NameCensus.

UK surname

Baptie

A surname derived from the Greek name "Baptista", meaning "one who baptizes".

In the 1881 census there were 254 people recorded with the Baptie surname, ranking it #10,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 301, ranked #14,696, down from #10,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Inveresk and Hawick and Wilton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Guildtown, Balbeggie and St Madoes, Hawick West End and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baptie is 342 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.5%.

1881 census count

254

Ranked #10,949

Modern count

301

2016, ranked #14,696

Peak year

1901

342 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baptie had 254 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016, ranked #14,696.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 342 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Baptie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baptie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Baptie 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 185 #12,799
1881 historical 254 #10,949
1891 historical 324 #10,453
1901 historical 342 #10,608
1911 historical 52 #27,620
1997 modern 290 #13,832
1998 modern 309 #13,612
1999 modern 308 #13,722
2000 modern 307 #13,717
2001 modern 290 #14,033
2002 modern 303 #13,909
2003 modern 302 #13,752
2004 modern 296 #14,005
2005 modern 288 #14,189
2006 modern 304 #13,797
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 304 #14,000
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 298 #14,812
2011 modern 302 #14,535
2012 modern 281 #15,198
2013 modern 292 #15,027
2014 modern 297 #14,943
2015 modern 300 #14,758
2016 modern 301 #14,696

Geography

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Where Bapties are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Inveresk, Hawick and Wilton, Selkirk and Hobkirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Guildtown, Balbeggie and St Madoes, Hawick West End, Northumberland, IZ19 and Mayfield. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Inveresk Edinburgh
3 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
4 Selkirk Selkirk
5 Hobkirk Roxburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Guildtown, Balbeggie and St Madoes Perth and Kinross
2 Hawick West End Scottish Borders
3 Northumberland 028 Northumberland
4 IZ19 East Lothian
5 Mayfield Midlothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Baptie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Baptie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Baptie, 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 Baptie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Baptie 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, Baptie 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

Baptie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Baptie falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Baptie

The surname Baptie has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the French word "Baptiste," which means "Baptist" or "one who baptizes." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with someone involved in religious practices or the clergy.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Baptie can be found in parish records from the Scottish Borders region, particularly around the towns of Kelso and Jedburgh. In these early records, variations in spelling were common, with forms such as Baptie, Baptye, and Baptee appearing.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Baptie, a landowner from the village of Sprouston in the Scottish Borders, who was recorded in the Retours of Services of Heirs in 1599. This document provided evidence of land ownership and inheritance.

Another notable figure was William Baptie, a merchant and burgess (a respected citizen of a town or borough) in Kelso in the late 17th century. He was mentioned in the Burgh Records of Kelso, which documented the activities and decisions of the town council.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in the records of the Scottish Episcopal Church, with a John Baptie serving as a minister in the parish of Jedburgh in the 1720s.

One of the most prominent individuals with the surname Baptie was Robert Baptie, a Scottish author and poet born in 1799 in Ayrshire. He published several works, including "The Harp of Renfrewshire" and "The Baptie Garland," which celebrated Scottish culture and traditions.

Another notable figure was Alexander Baptie, a Scottish engineer and inventor born in 1833 in Aberdeen. He is credited with several innovations in the field of marine engineering, including improvements to steam engines and propeller designs.

While the surname Baptie is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Borders region and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, clergy, authors, and engineers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Baptie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baptie 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. Midlothian leads with 121 Bapties recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.64x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 121 37.64x
Roxburghshire 32 73.61x
Selkirkshire 16 73.70x
Lanarkshire 14 1.80x
Inverness-shire 13 18.14x
Fife 10 7.04x
Perthshire 10 9.29x
Dumfriesshire 7 13.21x
Durham 5 0.70x
Peeblesshire 5 44.29x
Worcestershire 5 1.60x
Norfolk 2 0.54x
West Lothian 2 5.53x
East Lothian 1 3.15x
Middlesex 1 0.04x
Stirlingshire 1 1.13x
Surrey 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 25 Bapties recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.33x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 25 19.33x
Newton 21 1944.44x
Stow 17 1030.30x
Glenelg 13 984.85x
Dalkeith 12 189.27x
Glasgow 12 8.71x
Liberton 12 241.94x
Inveresk 11 126.44x
Monzievaird Strowan 10 1724.14x
Selkirk 10 163.40x
Wilton 10 209.64x
South Leith 9 24.88x
North Leith 7 47.04x
St Andrews 7 108.36x
Ashkirk 5 1219.51x
Bowden 5 793.65x
Gateshead 5 9.35x
Yarrow 5 943.40x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 63.19x
Upperswinford 4 150.94x
Dryfesdale 3 122.95x
Hobkirk 3 545.45x
Innerleithen 3 100.00x
Jedburgh 3 70.42x
Applegarth 2 250.00x
Boness 2 40.16x
Edinburgh High Church 2 99.01x
Forgan 2 73.53x
Hawick 2 20.56x
Lochmaben 2 86.21x
Peebles 2 59.88x
South Lynn 2 48.08x
Burntisland 1 25.19x
Colinton 1 27.93x
Falkirk 1 4.83x
Galashiels 1 12.45x
Hamilton 1 4.62x
Kelso 1 23.09x
Kensington London 1 0.75x
Melrose 1 26.60x
Old Monkland 1 3.25x
Roxburgh 1 120.48x
Southdean 1 166.67x
Spott 1 208.33x
Wandsworth 1 4.33x
Wollaston 1 50.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 2
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Polly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Robert 2
George 1
Walter 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Baptie households.

FAQ

Baptie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baptie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 254 people were recorded with the Baptie surname. That placed it at #10,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baptie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016. That gives Baptie a modern rank of #14,696.

What does the Baptie surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek name "Baptista", meaning "one who baptizes".

What does the Baptie map show?

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