NameCensus.

UK surname

Bassey

An Anglicized version of the West African name Bessy or Obasi, meaning ruler or king.

In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Bassey surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 318, ranked #14,159, up from #23,950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Gorleston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Wychavon and Bonnington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bassey is 318 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 367.6%.

1881 census count

68

Ranked #23,950

Modern count

318

2016, ranked #14,159

Peak year

2016

318 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bassey had 68 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016, ranked #14,159.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 110 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Bassey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bassey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bassey 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 26 #28,667
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 68 #23,950
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 72 #26,162
1911 historical 64 #26,435
1997 modern 206 #17,315
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 205 #17,960
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 207 #17,573
2002 modern 234 #16,543
2003 modern 224 #16,859
2004 modern 246 #15,854
2005 modern 259 #15,294
2006 modern 264 #15,170
2007 modern 268 #15,172
2008 modern 277 #14,940
2009 modern 282 #15,059
2010 modern 296 #14,877
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 291 #14,806
2013 modern 305 #14,577
2014 modern 312 #14,430
2015 modern 313 #14,313
2016 modern 318 #14,159

Geography

Back to top

Where Basseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Gorleston, Auckland St Andrew and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Wychavon, Bonnington, Southwark 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 London parishes London 3
3 Gorleston Suffolk
4 Auckland St Andrew Durham
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
2 Wychavon 014 Wychavon
3 Bonnington City of Edinburgh
4 Southwark 019 Southwark
5 Wolverhampton 030 Wolverhampton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bassey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bassey

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Bassey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Bassey 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bassey 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

Bassey 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

Bassey falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bassey

The surname BASSEY is of English origin, specifically from the region of Cheshire in northwest England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bæcci," which means "dweller by a stream or brook." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely lived near a small watercourse or stream.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early recorded instances appearing in the Cheshire County Rolls of 1260. These ancient records list individuals with variations of the name, such as Basci and Bassy. The spelling "Bassey" became more standardized in later centuries.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct references to the Bassey surname. However, the book does mention places with similar-sounding names, such as Bache in Cheshire, which could be related to the origin of the Bassey name.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Bassey surname was William Bassey, born around 1520 in Nantwich, Cheshire. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a churchwarden in the parish church of St. Mary's.

Another notable individual was Sir Richard Bassey (1634-1698), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Cheshire in the late 17th century. He was known for his support of the Glorious Revolution that brought William III and Mary II to the English throne.

In the 18th century, John Bassey (1712-1786) was a successful merchant and trader in Liverpool, contributing to the city's growth as a major port during the Industrial Revolution.

Moving into the 19th century, Mary Bassey (1825-1902) was a prominent educator and headmistress of the Bassey Girls' School in Chester, which provided education to underprivileged children in the area.

One of the most famous individuals with the Bassey surname is Shirley Bassey (born 1937), the iconic Welsh singer known for her powerful vocals and numerous hit songs, including the James Bond theme songs "Goldfinger," "Diamonds Are Forever," and "Moonraker."

While the Bassey name has English roots, it has also spread to other parts of the world, including Nigeria, where it is a common surname among certain ethnic groups. However, the Nigerian Basseys likely have a different origin and meaning for their name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bassey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bassey 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. Surrey leads with 24 Basseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.43x.

County Total Index
Surrey 24 7.43x
Kent 7 3.09x
Lancashire 7 0.89x
Norfolk 6 5.88x
Middlesex 5 0.75x
Yorkshire 4 0.61x
Gloucestershire 3 2.31x
Sussex 3 2.68x
Essex 2 1.53x
Somerset 2 1.87x
Carmarthenshire 1 3.58x
Cheshire 1 0.68x
Durham 1 0.51x
Suffolk 1 1.24x
Warwickshire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 12 Basseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.75x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 12 20.75x
Bermondsey 8 40.53x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 254.24x
Heigham 6 109.69x
Liverpool 5 10.46x
Normanton 4 203.05x
Brighton 3 13.30x
Bristol St Paul In 3 86.71x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 11.63x
Bath St Peter St Paul 2 425.53x
Camberwell 2 4.72x
South Weald 2 178.57x
Battersea 1 4.10x
Bethnal Green London 1 3.47x
Birmingham 1 1.79x
Bishopwearmouth 1 5.91x
Chorlton In Nantwich 1 5000.00x
Kessingland 1 357.14x
Llanelly 1 15.87x
Ruislip 1 303.03x
St Giles In Fields London 1 30.77x
St Lawrence 1 64.10x
St Luke London 1 9.40x
Wandsworth 1 15.67x
Westminster St James 1 14.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 5
Charles 4
James 4
Arthur 2
Harry 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Cater 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
John 1
Martin 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Swithen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bassey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bassey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Bassey surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bassey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016. That gives Bassey a modern rank of #14,159.

What does the Bassey surname mean?

An Anglicized version of the West African name Bessy or Obasi, meaning ruler or king.

What does the Bassey map show?

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