NameCensus.

UK surname

Bascombe

From a valley or combe sheltered by trees.

In the 1881 census there were 202 people recorded with the Bascombe surname, ranking it #12,753 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 434, ranked #11,102, up from #12,753 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wool and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Poole, West Dorset and East Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bascombe is 463 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.9%.

1881 census count

202

Ranked #12,753

Modern count

434

2016, ranked #11,102

Peak year

2011

463 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bascombe had 202 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,753 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016, ranked #11,102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 308 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bascombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bascombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bascombe 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 160 #12,347
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 202 #12,753
1891 historical 265 #12,208
1901 historical 286 #12,029
1911 historical 308 #11,230
1997 modern 394 #11,129
1998 modern 414 #11,073
1999 modern 415 #11,136
2000 modern 399 #11,422
2001 modern 393 #11,366
2002 modern 402 #11,405
2003 modern 399 #11,284
2004 modern 405 #11,177
2005 modern 415 #10,878
2006 modern 412 #10,976
2007 modern 415 #11,047
2008 modern 431 #10,814
2009 modern 442 #10,844
2010 modern 458 #10,756
2011 modern 463 #10,551
2012 modern 434 #10,977
2013 modern 442 #10,997
2014 modern 439 #11,132
2015 modern 427 #11,292
2016 modern 434 #11,102

Geography

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Where Bascombes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wool, Southampton St Mary, Winfrith Newburgh and Melcombe Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Poole, West Dorset, East Dorset and New Forest. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Wool Dorset
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Winfrith Newburgh Dorset
5 Melcombe Regis Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Poole 013 Poole
2 West Dorset 009 West Dorset
3 West Dorset 010 West Dorset
4 East Dorset 008 East Dorset
5 New Forest 001 New Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bascombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bascombe

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Bascombe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bascombe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Bascombe 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

Bascombe 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

Bascombe falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bascombe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bascombe

The surname Bascombe is believed to have originated in England, particularly in the county of Wiltshire, during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "basca" meaning flat hill or ridge, and "cumb" meaning a deep valley or hollow.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Bascombe dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in the Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire as "de Bascombe." This suggests that the name was likely initially applied as a locational surname, referring to someone from the area now known as Basscombe or Bascombe in Wiltshire.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Bascumbe," "Bascombe," and "Bascumbe de Winterbourne." The latter variation indicates a connection to the village of Winterbourne in Wiltshire, where a family bearing the surname may have resided.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Bascombe was John Bascombe, who was born around 1410 in Wiltshire. Records suggest he was a landowner and prominent figure in the local community.

During the 16th century, the surname gained prominence through individuals like Sir William Bascombe (1520-1589), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors and supported the establishment of several educational institutions.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, including those of Wiltshire, Somerset, and Gloucestershire. One notable figure from this period was Richard Bascombe (1645-1718), a clergyman and author who served as the rector of Stanton St. Quintin in Wiltshire.

The 18th century saw the birth of James Bascombe (1708-1784), a renowned landscape architect and garden designer who worked on several notable estates in England, including Blenheim Palace and Stowe Landscape Gardens.

Another prominent individual with the surname was Sir Henry Bascombe (1779-1861), a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament for the borough of Ludgershall in Wiltshire.

Throughout its history, the surname Bascombe has been associated with various occupations and social classes, from landowners and merchants to clergymen and military officers. While the name originated in Wiltshire, it has since spread across different regions of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bascombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bascombe 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. Dorset leads with 95 Bascombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.10x.

County Total Index
Dorset 95 73.10x
Hampshire 54 13.30x
Somerset 13 4.08x
Cornwall 12 5.35x
Middlesex 12 0.61x
Wiltshire 6 3.43x
Gloucestershire 5 1.29x
Kent 2 0.30x
Surrey 2 0.21x
Royal Navy 1 4.24x
Sussex 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 18 Bascombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.63x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 18 22.63x
Wool 17 4857.14x
Southampton St Mary 13 50.94x
Bedminster 10 33.39x
Dorchester St Peter 8 851.06x
Weeke 8 650.41x
Canford Magna 7 933.33x
Holdenhurst 7 65.73x
Broadmayne 6 1714.29x
Chaldon Herring 6 2608.70x
Falmouth 6 75.57x
Fordington 6 214.29x
Winfrith Newburgh 6 923.08x
Bere Regis 5 574.71x
Budock 5 295.86x
Melcombe Regis 5 92.76x
Trowbridge 5 64.60x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 30.89x
Church Knowle 4 1052.63x
St Marylebone London 4 3.78x
Stinsford 4 1739.13x
Basingstoke 3 64.24x
Dewlish 3 967.74x
Dorchester All Sts 3 483.87x
East Lulworth 2 800.00x
Erith 2 30.03x
Islington London 2 1.04x
Lymington 2 67.11x
Owermoigne 2 689.66x
Radipole 2 222.22x
Shepton Mallet 2 55.87x
Toller Porcorum 2 666.67x
Brading 1 18.55x
Bromley London 1 2.30x
Clapham 1 4.04x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 1 95.24x
Edburton 1 434.78x
Fisherton Anger 1 30.86x
Kensington London 1 0.91x
Lechlade 1 125.00x
Millbrook 1 9.78x
Northwood 1 17.30x
Paddington London 1 1.37x
Penge 1 7.91x
Poole St James 1 20.49x
Portland 1 14.31x
Royal Navy 1 4.96x
St Clement 1 42.74x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.87x
St Nicholas Olave London 1 2500.00x
St Pancras London 1 0.63x
Walcot 1 5.89x
Wareham Lady St Mary 1 100.00x
West Knighton 1 476.19x
Worth Matravers 1 476.19x
Wyke Regis 1 53.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Mary 11
Sarah 9
Ellen 5
Eliza 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Annie 3
Fanny 3
Rebecca 3
Augusta 2
Emma 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Thirza 2
Victoria 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth.Mary 1
Fannie 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Jemima 1
Lilian 1
Lotty 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
James 8
John 8
George 7
Henry 6
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Alfred 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Reginald 2
Robert 2
A.H.R. 1
Cecil 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Fredk 1
Geo. 1
Jos 1
Joseph 1
Newell 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bascombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bascombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 202 people were recorded with the Bascombe surname. That placed it at #12,753 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bascombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016. That gives Bascombe a modern rank of #11,102.

What does the Bascombe surname mean?

From a valley or combe sheltered by trees.

What does the Bascombe map show?

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