NameCensus.

UK surname

Bann

A toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a boundary or ban.

In the 1881 census there were 344 people recorded with the Bann surname, ranking it #8,864 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 357, ranked #12,953, down from #8,864 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Rochdale and Stockport. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, Rotherham and Pendle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bann is 514 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.8%.

1881 census count

344

Ranked #8,864

Modern count

357

2016, ranked #12,953

Peak year

1891

514 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bann had 344 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,864 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016, ranked #12,953.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 514 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Bann surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bann surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bann 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 260 #8,512
1861 historical 433 #5,944
1881 historical 344 #8,864
1891 historical 514 #7,262
1901 historical 441 #8,830
1911 historical 467 #8,267
1997 modern 369 #11,690
1998 modern 385 #11,698
1999 modern 382 #11,843
2000 modern 387 #11,692
2001 modern 374 #11,805
2002 modern 380 #11,887
2003 modern 384 #11,589
2004 modern 386 #11,579
2005 modern 381 #11,619
2006 modern 374 #11,822
2007 modern 365 #12,205
2008 modern 355 #12,565
2009 modern 368 #12,476
2010 modern 384 #12,374
2011 modern 379 #12,343
2012 modern 378 #12,216
2013 modern 379 #12,399
2014 modern 374 #12,598
2015 modern 367 #12,696
2016 modern 357 #12,953

Geography

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Where Banns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Rochdale, Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, Rotherham, Pendle and Sutton. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Stockport Cheshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 004 High Peak
2 Rotherham 010 Rotherham
3 Pendle 008 Pendle
4 High Peak 003 High Peak
5 Sutton 017 Sutton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bann

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bann

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Bann surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bann household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bann is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bann is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bann falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bann 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Bann

The surname BANN is believed to have originated in Germany and is derived from the German word "Bann," which means "ban" or "prohibition." It is thought to have initially been used as a nickname or occupational surname for someone who enforced laws or bans.

In the Middle Ages, the name BANN appeared in various records and documents across German-speaking regions. One of the earliest known references is in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the 12th century, where a person named "Henricus Bann" is mentioned.

The surname BANN can also be traced back to certain place names, such as the town of Bann in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. This suggests that some individuals may have adopted the name based on their place of origin or residence.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname BANN was Johann Bann (1590-1654), a German Protestant theologian and writer who played a significant role in the Reformation. He authored several works on theology and religious doctrine.

Another prominent individual was Friedrich Bann (1658-1719), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. His compositions, particularly his organ works, were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, Johann Gottfried Bann (1735-1801) was a German philosopher and educator who contributed to the fields of pedagogy and moral philosophy. His writings on education and ethics were influential in his time.

Moving into the 19th century, Wilhelm Bann (1819-1892) was a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings and public spaces in Berlin and other German cities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BANN in England can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, where a family by the name of Bann is mentioned in the late 16th century.

Overall, the surname BANN has a rich history rooted in German origins, with various branches and individuals making significant contributions across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bann families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bann 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. Cheshire leads with 116 Banns recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.71x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 116 15.71x
Lancashire 54 1.36x
Yorkshire 25 0.75x
Middlesex 22 0.66x
Monmouthshire 13 5.37x
Surrey 12 0.74x
Lanarkshire 11 1.02x
Cumberland 10 3.47x
Gloucestershire 9 1.37x
Shropshire 9 3.11x
Derbyshire 8 1.53x
Norfolk 8 1.56x
Durham 7 0.70x
Denbighshire 6 4.75x
Stirlingshire 5 4.05x
Staffordshire 4 0.35x
West Lothian 4 7.94x
Devon 3 0.43x
Hampshire 3 0.44x
Warwickshire 3 0.36x
Ayrshire 2 0.80x
Kent 2 0.18x
Sussex 2 0.35x
Worcestershire 2 0.46x
Berkshire 1 0.40x
Hertfordshire 1 0.43x
Leicestershire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poynton in Cheshire leads with 39 Banns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1572.58x.

Place Total Index
Poynton 39 1572.58x
Macclesfield 22 67.01x
Hyde 15 68.84x
Aberystruth 12 56.29x
Barnsley 9 26.32x
Barony 9 3.29x
Croydon 9 9.94x
Newchurch 9 27.71x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 9 282.13x
Cheadle 8 56.70x
Islington London 8 2.47x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 8 51.81x
Stapleton 8 64.26x
West Derby 8 6.89x
Rotherham 7 37.45x
Tanfield 7 59.12x
Broughton 6 120.72x
Elton 6 43.73x
Oldham 6 4.68x
Stockport 6 15.79x
Adlington 5 505.05x
Bollington In 5 76.10x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 5 250.00x
Kilsyth 5 63.53x
Monks Coppenhall 5 17.94x
Nether Hallam 5 11.15x
Widnes 5 17.46x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.75x
Blackburn 4 3.79x
Cummersdale 4 408.16x
Everton 4 3.16x
Kirkliston 4 136.05x
Middlesbrough 4 9.26x
Pownall Fee 4 121.21x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 3.46x
Burton Upon Trent 3 11.36x
Clerkenwell London 3 3.80x
Enfield 3 13.67x
Glossop Dale 3 12.23x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 5.59x
Birmingham 2 0.71x
Brighton 2 1.76x
Bromsgrove 2 13.60x
Camberwell 2 0.94x
Dover Castle 2 240.96x
Glasgow 2 1.04x
Hayfield 2 62.31x
Hulme 2 2.41x
Ludworth 2 80.97x
Monken Hadley 2 149.25x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 27.43x
Portsea 2 1.49x
Salford 2 1.71x
Aston 1 0.43x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.85x
Brampton 1 13.66x
Brinnington 1 14.49x
Cheetham 1 3.38x
Cheltenham 1 1.98x
Christchurch 1 13.37x
Clapham 1 2.39x
Cleator 1 8.34x
Congleton 1 7.84x
East Barnet 1 21.88x
Gorton 1 2.68x
Haughton 1 17.27x
Kilmarnock 1 3.36x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.11x
Liscard 1 7.51x
Offerton 1 243.90x
Ryde 1 6.79x
Sandhurst 1 20.58x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.70x
St Marylebone London 1 0.56x
St Quivox 1 11.81x
Timperley 1 38.91x
Turton 1 15.38x
Wolstanton Chesterton 1 17.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 16
Ann 9
Elizabeth 8
Martha 8
Hannah 6
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Maria 3
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Elizth. 2
Minnie 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betty 1
Charity 1
Charlot 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Eda 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Emiline 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Isabel 1
James 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Lilly 1
Lioinia 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Nelly 1
Zean 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 18
John 17
Samuel 16
William 13
Henry 9
Thomas 9
George 7
Joseph 7
Charles 5
Harry 4
David 3
Tom 3
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Hugh 2
Jas. 2
Patrick 2
A. 1
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Hy. 1
James.Henry 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Miles 1
Peter 1
Ruebin 1
Saml. 1
Siemon 1
Simeon 1
Timothy 1
W. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Bann surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bann surname in 1881?

In 1881, 344 people were recorded with the Bann surname. That placed it at #8,864 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bann surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016. That gives Bann a modern rank of #12,953.

What does the Bann surname mean?

A toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a boundary or ban.

What does the Bann map show?

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