NameCensus.

UK surname

Basso

An Italian occupational surname referring to a low-voiced singer or someone who sings bass.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Basso surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 123, ranked #27,115, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Bedford and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Basso is 129 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6050.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

2010

129 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Basso had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Basso surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Basso surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Basso 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
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 6 #33,591
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 80 #29,554
1998 modern 89 #29,026
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 88 #29,056
2002 modern 97 #28,383
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 120 #26,930
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

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Where Bassos 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 Bury, Bedford, Kensington and Chelsea 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bury 019 Bury
2 Bury 026 Bury
3 Bedford 015 Bedford
4 Kensington and Chelsea 020 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Wolverhampton 008 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Basso

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Basso

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Basso surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Basso 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Basso is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Basso 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

Basso 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 Basso 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Basso

The surname Basso has its origins in Italy, where it first emerged as a nickname during the medieval period. Derived from the Italian word "basso," meaning "short" or "low," the name initially referred to a person of small stature or someone who lived in a low-lying area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Florentine Renaissance writer and humanist, Poggio Bracciolini (1380-1459), who mentions a "Jacobo Basso" in his writings. Another early reference appears in the Codice Diplomatico Longobardo, a collection of Lombard documents dating back to the 8th century, where a "Petrus Bassus" is listed.

During the 12th century, the name Basso began to spread across Italy, with various branches emerging in different regions. For instance, the Basso family from Genoa held significant influence, and one of its members, Sinibaldo Basso (c. 1195-1248), served as a notable jurist and diplomat.

In the 14th century, the name gained prominence in Venice, where the Basso family played a prominent role in the city's politics and cultural life. One of the most famous figures from this lineage was the celebrated architect and sculptor, Andrea Basso (c. 1335-1415), who contributed to the construction of the iconic St. Mark's Basilica.

Another notable individual bearing the surname Basso was the Italian composer and violinist, Giovanni Battista Basso (c. 1630-1699), who was renowned for his contributions to the development of the concerto grosso form during the Baroque period.

In the literary world, the name Basso is associated with the Italian writer and philosopher, Sebastiano Basso (1584-1657), who authored several works on ethics and metaphysics.

The name Basso also has connections to various place names in Italy, such as Bassano del Grappa, a town in the province of Vicenza, and Bassano Bresciano, a municipality in the province of Brescia. These locations may have influenced the spread and evolution of the surname in different regions.

While the surname Basso is primarily associated with Italy, it has also been adopted in other parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Italian immigration, such as the United States, Argentina, and Brazil.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Basso families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Basso 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. Ayrshire leads with 1 Bassos recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.66x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 1 45.66x
Middlesex 1 3.42x
Royal Navy 1 285.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ayr in Ayrshire leads with 1 Bassos recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Ayr 1 1000.00x
Charterhouse London 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Teresa 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 Basso households.

Occupation Count
Weaver 1

FAQ

Basso surname: questions and answers

How common was the Basso surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Basso surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Basso surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Basso a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Basso surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to a low-voiced singer or someone who sings bass.

What does the Basso map show?

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