NameCensus.

UK surname

Basford

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "broad ford" or "broad crossing."

In the 1881 census there were 902 people recorded with the Basford surname, ranking it #4,226 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,074, ranked #5,440, down from #4,226 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Peter, Wolstanton and Towcester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, Cornwall and Auchnagatt.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Basford is 1,167 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.1%.

1881 census count

902

Ranked #4,226

Modern count

1,074

2016, ranked #5,440

Peak year

1911

1,167 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Basford had 902 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,226 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,074 in 2016, ranked #5,440.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,167 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Basford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Basford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Basford 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 564 #4,499
1861 historical 594 #4,463
1881 historical 902 #4,226
1891 historical 885 #4,655
1901 historical 1,059 #4,542
1911 historical 1,167 #4,003
1997 modern 1,090 #5,108
1998 modern 1,163 #5,011
1999 modern 1,166 #5,048
2000 modern 1,151 #5,075
2001 modern 1,141 #5,024
2002 modern 1,161 #5,053
2003 modern 1,129 #5,066
2004 modern 1,110 #5,150
2005 modern 1,097 #5,140
2006 modern 1,078 #5,223
2007 modern 1,075 #5,278
2008 modern 1,091 #5,253
2009 modern 1,098 #5,326
2010 modern 1,125 #5,332
2011 modern 1,092 #5,413
2012 modern 1,075 #5,391
2013 modern 1,073 #5,494
2014 modern 1,077 #5,514
2015 modern 1,080 #5,433
2016 modern 1,074 #5,440

Geography

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Where Basfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Peter, Wolstanton, Towcester, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Loughborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, Cornwall, Auchnagatt, Telford and Wrekin and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Peter Derbyshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Towcester Northamptonshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Loughborough Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 004 South Northamptonshire
2 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
3 Auchnagatt Aberdeenshire
4 Telford and Wrekin 018 Telford and Wrekin
5 Stockton-on-Tees 004 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Basford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Basford

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Basford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Basford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Basford is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Basford is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Basford 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 Basford 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 Basford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Basford

The surname Basford is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the late 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name "Basford," which refers to various locations across England, including parishes in Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire.

The name Basford is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bæs" (a name of unknown meaning) and "ford" (a shallow river crossing). This suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have resided near a ford associated with someone or something called "Bæs."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Basford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a place called "Basceforde" in Nottinghamshire. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, records show individuals with the surname Basford residing in various parts of England. For instance, in 1273, a Thomas de Basford is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Nottinghamshire. Additionally, the Pipe Rolls of 1230 reference a Walter de Basseford in Leicestershire.

Notable individuals with the surname Basford throughout history include:

1. John Basford (c. 1566-1612), an English composer and organist who served at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Oxford. 2. James Basford (1796-1869), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural drawings. 3. William Basford (1804-1893), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. 4. Eleanor Basford (1842-1920), a British educator and activist who campaigned for women's rights and the abolition of slavery. 5. Sir Richard Basford (1854-1932), a British civil engineer and inventor who developed early innovations in reinforced concrete construction.

The surname Basford has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Basford in Nottinghamshire, Basford in Staffordshire, and Basford Green in Cheshire. These place names likely originated from the same linguistic roots as the surname, further reinforcing the locational nature of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Basford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Basford 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. Cheshire leads with 135 Basfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.97x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 135 6.97x
Staffordshire 132 4.45x
Leicestershire 93 9.55x
Northamptonshire 87 10.54x
Derbyshire 79 5.75x
Yorkshire 67 0.77x
Lancashire 63 0.60x
Middlesex 56 0.64x
Nottinghamshire 53 4.48x
Surrey 31 0.72x
Worcestershire 16 1.40x
Warwickshire 12 0.54x
Lincolnshire 11 0.78x
Flintshire 7 2.97x
Huntingdonshire 7 4.02x
Shropshire 7 0.92x
Gloucestershire 6 0.35x
Hertfordshire 5 0.83x
Kent 5 0.17x
Sussex 5 0.34x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.75x
Denbighshire 4 1.21x
Northumberland 4 0.31x
Essex 3 0.17x
Durham 2 0.08x
Angus 1 0.12x
Bedfordshire 1 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.18x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nantwich in Cheshire leads with 59 Basfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 261.99x.

Place Total Index
Nantwich 59 261.99x
Towcester 40 469.48x
Derby St Peter 36 82.23x
West Bromwich 28 16.50x
Leicester St Margaret 25 10.53x
Derby St Werburgh 22 27.72x
Stoke Upon Trent 21 6.68x
Loughborough 18 40.75x
Melton Mowbray 15 85.71x
Sheffield 15 5.42x
Weston In Nantwich 15 961.54x
Kings Norton 13 12.65x
Litchurch 13 23.50x
Northampton Priory St 12 24.22x
Burton Upon Trent 11 15.87x
Wolstanton Knutton 11 60.81x
Basford 10 18.34x
Chadderton 10 19.63x
Spittlegate 10 51.49x
Wistaston 10 819.67x
Wolstanton 10 11.11x
Wymeswold 10 355.87x
Ardwick 9 9.58x
Bilston 9 15.67x
Harborne 9 9.48x
Hathern 9 228.43x
Streatham 9 13.82x
Aston 8 1.31x
Blackley 8 43.81x
Epperstone 8 610.69x
Radford 8 13.31x
Wolstanton Chesterton 8 52.81x
Audlem 7 153.17x
Bradden 7 1794.87x
Chetwynd 7 285.71x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 3.96x
Hatherton 7 729.17x
Hawarden 7 37.76x
Kingstone On Soar 7 1166.67x
Middlesbrough 7 6.18x
Rawmarsh 7 22.78x
Shoreditch London 7 1.84x
Southwark St Saviour 7 15.51x
Walsall Borough 7 30.43x
West Derby 7 2.30x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 7.40x
Chelsea London 6 2.27x
Gloucester St Nicholas 6 75.28x
Leicester St Mary 6 7.63x
Mottram St Andrew 6 545.45x
Nottingham St Mary 6 1.96x
Rope 6 2400.00x
St Pancras London 6 0.85x
Wheatley 6 200.67x
Willenhall 6 10.81x
Withnell 6 93.90x
Bow London 5 4.47x
Broughton In Salford 5 5.25x
Buerton In Nantwich 5 352.11x
Burton Latimer 5 100.20x
Chelford 5 531.91x
Croydon 5 2.11x
Greens Norton 5 190.84x
Hinckley 5 21.65x
Hunsterson 5 847.46x
Ruddington 5 63.05x
St George Hanover Square 5 3.23x
St Marylebone London 5 1.07x
West Dean 5 227.27x
Battersea 4 1.24x
Derby St Alkmund 4 9.71x
Elswick 4 3.84x
Enfield 4 6.94x
Hemingford Abbots 4 341.88x
Leeds 4 0.81x
Llanddoget 4 555.56x
Madeley 4 54.13x
Mansfield 4 9.77x
Pemberton 4 9.63x
Westminster St John 4 3.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 68
William 61
Thomas 39
George 32
Joseph 25
Henry 22
James 19
Charles 15
Samuel 14
Arthur 10
Albert 9
Edward 9
Harry 7
Robert 7
Walter 7
Daniel 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Frank 4
Peter 4
Richard 4
Thos. 4
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Abraham 2
Bromley 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Isaiah 2
Joshua 2
Mathew 2
Percy 2
Wm. 2
Aurther 1
Edmund 1
Geo. 1
Georgie 1
Gustavus 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Marrifield 1
Michael 1
Paul 1
Ralph 1

FAQ

Basford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Basford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 902 people were recorded with the Basford surname. That placed it at #4,226 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Basford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,074 in 2016. That gives Basford a modern rank of #5,440.

What does the Basford surname mean?

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "broad ford" or "broad crossing."

What does the Basford map show?

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