NameCensus.

UK surname

Base

A derived surname from an Old English place name meaning "marsh" or "marshy area."

In the 1881 census there were 212 people recorded with the Base surname, ranking it #12,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 198, ranked #19,713, down from #12,373 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Dunstan Stepney, St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Gloucestershire, Gloucester and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Base is 306 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.6%.

1881 census count

212

Ranked #12,373

Modern count

198

2016, ranked #19,713

Peak year

1861

306 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Base had 212 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,373 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016, ranked #19,713.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 306 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Base surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Base surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Base 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 170 #11,780
1861 historical 306 #8,296
1881 historical 212 #12,373
1891 historical 189 #15,547
1901 historical 216 #14,426
1911 historical 213 #14,379
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 183 #19,239
2001 modern 176 #19,415
2002 modern 177 #19,759
2003 modern 173 #19,834
2004 modern 177 #19,662
2005 modern 180 #19,395
2006 modern 172 #20,073
2007 modern 172 #20,321
2008 modern 185 #19,589
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 189 #20,171
2011 modern 193 #19,729
2012 modern 190 #19,864
2013 modern 190 #20,201
2014 modern 193 #20,159
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 198 #19,713

Geography

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Where Bases are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Dunstan Stepney, St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Gloucestershire, Gloucester, Cornwall and Stroud. 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 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
2 St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a Norfolk
3 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Gloucestershire 007 South Gloucestershire
2 Gloucester 014 Gloucester
3 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
4 Gloucester 012 Gloucester
5 Stroud 003 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Base

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Base

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Base surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Base household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Base is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Base is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Base 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 Base is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Base

The surname "Base" is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "baese," which means "flat" or "low-lying." This likely refers to an area of land or a geographic feature near where the original bearers of the name lived.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Base" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus Base residing in Berkshire.

In the 13th century, records show a William de la Base living in Gloucestershire. The use of the prefix "de la" suggests a connection to a specific place, possibly a manor or village called "Base." This could be a variation of the name or an indication that the family originated from a location with a similar-sounding name.

During the medieval period, surnames were often derived from occupations, nicknames, or places of origin. It is possible that some individuals with the surname "Base" may have acquired it as a descriptive nickname or a reference to their place of residence or work, such as a farm or estate located on low-lying or flat land.

Notable historical figures with the surname "Base" include:

1. John Base (c. 1450 - 1515), an English politician and landowner from Gloucestershire. 2. Thomas Base (1565 - 1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stanford Dingley in Berkshire. 3. Nathaniel Base (1637 - 1699), an English merchant and landowner from Somerset. 4. Margaret Base (1710 - 1778), a philanthropist and benefactor from Warwickshire, known for her support of local charities and educational institutions. 5. William Base (1789 - 1865), a British engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early steam engines and machinery.

While the surname "Base" is not among the most common in England, it has a long and varied history, with roots dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period and a connection to the land and geography of the regions where it first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Base families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Base 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. Norfolk leads with 58 Bases recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.33x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 58 18.33x
Middlesex 43 2.09x
Surrey 21 2.09x
Warwickshire 14 2.70x
Kent 13 1.85x
Essex 11 2.71x
Suffolk 10 3.99x
Durham 8 1.31x
Yorkshire 8 0.39x
Berkshire 6 3.88x
Cornwall 4 1.72x
Devon 4 0.93x
Wiltshire 4 2.20x
Hertfordshire 3 2.11x
Leicestershire 2 0.88x
Gloucestershire 1 0.25x
Somerset 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. Norwich St George Colegate in Norfolk leads with 13 Bases recorded in 1881 and an index of 1130.43x.

Place Total Index
Norwich St George Colegate 13 1130.43x
Mile End Old Town London 12 27.40x
Norwich St James 11 443.55x
West Ham 11 12.26x
Norwich St Paul 10 529.10x
Croydon 8 14.37x
Gateshead 8 17.45x
Little Wolford 8 5333.33x
Chelsea London 7 11.29x
Norwich St Clement 7 190.74x
Saddleworth 7 44.50x
Kingston On Thames 6 24.91x
Lambeth 6 3.34x
Ramsgate 6 52.36x
Birmingham 5 2.89x
Reading St Giles 5 32.98x
St Pancras London 5 3.02x
Wortham 5 746.27x
Norwich St Andrew 4 740.74x
Cheshunt 3 60.48x
Lewisham 3 8.01x
Paddington London 3 3.96x
Sprowston 3 214.29x
Stoke Damerel 3 10.01x
Westminster St John 3 11.97x
Dover St Mary Virgin 2 29.41x
Hackney London 2 1.73x
Hammersmith London 2 3.94x
Islington London 2 1.00x
Kensington London 2 1.75x
Kirkley 2 95.24x
Nacton 2 555.56x
Newbold Verdon 2 384.62x
Norwich St John 2 714.29x
Norwich St Peter 2 96.15x
St George Hanover Square 2 5.52x
Swindon 2 14.16x
Ashby St Mary 1 714.29x
Bathwick 1 27.25x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.12x
Bradford 1 370.37x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 7.43x
Budbrooke 1 188.68x
Calne 1 26.67x
Camberwell 1 0.76x
Darenth 1 92.59x
Dover St James 1 32.47x
Falmouth 1 12.12x
Heigham 1 5.89x
Hungerford 1 47.85x
Ilketshall St Lawrence 1 666.67x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 10.53x
Launcells 1 256.41x
Long Newnton 1 476.19x
Madron Penzance 1 11.81x
Norwich St Gregory 1 181.82x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 1 48.78x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 1 52.08x
Padstow 1 64.52x
Poplar London 1 2.57x
Scarborough 1 5.40x
St Bride London 1 83.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 11
Alice 9
Mary 9
Eliza 8
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 7
Emma 7
Maria 4
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Edith 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Laura 2
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Cla. 1
Eleann 1
Elizth.E. 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
F. 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Leonora 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maud 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Sabrina 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Base surname: questions and answers

How common was the Base surname in 1881?

In 1881, 212 people were recorded with the Base surname. That placed it at #12,373 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Base surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016. That gives Base a modern rank of #19,713.

What does the Base surname mean?

A derived surname from an Old English place name meaning "marsh" or "marshy area."

What does the Base map show?

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