UK surname
A surname derived from a place name, likely of Arabic origin.
In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Bany surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #32,581 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Mary Whitechapel, Clifton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bany is 122 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 112.5%.
1881 census count
8
Ranked #32,581
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1861
122 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bany surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bany surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 73 | #20,581 |
| 1861 | historical | 122 | #18,036 |
| 1881 | historical | 8 | #32,581 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 13 | #32,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 16 | #31,804 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Mary Whitechapel, Clifton, Manchester, St Marylebone and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Clifton | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bany surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bany, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bany surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bany household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bany is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bany is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bany, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bany has its origins in the Middle Ages, believed to have originated in the south of France during the 11th or 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "banie," which referred to a feudal territory or domain. This suggests that the name may have been associated with a particular geographical location or landholding.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bany can be found in a 13th-century manuscript from the region of Provence, where a nobleman named Guilhem Bany is mentioned as a signatory on a legal document. This indicates that the name was already established among the nobility of southern France at that time.
In the 14th century, a branch of the Bany family is believed to have settled in the Languedoc region, where they became prominent landowners and wealthy merchants. Records from this period include a certain Pierre Bany, who was a successful trader and member of the local council in the city of Montpellier.
As the name spread throughout Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Bani, Bany, and Banni. In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this name was Sebastien Bany, a French scholar and humanist who was born in Lyons in 1515 and died in Paris in 1589.
The Bany surname also has a presence in other parts of Europe, including Italy and Spain. In the 17th century, a Spanish nobleman named Diego Bany de Velasco served as a military officer and diplomat, representing the Spanish crown in various diplomatic missions.
Another noteworthy individual with this surname was Jean-Baptiste Bany, a French artist and engraver who lived in the late 18th century (1742-1811). He is known for his intricate etchings and engravings, many of which depicted historical and mythological scenes.
Across different regions and time periods, the Bany surname has been associated with various professions, including nobility, scholars, artists, and merchants. While its origins can be traced back to medieval France, the name has since spread and adapted to different cultural contexts over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bany surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 3 Banys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.71x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 3 | 3.71x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 7.49x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.47x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 9.87x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 18.94x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 3 Banys recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 3 | 61.10x |
| Clifton | 1 | 149.25x |
| Elswick | 1 | 123.46x |
| Greenock Oldor West | 1 | 10000.00x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 256.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bany surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bany surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bany households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cook | 1 |
| Genl Servant | 1 |
| Groom (D) | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Bany surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Bany a modern rank of #36,904.
A surname derived from a place name, likely of Arabic origin.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bany bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.