NameCensus.

UK surname

Basher

A surname derived from the word "bash", likely referring to an aggressive or violent person.

In the 1881 census there were 155 people recorded with the Basher surname, ranking it #15,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 167, ranked #22,055, down from #15,174 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, St Martin in Meneage and Breage. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Basher is 199 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.7%.

1881 census count

155

Ranked #15,174

Modern count

167

2016, ranked #22,055

Peak year

1861

199 bearers

Map years

0

Key insights

  • Basher had 155 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,174 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016, ranked #22,055.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 199 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Timeline

Back to top

Basher 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 117 #15,456
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 155 #15,174
1891 historical 176 #16,404
1901 historical 176 #16,401
1911 historical 150 #17,866
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 123 #24,449
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 146 #22,069
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 154 #22,536
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 157 #22,551
2013 modern 150 #23,653
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 167 #22,055

Geography

Back to top

Where Bashers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, St Martin in Meneage, Breage, London parishes and Wendron. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 St Martin in Meneage Cornwall
3 Breage Cornwall
4 London parishes London 3
5 Wendron Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 073 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 059 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 071 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 058 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Basher

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Basher

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Basher is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Basher 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

Basher falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Basher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Basher

The surname "BASHER" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bashere," which referred to a person who made or sold baskets.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1190, where a certain "William le Bashere" is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use as a surname by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Baschere," "Bascher," and "Baschor," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common at the time. These variations likely stemmed from the regional dialects and scribal practices of different areas.

The surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Basheridge in Hertfordshire and Basherley in Shropshire, suggesting that some individuals may have adopted the name based on their place of origin or residence.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Basher (c. 1350-1415), a knight who served under King Henry IV and was mentioned in the chronicles of the time for his bravery in the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403.

Another prominent figure was Robert Basher (c. 1480-1543), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bristol, who played a role in the city's trade with Europe and the Americas during the Tudor period.

In the 16th century, the name was also found in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1523, which listed a "Thomas Basher" among the taxpayers.

During the 17th century, the surname appeared in the parish records of several English counties, including Wiltshire, where a "John Basher" was baptized in 1632, and Oxfordshire, where a "Mary Basher" was married in 1677.

By the 18th century, the name had spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in Scotland and Ireland, likely due to migration and intermarriage.

Throughout its history, the surname "BASHER" has been associated with various occupations and social classes, from skilled craftspeople and merchants to landowners and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Basher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Basher 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. Cornwall leads with 92 Bashers recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.07x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 92 53.07x
Middlesex 22 1.44x
Surrey 10 1.34x
Berkshire 8 6.96x
Hampshire 6 1.91x
Nottinghamshire 5 2.42x
Durham 2 0.44x
Sussex 2 0.77x
Yorkshire 2 0.13x
Channel Islands 1 2.20x
Gloucestershire 1 0.33x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Montgomeryshire 1 2.85x
Royal Navy 1 5.48x
Somerset 1 0.41x
Staffordshire 1 0.19x
Warwickshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Breage in Cornwall leads with 10 Bashers recorded in 1881 and an index of 632.91x.

Place Total Index
Breage 10 632.91x
Cury 10 4347.83x
St Hilary 10 2000.00x
Bethnal Green London 9 13.53x
St Martin In Meneage 9 4285.71x
Redruth 8 163.27x
Warfield 7 673.08x
Constantine 6 594.06x
Madron Penzance 6 95.24x
Crowan 5 364.96x
East Retford 5 279.33x
Grade 5 3333.33x
Gunwalloe 5 5555.56x
Lambeth 5 3.74x
Hackney London 4 4.66x
Sithney 4 228.57x
St Gluvias 4 412.37x
Battersea 3 5.32x
Clerkenwell London 3 8.30x
Ryde 3 44.51x
Falmouth 2 32.57x
Gwinear 2 243.90x
Portsea 2 3.25x
Sheffield 2 4.14x
Shoreditch London 2 3.01x
St Clement 2 110.50x
St Gluvias Penryn 2 143.88x
Cheltenham 1 4.32x
Clapham 1 5.22x
Clewer 1 21.23x
East Molesey 1 57.80x
Gateshead 1 2.93x
Handsworth 1 7.85x
Llanrhaiadr Ym Mochnant 1 88.50x
Mullion 1 312.50x
Norwood 1 28.57x
Paddington London 1 1.78x
Parr 1 15.38x
Portslade 1 63.29x
Royal Navy 1 6.41x
South Stoke 1 500.00x
St Faith Winchester 1 68.49x
St Helier 1 6.77x
Twickenham 1 15.22x
Watergall 1 10000.00x
Wendron 1 41.49x
Westminster St Margaret 1 13.53x
Windlestone 1 769.23x
Wivelsfield 1 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 11
Jane 7
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Maria 3
Catherine 2
Harriet 2
Leminia 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Bessie 1
Boadicea 1
Cassandra 1
Edith 1
Elizth.J. 1
Emily 1
Grace 1
Hester 1
Julianna 1
Keyia 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Louisia 1
Margaret 1
Olga 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 9
James 7
Charles 5
Henry 5
George 4
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Alexander 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Francis 1
Geo 1
Harry 1
Nicholas 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Tommie 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Basher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Basher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 155 people were recorded with the Basher surname. That placed it at #15,174 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Basher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016. That gives Basher a modern rank of #22,055.

What does the Basher surname mean?

A surname derived from the word "bash", likely referring to an aggressive or violent person.

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.