NameCensus.

UK surname

Bare

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived on a barren or uncultivated piece of land.

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Bare surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 156, ranked #23,098, down from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swanscombe, London parishes and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, Northampton and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bare is 211 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.0%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

156

2016, ranked #23,098

Peak year

1861

211 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bare had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016, ranked #23,098.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 211 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Bare surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bare surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bare 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 161 #12,288
1861 historical 211 #11,508
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 170 #16,816
1901 historical 156 #17,638
1911 historical 181 #15,911
1997 modern 66 #31,038
1998 modern 68 #31,181
1999 modern 78 #30,327
2000 modern 67 #31,473
2001 modern 66 #31,394
2002 modern 81 #30,294
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 112 #26,415
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 136 #25,009
2011 modern 132 #25,303
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 157 #22,997
2016 modern 156 #23,098

Geography

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Where Bares are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swanscombe, London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Durham St Oswald and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, Northampton, Leicester and Croydon. 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 Swanscombe Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 Durham St Oswald Durham
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 015 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Northampton 011 Northampton
3 Leicester 038 Leicester
4 Croydon 014 Croydon
5 Croydon 028 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bare

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bare

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Bare surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Bare 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Bare 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

Bare 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

Bare falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bare 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Bare

The surname BARE is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who went "bare" or barefoot. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have been individuals of humble means, perhaps peasants or laborers who could not afford shoes.

In the early 13th century, the name appears in various historical documents, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of 1208, which mention a William Bare. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also record a Robert le Bare, indicating the use of the Norman-French prefix "le" to denote a surname.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Bare, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346. His bravery and valor were recognized, and he was granted lands in Lincolnshire.

The Bare surname can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Bare in Lancashire and Bare in Dorset. These locations may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the spelling "Bare" became more standardized, as evidenced by records from the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, which mention a Thomas Bare in 1592.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Bare surname. These include:

1. Christopher Bare (1588-1670), an English clergyman and author known for his treatise on the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England. 2. William Bare (1605-1679), a prominent merchant and politician who served as Sheriff of London in 1662. 3. Mary Bare (1633-1701), an English Quaker preacher and author who advocated for religious tolerance and women's rights. 4. Richard Bare (1720-1788), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. 5. John Bare (1781-1858), an English landscape painter renowned for his depictions of rural scenery and coastal views.

While the Bare surname may have humble beginnings, its bearers have left their mark across various fields throughout history, from warfare and politics to religion and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bare families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bare 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 43 Bares recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.24x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 43 3.24x
Kent 22 4.86x
Durham 15 3.80x
Surrey 14 2.17x
Essex 11 4.20x
Westmorland 6 20.58x
Cheshire 5 1.71x
Suffolk 5 3.09x
Yorkshire 4 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.68x
Devon 2 0.72x
Sussex 2 0.89x
Cumberland 1 0.88x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Wiltshire 1 0.85x
Worcestershire 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swanscombe in Kent leads with 16 Bares recorded in 1881 and an index of 788.18x.

Place Total Index
Swanscombe 16 788.18x
St Pancras London 15 14.05x
Crossgate 12 693.64x
Kendal 6 112.36x
Willesden 6 47.96x
Battersea 5 10.24x
Camberwell 5 5.90x
Higher Bebington 5 267.38x
Kensington London 5 6.78x
Chiswick 4 55.17x
Colchester St Giles 4 154.44x
Colchester St Mary At 4 430.11x
Ipswich St Helen 4 208.33x
Newington 4 8.16x
Ratcliffe London 4 54.57x
Deptford St Paul 3 8.59x
Islington London 3 2.33x
Nether Hallam 3 16.86x
Stoke Newington London 3 29.04x
Worksop 3 56.60x
Bromley 2 28.99x
Leyton 2 44.35x
Littleham 2 99.01x
Ticehurst 2 145.99x
Chelsea London 1 2.50x
Cradley 1 63.69x
Hadleigh 1 63.69x
Hartlepool 1 17.83x
Leeds 1 1.35x
North Meols 1 6.49x
Northfleet 1 25.06x
Salisbury St Edmund 1 53.19x
Seaham 1 69.44x
St Cuthbert W O 1 17.95x
St George Bloomsbury 1 13.14x
St Marylebone London 1 1.41x
West Ham 1 1.73x
Willington 1 43.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Thomas 8
William 7
Frederick 6
George 6
James 5
Alfred 4
Henry 4
John 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Arther 1
Charles 1
David 1
Gayford 1
Margaret 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Bare surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bare surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Bare surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bare surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016. That gives Bare a modern rank of #23,098.

What does the Bare surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived on a barren or uncultivated piece of land.

What does the Bare map show?

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