NameCensus.

UK surname

Basey

A locational surname referring to someone from an English place called Basi or Basy.

In the 1881 census there were 130 people recorded with the Basey surname, ranking it #16,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 267, ranked #16,054, up from #16,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lound, London parishes and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harborough, Slough and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Basey is 288 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 105.4%.

1881 census count

130

Ranked #16,911

Modern count

267

2016, ranked #16,054

Peak year

2002

288 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Basey had 130 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,911 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016, ranked #16,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 242 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Basey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Basey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Basey 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 93 #17,946
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 130 #16,911
1891 historical 242 #13,048
1901 historical 225 #14,047
1911 historical 236 #13,452
1997 modern 249 #15,319
1998 modern 280 #14,550
1999 modern 280 #14,630
2000 modern 270 #14,943
2001 modern 273 #14,614
2002 modern 288 #14,373
2003 modern 274 #14,680
2004 modern 271 #14,883
2005 modern 256 #15,407
2006 modern 263 #15,215
2007 modern 266 #15,261
2008 modern 272 #15,152
2009 modern 263 #15,843
2010 modern 276 #15,637
2011 modern 276 #15,471
2012 modern 260 #16,090
2013 modern 268 #16,005
2014 modern 271 #15,986
2015 modern 267 #16,050
2016 modern 267 #16,054

Geography

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Where Baseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lound, London parishes, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Tuddenham, East and Brancepeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harborough, Slough, Gwynedd, Blackpool and Windsor and Maidenhead. 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 Lound Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
4 Tuddenham, East Norfolk
5 Brancepeth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harborough 003 Harborough
2 Slough 008 Slough
3 Gwynedd 010 Gwynedd
4 Blackpool 006 Blackpool
5 Windsor and Maidenhead 010 Windsor and Maidenhead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Basey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Basey

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Basey 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

Basey is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Basey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Basey

The surname BASEY has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'bæce', meaning 'baker'. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked as a baker or was involved in the baking trade.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a record of a person named William le Bacer, which is likely an early spelling variation of the surname BASEY. This document was a census-like record of landowners and their holdings in various counties of England.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the BASEY surname can be found in the Suffolk Feet of Fines for 1310, which mentions a John Basy. This record was a collection of legal agreements and contracts related to land transactions in the county of Suffolk.

The surname BASEY may also have connections to certain place names in England, such as Basing or Basingbourne, both of which were located in Hampshire. It is possible that the name originated from these locations and may have been adopted by people who lived or worked there.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the BASEY surname. One example is William Basey, a 16th-century English clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, from 1558 until his death in 1598.

Another individual of note is John Basey, who was born in Oxfordshire in 1677. He was a prominent Quaker and author, best known for his work entitled "A Brief Narrative of the Life and Sufferings of John Basey" published in 1744.

In the 18th century, there was a Thomas Basey, born in 1735 in Warwickshire, who served as a member of the British Parliament, representing the constituency of Warwick from 1768 to 1780.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Richard Basey, a renowned English architect and surveyor who was born in 1810 in Lincolnshire. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Lincolnshire County Asylum and the Lincoln Corn Exchange.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contributions of Mary Basey, a British author and educator who lived from 1833 to 1921. She was a pioneer in promoting women's education and founded several schools for girls in England during the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Basey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Basey 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 56 Baseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.73x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 56 28.73x
Essex 15 5.99x
Surrey 11 1.78x
Durham 10 2.65x
Middlesex 9 0.71x
Somerset 7 3.43x
Suffolk 7 4.53x
Yorkshire 6 0.48x
Northumberland 4 2.12x
Herefordshire 2 3.85x
Kent 1 0.23x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Shropshire 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Tuddenham in Norfolk leads with 27 Baseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13500.00x.

Place Total Index
East Tuddenham 27 13500.00x
Brandon Byshottles 9 190.27x
St Stephen Coleman Street 8 1818.18x
West Ham 8 14.48x
Walcot 7 64.40x
Lound 6 3157.89x
Pannal 5 413.22x
Syderstone 5 2272.73x
Blofield 4 800.00x
East Molesey 4 279.72x
Hethersett 4 816.33x
Thundersley 4 1739.13x
Westgate 4 34.25x
Hindolveston 3 1071.43x
Newington 3 6.40x
Hellesdon 2 555.56x
Hemblington 2 2000.00x
Hevingham 2 606.06x
Whitbourne 2 625.00x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 3.04x
Attleborough 1 102.04x
Bracon Ash 1 833.33x
Braintree 1 44.44x
Brandon 1 95.24x
Camberwell 1 1.23x
Dorking 1 24.10x
Great Yarmouth 1 6.19x
Guildford Holy Trinity 1 84.75x
Heigham 1 9.56x
Leeds 1 1.41x
Leyton 1 23.20x
Lowestoft 1 13.70x
Maidstone 1 7.76x
Norwich St Margaret 1 333.33x
Norwich St Michael At 1 88.50x
Rayleigh 1 172.41x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 26.04x
Southwark St Saviour 1 15.34x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.48x
Tudhoe 1 30.30x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Basey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Basey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 130 people were recorded with the Basey surname. That placed it at #16,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Basey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016. That gives Basey a modern rank of #16,054.

What does the Basey surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from an English place called Basi or Basy.

What does the Basey map show?

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