NameCensus.

UK surname

Banham

A locational surname derived from the town of Banham in Norfolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,534 people recorded with the Banham surname, ranking it #2,737 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,972, ranked #3,263, down from #2,737 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Rossendale and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Banham is 2,219 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.6%.

1881 census count

1,534

Ranked #2,737

Modern count

1,972

2016, ranked #3,263

Peak year

1998

2,219 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Banham had 1,534 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,737 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,972 in 2016, ranked #3,263.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Banham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Banham surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Banham 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 792 #3,369
1861 historical 890 #3,112
1881 historical 1,534 #2,737
1891 historical 1,649 #2,721
1901 historical 1,852 #2,835
1911 historical 2,136 #2,354
1997 modern 2,152 #2,870
1998 modern 2,219 #2,901
1999 modern 2,218 #2,921
2000 modern 2,150 #2,982
2001 modern 2,097 #2,988
2002 modern 2,175 #2,950
2003 modern 2,103 #2,975
2004 modern 2,098 #2,983
2005 modern 2,036 #3,028
2006 modern 2,027 #3,048
2007 modern 2,044 #3,064
2008 modern 2,070 #3,046
2009 modern 2,059 #3,137
2010 modern 2,068 #3,185
2011 modern 2,031 #3,201
2012 modern 1,963 #3,233
2013 modern 2,026 #3,210
2014 modern 2,035 #3,219
2015 modern 1,999 #3,241
2016 modern 1,972 #3,263

Geography

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Where Banhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Rossendale, Mid Suffolk, St Edmundsbury and Breckland. 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 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
2 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
3 Mid Suffolk 001 Mid Suffolk
4 St Edmundsbury 007 St Edmundsbury
5 Breckland 004 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Banham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Banham

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Banham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Banham 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

Banham falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Banham

The surname Banham has its origins in England, and is believed to date back to the late 11th century or early 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "bean" meaning bean, and "ham" meaning homestead or village, suggesting that it was initially a locational name for someone who lived in a place where beans were grown or cultivated.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists several places with similar names such as Beneham and Benham in various counties across England. This indicates that the name was already well-established by the time of the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Baneham, who lived in Norfolk in the late 12th century and is mentioned in various historical records from that time period. In the 13th century, a Richard de Baneham is documented as holding land in Oxfordshire.

During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Baneham, Banehamme, Banham, and Bennham, reflecting the regional variations and evolution of the English language over time.

One notable figure with the surname Banham was Sir Samuel Banham (1667-1739), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Ipswich in the early 18th century. Another was Sir Frederick Banham (1806-1893), a British army officer who served in the Crimean War and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in battle.

Other individuals with the Banham surname include John Banham (1840-1920), an English architect and surveyor who worked on many notable buildings in London, and Reyner Banham (1922-1988), a renowned architectural critic and writer who was influential in the study of modern architecture.

In more recent times, the name has been particularly associated with the Banham family, founders of the Banham Group, a leading provider of security systems and services in the United Kingdom.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Banham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Banham 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. Norfolk leads with 497 Banhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.73x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 497 21.73x
Middlesex 226 1.52x
Suffolk 219 12.09x
Essex 108 3.68x
Yorkshire 89 0.60x
Lancashire 72 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 55 5.84x
Surrey 55 0.76x
Kent 37 0.73x
Warwickshire 31 0.83x
Hampshire 20 0.66x
Nottinghamshire 17 0.85x
Sussex 15 0.60x
Lincolnshire 12 0.50x
Staffordshire 10 0.20x
Dorset 9 0.92x
Cheshire 8 0.24x
Berkshire 7 0.63x
Devon 7 0.23x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.83x
Northamptonshire 5 0.36x
Worcestershire 5 0.26x
Gloucestershire 3 0.10x
Bedfordshire 2 0.26x
Durham 2 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.68x
Royal Navy 2 1.13x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.11x
Herefordshire 1 0.16x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Caston in Norfolk leads with 35 Banhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1263.54x.

Place Total Index
Caston 35 1263.54x
Costessey 33 670.73x
St Pancras London 33 2.76x
Aston 30 2.90x
Great Yarmouth 30 15.83x
Pendleton In Salford 30 14.26x
Lambeth 29 2.24x
Wymondham 29 123.98x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 26 76.45x
Newchurch 25 17.31x
Stowmarket 20 95.51x
St Andrewthe Less 18 16.72x
Boxted 17 403.80x
Clerkenwell London 17 4.84x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 17 407.67x
Barnham 16 683.76x
Chelsea London 16 3.57x
Earsham 16 514.47x
Ecclesall Bierlow 16 5.34x
Hackney London 16 1.92x
West Ham 16 2.47x
Bocking 15 84.94x
Hammersmith London 15 4.09x
Lakenham 15 46.15x
Norwich St John Timberhill 15 243.90x
South Hanningfield 14 1176.47x
Botesdale 13 462.63x
Brighton 13 2.57x
Lowestoft 13 15.19x
Newton Flotman 13 884.35x
Winfarthing 13 422.08x
Chesterton 12 41.31x
Heigham 12 9.77x
Norwich St Clement 12 45.25x
Bury St Edmunds St James 11 22.73x
Gomersal 11 15.99x
Mulbarton 11 416.67x
Paddington London 11 2.01x
St Marylebone London 11 1.38x
Fulham London 10 4.64x
Lewisham 10 3.69x
Litcham 10 243.90x
North Lopham 10 280.90x
Nottingham St Mary 10 1.93x
Stanwell 10 90.83x
Stoke Ash 10 632.91x
Thorpe By Ixworth 10 1333.33x
Wakefield 10 8.84x
Aldeby 9 275.23x
Battersea 9 1.64x
Bedingham 9 588.24x
Broadway 9 231.96x
Lexden 9 76.34x
Norwich St Andrew 9 230.18x
St George Hanover Square 9 3.43x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 5.83x
Denham 8 353.98x
Freethorpe 8 392.16x
Gorleston 8 17.38x
Hampstead London 8 3.45x
Islington London 8 0.55x
Monks Coppenhall 8 6.46x
Occold 8 299.63x
Rattlesden 8 150.94x
Runhall 8 808.08x
Thorpe Next Norwich 8 33.00x
Burgh Castle 7 263.16x
Elm 7 75.84x
Everton 7 1.24x
Halifax 7 3.23x
Hendon 7 13.08x
Kensington London 7 0.85x
Nether Hallam 7 3.51x
New Windsor 7 18.65x
Norwich St Stephen 7 33.33x
Scoulton 7 421.69x
Wisbech St Peter 7 14.81x
Chelmsford 6 11.91x
Mile End Old Town London 6 1.90x
Stratford St Mary 6 231.66x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 100
George 78
John 58
James 42
Robert 39
Henry 34
Arthur 32
Charles 30
Edward 26
Walter 25
Alfred 24
Thomas 20
Joseph 18
Frederick 13
Daniel 11
Harry 11
Herbert 11
Albert 10
David 8
Ernest 8
Richard 8
Isaac 7
Jacob 6
Samuel 6
Abraham 4
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Jonathan 4
Augustine 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Moses 3
Robt. 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Barnard 2
Chas. 2
Francis 2
Frederic 2
Geo. 2
Godfrey 2
Harold 2
Horace 2
Joshua 2
Noah 2
Thos. 2
Cubitt 1

FAQ

Banham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Banham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,534 people were recorded with the Banham surname. That placed it at #2,737 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Banham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,972 in 2016. That gives Banham a modern rank of #3,263.

What does the Banham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Banham in Norfolk, England.

What does the Banham map show?

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