NameCensus.

UK surname

Banfield

A locational surname referring to someone from any of various places called Banfield, likely derived from Old English bēan-feld, meaning "bean field."

In the 1881 census there were 1,365 people recorded with the Banfield surname, ranking it #3,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,003, ranked #3,221, down from #3,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Wendron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isles of Scilly, Cornwall and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Banfield is 2,267 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.7%.

1881 census count

1,365

Ranked #3,006

Modern count

2,003

2016, ranked #3,221

Peak year

1998

2,267 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Banfield had 1,365 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,003 in 2016, ranked #3,221.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,153 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Banfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Banfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Banfield 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 861 #3,161
1861 historical 905 #3,060
1881 historical 1,365 #3,006
1891 historical 1,592 #2,795
1901 historical 1,881 #2,801
1911 historical 2,153 #2,333
1997 modern 2,173 #2,847
1998 modern 2,267 #2,845
1999 modern 2,265 #2,861
2000 modern 2,265 #2,851
2001 modern 2,191 #2,878
2002 modern 2,179 #2,944
2003 modern 2,081 #3,011
2004 modern 2,065 #3,036
2005 modern 1,984 #3,111
2006 modern 1,975 #3,126
2007 modern 1,979 #3,156
2008 modern 1,993 #3,155
2009 modern 2,036 #3,167
2010 modern 2,059 #3,199
2011 modern 2,026 #3,206
2012 modern 2,012 #3,178
2013 modern 2,045 #3,187
2014 modern 2,046 #3,204
2015 modern 2,029 #3,195
2016 modern 2,003 #3,221

Geography

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Where Banfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Wendron and Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Carmarthenshire and Swansea. 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 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wendron Cornwall
5 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isles of Scilly 001 Isles of Scilly
2 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Carmarthenshire 019 Carmarthenshire
5 Swansea 005 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Banfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Banfield

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Banfield 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

Banfield is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Banfield falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Banfield

The surname Banfield is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "bana" meaning slayer or executioner, and "feld" meaning field or open land. It is believed to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire, England, around the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1194, where a man named Richard de Banefeld is mentioned. This suggests that the name was likely derived from a place name, possibly a location where executions took place or where someone with that occupation lived.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various forms such as Banefeld, Banfeld, and Banfelde in various records and manuscripts from the county of Gloucestershire and surrounding areas. This variation in spelling was common in those times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Banfield was Sir John Banfield (1512-1578), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He held several important positions, including High Sheriff of Gloucestershire and Custos Rotulorum (keeper of the rolls) for the county.

Another individual of note was Joseph Banfield (1637-1692), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Haselbury Plucknett in Somerset. He is known for his work "The Reverend Expositor," a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

In the 17th century, the surname can also be found in records from the county of Somerset, where a family of Banfields owned land and properties. One member of this family, Samuel Banfield (1670-1744), was a prominent landowner and served as High Sheriff of Somerset in 1719.

In the 18th century, the Banfield name appears in various records from the county of Devon, where a branch of the family settled. One notable figure from this time was Thomas Banfield (1745-1821), an English naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Another individual of note was Edward Banfield (1825-1904), an English-born Australian politician and judge. He served as the Attorney-General of South Australia and was later appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Banfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Banfield 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. Middlesex leads with 193 Banfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.45x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 193 1.45x
Somerset 179 8.33x
Cornwall 173 11.44x
Surrey 150 2.31x
Sussex 129 5.73x
Kent 123 2.70x
Devon 70 2.52x
Gloucestershire 65 2.48x
Monmouthshire 38 3.94x
Glamorgan 35 1.51x
Worcestershire 34 1.95x
Lancashire 22 0.14x
Hertfordshire 20 2.17x
Durham 19 0.48x
Hampshire 19 0.69x
Warwickshire 19 0.56x
Carmarthenshire 18 3.20x
Herefordshire 18 3.29x
Essex 16 0.61x
Norfolk 8 0.39x
Berkshire 6 0.60x
Yorkshire 5 0.04x
Bedfordshire 2 0.29x
Northumberland 2 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.11x
Royal Navy 2 1.26x
Staffordshire 2 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paulton in Somerset leads with 34 Banfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 345.53x.

Place Total Index
Paulton 34 345.53x
Camberwell 30 3.52x
Martock 30 214.75x
Helston 29 184.48x
Bethnal Green London 28 4.83x
Battersea 26 5.29x
Islington London 26 2.01x
Brighton 22 4.84x
Camborne 22 35.31x
Woodmancote 22 1383.65x
Bristol St George 19 15.69x
Hackney London 19 2.54x
Phillack 19 97.39x
Scilly Islands St Mary 19 322.03x
Bedminster 18 8.91x
Lambeth 18 1.55x
Bitton Oldland 17 63.50x
Hammersmith London 17 5.17x
Chelsea London 16 3.98x
Newington 16 3.24x
Mile End Old Town London 15 5.28x
Llanelly 14 11.04x
Hadlow 13 115.04x
Madron Penzance 13 23.65x
St Michael Carhayes 13 2203.39x
Hemel Hempstead 12 28.93x
Henfield 12 138.73x
Mynyddyslwyn 12 31.51x
West Grinstead 12 176.73x
St Austell 11 21.28x
Tenbury 11 115.18x
Greenwich 10 4.70x
Maidstone 10 7.37x
Seal 10 135.87x
Shoreditch London 10 1.73x
St Ives 10 33.80x
St Luke London 10 4.67x
West Peckham 10 476.19x
Westbury On Trym 10 11.27x
Limpsfield 9 144.69x
Marstow 9 1384.62x
North Petherton 9 51.90x
Portishead 9 56.32x
St Pancras London 9 0.84x
Steyning 9 117.96x
Taunton St James 9 28.71x
Wimbledon 9 12.32x
Ash Normandy 8 90.50x
Dudley 8 3.77x
Exeter St Thomas The 8 28.23x
Gittisham 8 390.24x
Great Yarmouth 8 4.70x
Harton 8 50.96x
Mereworth 8 217.98x
Sidbury 8 134.45x
Southwark St Saviour 8 11.66x
Westham 8 174.29x
Weston Super Mare 8 14.74x
Wrotham 8 53.02x
Yeovil 8 18.32x
Barking 7 9.08x
Birmingham 7 0.62x
Brixham 7 21.73x
Holdenhurst 7 9.75x
Honiton 7 45.51x
Kensington London 7 0.94x
Llantwit Vairdre 7 26.79x
Manchester 7 0.98x
Redruth 7 16.37x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 2.60x
Aston 6 0.65x
Kidderminster Borough 6 5.88x
Kidderminster Foreign 6 24.33x
Monmouth 6 23.44x
Newport 6 13.03x
St Ann Blackfriars London 6 243.90x
Swansea St Thomas 6 25.68x
Thorverton 6 142.18x
Trevethin 6 6.58x
Westminster St John 6 3.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 87
Elizabeth 66
Sarah 44
Eliza 29
Jane 26
Ellen 23
Annie 22
Ann 19
Louisa 17
Alice 16
Clara 13
Emily 12
Emma 12
Florence 12
Harriett 12
Margaret 11
Ada 10
Edith 9
Grace 9
Maria 9
Hannah 8
Kate 8
Martha 8
Amelia 7
Anne 7
Caroline 7
Harriet 7
Fanny 6
Maud 6
Minnie 6
Agnes 5
Elizth. 5
Charlotte 4
Laura 4
Rebecca 4
Rhoda 4
Sophia 4
Catherine 3
Eleanor 3
Frances 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Matilda 3
Rose 3
Rosina 3
Ruth 3
Susan 3
Alma 2
Beatrice 2
Magdaline 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 85
John 75
James 49
George 46
Thomas 42
Henry 34
Charles 25
Alfred 18
Albert 16
Edward 16
Joseph 16
Robert 15
Arthur 13
Samuel 13
Walter 13
Frederick 12
Richard 10
Edwin 9
Harry 9
Ernest 8
Francis 8
Herbert 6
Fred 5
Geo. 5
Sidney 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Douglas 3
Ebenezer 3
Eli 3
Fredk. 3
Gilbert 3
Harold 3
Lewis 3
Louis 3
Luke 3
Peter 3
Thos. 3
Augustus 2
Benjamin 2
Eldred 2
Hubert 2
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Josiah 2
Nicholas 2
Phillip 2
Timothy 2
Uriah 2

FAQ

Banfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Banfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,365 people were recorded with the Banfield surname. That placed it at #3,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Banfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,003 in 2016. That gives Banfield a modern rank of #3,221.

What does the Banfield surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of various places called Banfield, likely derived from Old English bēan-feld, meaning "bean field."

What does the Banfield map show?

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