NameCensus.

UK surname

Bareham

From a dwelling or farm clearing in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 413 people recorded with the Bareham surname, ranking it #7,794 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 722, ranked #7,525, up from #7,794 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Clacton, Great, Clare and Clacton, Little. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Edmundsbury, Babergh and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bareham is 810 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.8%.

1881 census count

413

Ranked #7,794

Modern count

722

2016, ranked #7,525

Peak year

1998

810 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bareham had 413 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,794 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016, ranked #7,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 752 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bareham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bareham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bareham 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 255 #8,652
1861 historical 194 #12,310
1881 historical 413 #7,794
1891 historical 435 #8,279
1901 historical 633 #6,780
1911 historical 752 #5,729
1997 modern 785 #6,644
1998 modern 810 #6,689
1999 modern 794 #6,844
2000 modern 798 #6,787
2001 modern 755 #6,952
2002 modern 772 #6,971
2003 modern 742 #7,075
2004 modern 749 #7,028
2005 modern 725 #7,131
2006 modern 707 #7,296
2007 modern 715 #7,308
2008 modern 718 #7,335
2009 modern 719 #7,484
2010 modern 731 #7,524
2011 modern 735 #7,431
2012 modern 728 #7,393
2013 modern 746 #7,380
2014 modern 732 #7,524
2015 modern 731 #7,474
2016 modern 722 #7,525

Geography

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Where Barehams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Clacton, Great, Clare, Clacton, Little, Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Edmundsbury, Babergh, Braintree and Huntingdonshire. 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 Clacton, Great Essex
2 Clare Suffolk
3 Clacton, Little Essex
4 Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew Suffolk
5 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Edmundsbury 010 St Edmundsbury
2 Babergh 008 Babergh
3 Babergh 007 Babergh
4 Braintree 002 Braintree
5 Huntingdonshire 005 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bareham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bareham

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bareham is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bareham is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bareham falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bareham

The surname Bareham originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bær" meaning bare and "ham" meaning a homestead or village, suggesting that the name may have referred to a settlement where the land was barren or cleared.

The earliest known record of the Bareham surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a William de Bareham, indicating that the name was already in use by that time.

During the Middle Ages, the name was primarily concentrated in the county of Norfolk, particularly in the villages of Bareham and Buxton. It is likely that the surname originated in one of these locations, which were once known by similar spellings such as Baram or Baraham.

In the 16th century, the Bareham family of Norfolk gained some prominence. John Bareham (1530-1598) was a notable landowner and member of the gentry class. His son, Thomas Bareham (1570-1642), was a Member of Parliament for Norfolk.

Another notable figure with the Bareham surname was Robert Bareham (1605-1670), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Carlisle from 1663 until his death.

In the 18th century, William Bareham (1720-1785) was a respected clockmaker and instrument maker based in London. His clocks and scientific instruments were highly regarded by his contemporaries.

The Bareham name also has some literary connections. Thomas Bareham (1789-1859) was an English writer and poet who published several works, including "The Forest of Frithank" and "The Widow's Cottage."

While the Bareham surname may have originated in Norfolk, it eventually spread to other parts of England and even to other countries through emigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the early medieval period in the English countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bareham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bareham 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. Essex leads with 166 Barehams recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.87x.

County Total Index
Essex 166 20.87x
Suffolk 117 23.84x
Middlesex 52 1.29x
Surrey 14 0.71x
Hampshire 10 1.21x
Norfolk 10 1.61x
Sussex 10 1.47x
Kent 9 0.65x
Somerset 9 1.39x
Orkney 5 11.28x
Lancashire 3 0.06x
Monmouthshire 3 1.03x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.36x
Lincolnshire 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 2.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clare in Suffolk leads with 47 Barehams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2000.00x.

Place Total Index
Clare 47 2000.00x
Little Clacton 33 3928.57x
Sudbury St Gregory 25 636.13x
Great Clacton 22 811.81x
Great Cornard 14 1261.26x
Islington London 13 3.33x
Leyton Low 13 80.45x
Ballingdon Cum Brundon 9 891.09x
Monckton Combe 9 434.78x
Mountnessing 9 743.80x
Aveley 8 597.01x
Great Holland 8 1454.55x
Christchurch 7 39.11x
Kensington London 7 3.13x
New Shoreham 7 171.99x
Sheringham 7 437.50x
St Pancras London 7 2.16x
Westhorpe 7 2413.79x
Great Coggeshall 6 144.93x
St Osyth 6 310.88x
West Ham 6 3.42x
Acton 5 21.17x
Clerkenwell London 5 5.26x
Cressing 5 666.67x
Hoy Graemsay 5 602.41x
Poplar London 5 6.58x
Bures St Mary 4 540.54x
Debenham 4 245.40x
Elmstead 4 312.50x
Haverhill 4 91.74x
Little Holland 4 5000.00x
Northfleet 4 33.03x
Southwark St Saviour 4 19.32x
Swanscombe 4 64.72x
Terling 4 336.13x
Ardwick 3 6.96x
Bedwas 3 142.18x
Camberwell 3 1.17x
Chilton 3 769.23x
Colchester St Giles 3 38.17x
Gazeley 3 260.87x
Great Chesterford 3 238.10x
Hammersmith London 3 3.02x
Haverhill 3 416.67x
Kelvedon 3 141.51x
Poslingford 3 612.24x
Ramsden Crays 3 967.74x
Sutton 3 21.13x
Eastbourne 2 6.40x
Feering 2 190.48x
Hampstead London 2 3.19x
Hundon 2 163.93x
Kingston On Thames 2 4.24x
Lowestoft 2 8.63x
Mile End 2 137.93x
Portsea 2 1.24x
West Bergholt 2 134.23x
Birdbrook 1 125.00x
Blo Norton 1 294.12x
Brighton 1 0.73x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 10.86x
Chignall St James 1 344.83x
Chiswick 1 4.54x
Dewsbury 1 2.44x
Great Grimsby 1 2.45x
Holdenhurst 1 4.62x
Lambeth 1 0.28x
Lee 1 5.01x
Little Cornard 1 188.68x
Newington 1 0.67x
North Mimms 1 57.14x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 1 24.88x
Royal Navy 1 2.44x
St Ann Blackfriars London 1 135.14x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.41x
Steeple Bumpstead 1 68.49x
Stockport 1 2.19x
Stoke Newington London 1 3.19x
Stratton St Mary 1 116.28x
Sudbury St Peter 1 37.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 18
William 18
Charles 17
James 15
Thomas 15
John 13
Alfred 8
Henry 8
Arthur 7
Walter 6
Daniel 5
Harry 5
Joseph 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Herbert 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Fredrick 2
Harold 2
Horace 2
Morris 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Andrew 1
Archer 1
Bertie 1
Bower 1
Ebenezer 1
Ebenz. 1
Elijah 1
Emmons 1
Francis 1
Horatio 1
Isaac 1
Lancelott 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Martin 1
Paul 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Bareham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bareham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 413 people were recorded with the Bareham surname. That placed it at #7,794 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bareham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016. That gives Bareham a modern rank of #7,525.

What does the Bareham surname mean?

From a dwelling or farm clearing in Old English.

What does the Bareham map show?

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