NameCensus.

UK surname

Bangs

A nickname for someone with a loud voice, or a reference to a person with a heavy fringe of hair.

In the 1881 census there were 286 people recorded with the Bangs surname, ranking it #10,036 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 514, ranked #9,806, up from #10,036 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Wheathampstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Tewkesbury and St Albans.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bangs is 562 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.7%.

1881 census count

286

Ranked #10,036

Modern count

514

2016, ranked #9,806

Peak year

1998

562 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bangs had 286 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,036 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 514 in 2016, ranked #9,806.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 434 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Bangs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bangs surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bangs 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 203 #10,291
1861 historical 182 #12,949
1881 historical 286 #10,036
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 406 #9,393
1911 historical 434 #8,740
1997 modern 523 #9,003
1998 modern 562 #8,765
1999 modern 560 #8,855
2000 modern 562 #8,795
2001 modern 557 #8,718
2002 modern 553 #8,949
2003 modern 552 #8,814
2004 modern 547 #8,897
2005 modern 523 #9,145
2006 modern 511 #9,331
2007 modern 516 #9,343
2008 modern 518 #9,388
2009 modern 531 #9,417
2010 modern 542 #9,461
2011 modern 531 #9,524
2012 modern 521 #9,589
2013 modern 517 #9,766
2014 modern 523 #9,770
2015 modern 521 #9,722
2016 modern 514 #9,806

Geography

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Where Bangs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Wheathampstead, Enfield and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Tewkesbury, St Albans, Daventry and Newham. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Wheathampstead Hertfordshire
4 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 017 Huntingdonshire
2 Tewkesbury 008 Tewkesbury
3 St Albans 008 St Albans
4 Daventry 009 Daventry
5 Newham 036 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bangs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bangs

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

Suburban Professionals

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Bangs is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bangs 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

Bangs 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 Bangs is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bangs

The surname BANGS traces its origins to England and has its roots in the Old English word "bang," meaning a slope or hill. It was likely first used as a topographic name to identify someone who lived on or near a hill or sloping area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BANGS surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Bange" in the county of Suffolk. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "de la Bange" and "atte Bange," reflecting the common practice of using prepositions to indicate a person's association with a particular location.

The name BANGS can also be traced to place names in England, such as Bangs Green in Gloucestershire and Bangs Croft in Suffolk. These place names likely influenced the adoption of the surname by families residing in or near those areas.

Notable individuals bearing the BANGS surname throughout history include:

1. John BANGS (c. 1589-1674), an early English settler in Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of the founders of Eastham, Massachusetts.

2. Jonathan BANGS (1738-1806), an American Revolutionary War soldier and one of the earliest settlers in Frankfort, Maine.

3. Edward BANGS (1756-1839), an American merchant and shipowner from Massachusetts, who played a significant role in the early maritime trade with China.

4. Mary Rogers BANGS (1828-1905), an American writer and editor, known for her contributions to children's literature and her work with Harper's Magazine.

5. Lester BANGS (1948-1982), an influential American music journalist and critic, known for his gonzo-style writing and his coverage of rock music in publications like Creem and Rolling Stone.

The BANGS surname has a rich history rooted in the topography of England and has been carried by notable individuals across various fields, from early colonial settlers to influential writers and journalists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bangs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bangs 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 82 Bangs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.94x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 82 2.94x
Essex 62 11.26x
Surrey 43 3.16x
Hertfordshire 39 20.28x
Yorkshire 22 0.80x
Kent 11 1.16x
Suffolk 7 2.06x
Lancashire 6 0.18x
Oxfordshire 5 2.90x
Lincolnshire 3 0.67x
Berkshire 2 0.96x
Bedfordshire 1 0.69x
Gloucestershire 1 0.18x
Staffordshire 1 0.11x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ingatestone in Essex leads with 23 Bangs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2613.64x.

Place Total Index
Ingatestone 23 2613.64x
St Pancras London 22 9.80x
Wheathampstead 21 945.95x
Doncaster 15 74.26x
Hackney London 15 9.59x
Bow London 14 39.43x
Camberwell 13 7.30x
Newington 13 12.62x
Lambeth 11 4.52x
West Ham 9 7.40x
Bethnal Green London 7 5.78x
Lee 6 43.42x
Stock 6 1016.95x
Bermondsey 5 6.02x
Cheshunt 5 74.40x
Cowley 5 92.94x
Leyton Low 5 44.68x
Salford 5 5.14x
Great Burstead 4 200.00x
Mildenhall 4 110.80x
Ware 4 72.60x
Falsgrave 3 73.71x
Great Amwell 3 155.44x
Islington London 3 1.11x
Little Wakering 3 967.74x
Normanton 3 36.10x
Shoreditch London 3 2.48x
South Mimms 3 78.33x
Enfield 2 10.93x
Fryerning 2 298.51x
Ingrave 2 400.00x
Kimpton 2 222.22x
Lewisham 2 3.94x
Paddington London 2 1.95x
Skirbeck Quarter 2 243.90x
St Marylebone London 2 1.34x
Whitechapel London 2 7.27x
Woodford 2 32.10x
Writtle 2 88.89x
Barton Mills 1 222.22x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 4.01x
Bengeo 1 44.84x
Birmingham 1 0.43x
Broxbourne 1 26.25x
Butterwick 1 196.08x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 10.07x
Chelsea London 1 1.19x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.36x
Ealing 1 4.01x
Elvington 1 277.78x
Friern Barnet 1 16.29x
Great Saxham 1 434.78x
Hornsey 1 2.83x
Kensington London 1 0.64x
Lakenheath 1 55.87x
Little Munden 1 222.22x
Low Leyton 1 200.00x
Luton 1 4.00x
Newbury 1 14.90x
Penge 1 5.61x
Reading St Giles 1 4.87x
Romford 1 11.49x
Rugeley 1 14.79x
St Anne Soho London 1 6.28x
Standon 1 50.51x
Stanstead 1 217.39x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.60x
Wanstead 1 10.37x
Westbury On Trym 1 5.39x
Woolwich 1 2.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 12
Ellen 10
Jane 7
Sarah 7
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Jessie 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Florence 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Ester 2
Isabella 2
Lydia 2
My. 2
Rosina 2
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Elizth. 1
Ellenor 1
Ethel 1
Flornce 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Jan 1
Lisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margrate 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Nelly 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
Thomas 11
George 10
Charles 9
Henry 9
Joseph 8
Walter 8
Alfred 6
John 6
Arthur 5
James 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Percy 4
Samuel 3
Willm. 3
David 2
Edward 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
Wm. 2
Chas 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.H. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Florence 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Iaac 1
Joshua 1
Mary 1
Oliver 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Bangs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bangs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 286 people were recorded with the Bangs surname. That placed it at #10,036 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bangs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 514 in 2016. That gives Bangs a modern rank of #9,806.

What does the Bangs surname mean?

A nickname for someone with a loud voice, or a reference to a person with a heavy fringe of hair.

What does the Bangs map show?

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