
Wimbledon 1 5.68x
Yetminster 1 128.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Jane 12
Elizabeth 10
Alice 7
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Sarah 7
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Annie 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Celia 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Louisa 3
Amy 2
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Sophia 2
Beatrice 1
Catherin 1
Char. 1
Effie 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Eveline 1
Fannie 1
Gertrude 1
Hrriett 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
M.J. 1
Mabel 1
Margeret 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Phoebe 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
George 14
John 12
Thomas 11
Charles 10
Henry 10
Arthur 7
Edward 7
James 6
Edwin 5
Richard 5
Robert 5
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Ernest 3
Joseph 3
Albert 2
David 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Archibald 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Edgar 1
Elvey 1
Elvy 1
Fred. 1
Fredick 1
Fredrick 1
Hezekiah 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Mary 1
Sophia 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bance surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bance surname in 1881?

In 1881, 331 people were recorded with the Bance surname. That placed it at #9,071 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bance surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 538 in 2016. That gives Bance a modern rank of #9,457.

What does the Bance surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley".

What does the Bance map show?

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