NameCensus.

UK surname

Bash

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked in a patch of low-growing bushes.

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Bash surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 146, ranked #24,173, down from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Redbridge and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bash is 252 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 97.3%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

146

2016, ranked #24,173

Peak year

1861

252 bearers

Map years

0

Key insights

  • Bash had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016, ranked #24,173.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 252 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Timeline

Back to top

Bash 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 71 #20,875
1861 historical 252 #9,804
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 199 #14,977
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1911 historical 126 #19,831
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 102 #27,314
1999 modern 99 #27,906
2000 modern 95 #28,441
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 96 #29,339
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 113 #27,967
2012 modern 123 #26,561
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 146 #24,173

Geography

Back to top

Where Bashs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Redbridge, Birmingham and Wolverhampton. 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 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 006 Breckland
2 Redbridge 036 Redbridge
3 Birmingham 103 Birmingham
4 Birmingham 122 Birmingham
5 Wolverhampton 002 Wolverhampton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bash

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bash

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Bash surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Bash household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Bash 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

Bash 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

Bash falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bash is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bash

The surname Bash is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "basch," which means "thicket" or "brushwood." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a dense, overgrown area.

In the late Middle Ages, the Bash name appeared in various records and documents across German-speaking regions, including the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a medieval collection of documents related to the Margraviate of Brandenburg. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a 1367 entry, which mentions a certain "Hans Bash" from the town of Lübben.

As the Bash family spread across Europe, the name underwent several spelling variations, such as Basch, Bascht, and Bäsch. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and linguistic differences. For instance, in some areas of southern Germany and Austria, the name was commonly spelled as "Bäsch."

One notable figure bearing the Bash surname was Johann Bash (1528-1594), a renowned Protestant theologian and reformer from Nuremberg, Germany. He played a significant role in the Reformation movement and authored several influential works on theology and church doctrine.

Another individual of historical significance was Maria Bash (1701-1758), a German painter and engraver from Augsburg. She was highly regarded for her intricate copperplate engravings and portraits, many of which can still be found in museums and art collections across Europe.

In the 18th century, the Bash name gained prominence in the world of music with the birth of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bash (1713-1788), a German composer and organist from Saxony. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the early classical style and his compositions for the organ.

Moving into the 19th century, we find the name associated with Julius Bash (1825-1901), a German-American businessman and philanthropist. He immigrated to the United States in the mid-1800s and became a successful manufacturer and investor in New York City, where he also established several charitable organizations.

The Bash surname has also left its mark in the field of literature with the American writer and poet, Thomas Bash (1946-2000). Born in Massachusetts, he was celebrated for his poignant and introspective works that explored themes of identity, loss, and the human condition.

While the Bash surname may have originated in a specific region, it has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of individuals who have left their mark in various fields and professions. Despite its diverse iterations and spellings, the name remains a testament to the rich cultural and linguistic tapestry woven throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bash families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bash 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. Middlesex leads with 12 Bashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.66x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 12 1.66x
Surrey 11 3.13x
Durham 8 3.73x
Lancashire 8 0.93x
Kent 7 2.84x
Hampshire 5 3.38x
Worcestershire 5 5.31x
Essex 2 1.40x
Glamorgan 2 1.59x
Lanarkshire 2 0.86x
Warwickshire 2 1.10x
Wiltshire 2 3.13x
Angus 1 1.50x
Berkshire 1 1.85x
Devon 1 0.67x
Gloucestershire 1 0.71x
Lincolnshire 1 0.87x
Norfolk 1 0.90x
Somerset 1 0.86x
Sussex 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 10 Bashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.72x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 10 24.72x
Monkwearmouth 8 390.24x
Croydon 7 35.86x
Elham 6 2068.97x
Millbrook 5 134.05x
Barrow In Furness 4 34.33x
Levenshulme 4 454.55x
Upper Mitton 4 1904.76x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 20.66x
Barony 2 3.39x
Birmingham 2 3.30x
Llandaff 2 47.85x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 7.51x
Castle Cary 1 196.08x
Colchester St Giles 1 70.92x
Dundee 1 4.01x
East Coulston 1 3333.33x
Easthampstead 1 344.83x
Frant 1 116.28x
Highweek 1 185.19x
Kidderminster Borough 1 18.12x
Lakenham 1 63.29x
Lewisham 1 7.62x
Potter Hanworth 1 909.09x
Reigate Foreign 1 26.25x
Shoreditch London 1 3.20x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 98.04x
Trowbridge 1 35.46x
Wanstead 1 40.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Mary 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Julia 2
Matilda 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Eveline 1
Jane 1
Lauria 1
Margrett 1
Maria 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 4
James 4
William 4
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
John 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wolf 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bash households.

FAQ

Bash surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bash surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Bash surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bash surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016. That gives Bash a modern rank of #24,173.

What does the Bash surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked in a patch of low-growing bushes.

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.