NameCensus.

UK surname

Bassi

An occupational surname derived from the Italian word "basso" meaning "short" or "low".

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Bassi surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,704, ranked #3,661, up from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Redbridge and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bassi is 1,726 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11260.0%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

1,704

2016, ranked #3,661

Peak year

2014

1,726 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bassi had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,704 in 2016, ranked #3,661.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 56 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Bassi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bassi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bassi 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 38 #31,330
1901 historical 44 #29,276
1911 historical 56 #27,216
1997 modern 1,128 #4,965
1998 modern 1,219 #4,826
1999 modern 1,249 #4,754
2000 modern 1,275 #4,657
2001 modern 1,267 #4,588
2002 modern 1,378 #4,347
2003 modern 1,394 #4,238
2004 modern 1,424 #4,165
2005 modern 1,440 #4,094
2006 modern 1,449 #4,083
2007 modern 1,490 #4,021
2008 modern 1,536 #3,928
2009 modern 1,601 #3,879
2010 modern 1,679 #3,803
2011 modern 1,701 #3,698
2012 modern 1,680 #3,685
2013 modern 1,720 #3,665
2014 modern 1,726 #3,673
2015 modern 1,705 #3,671
2016 modern 1,704 #3,661

Geography

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Where Bassis are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Redbridge, Coventry and Leicester. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 037 Ealing
2 Ealing 026 Ealing
3 Redbridge 035 Redbridge
4 Coventry 040 Coventry
5 Leicester 021 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bassi

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bassi

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Bassi 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

Bassi 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

Bassi 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 Bassi is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Bassi

The surname Bassi is of Italian origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. This name is believed to have derived from the Italian word "basso," which means "low" or "short." It was likely used as a descriptive nickname for someone of small stature or short height.

The earliest known records of the Bassi surname can be found in various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Lombardy. One of the earliest documented instances dates back to the 13th century, when a certain Guido Bassi was mentioned in a document from the city of Modena in 1265.

In the 14th century, the Bassi family gained prominence in the city of Bologna. Guido Bassi, a renowned jurist and professor of law, lived during this time and was highly respected for his contributions to the field of jurisprudence. Another notable figure was Giovanni Battista Bassi, a celebrated painter from the 16th century who was renowned for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches in Bologna and other Italian cities.

The Bassi surname also has a connection to place names. In some instances, it may have originated from locations such as Basso, a small village in the province of Brescia, or Bassano del Grappa, a town in the Veneto region, known for its ceramic production.

Over the centuries, the Bassi surname has been associated with various notable individuals. One such example is Ferdinando Bassi, an Italian botanist and professor who lived from 1710 to 1776. He made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and was a member of the prestigious Accademia delle Scienze di Bologna.

Another prominent figure was Giuseppe Bassi, an Italian composer and conductor who lived from 1792 to 1856. He gained recognition for his operas and instrumental works, and served as the director of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, one of the most prestigious opera houses in Italy.

In the field of literature, the surname is associated with the Italian writer and journalist Adolfo Bassi, who lived from 1862 to 1916. He was known for his novels, short stories, and articles that explored social and political themes of his time.

The Bassi surname has also been carried by individuals in other fields, such as Ugo Bassi, an Italian patriot and priest who lived from 1801 to 1849. He played a significant role in the Italian Risorgimento, the movement for the unification of Italy, and was eventually executed for his involvement in the revolutionary efforts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bassi families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bassi 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. Lancashire leads with 8 Bassis recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.62x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 8 4.62x
Middlesex 4 2.74x
Essex 3 10.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eccleston In Prescot in Lancashire leads with 8 Bassis recorded in 1881 and an index of 919.54x.

Place Total Index
Eccleston In Prescot 8 919.54x
Walthamstow 3 288.46x
Clerkenwell London 1 28.99x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 158.73x
St Martin In Fields 1 114.94x
Westminster St Margaret 1 142.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Angelo 1
Anthony 1
Antonio 1
Dominick 1
Ernest 1
Francesio 1
Guiseppe 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 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 Bassi households.

FAQ

Bassi surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bassi surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Bassi surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bassi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,704 in 2016. That gives Bassi a modern rank of #3,661.

What does the Bassi surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Italian word "basso" meaning "short" or "low".

What does the Bassi map show?

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