NameCensus.

UK surname

Basten

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a particular town or region.

In the 1881 census there were 190 people recorded with the Basten surname, ranking it #13,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 234, ranked #17,572, down from #13,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Saviour Southwark and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Leicester and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Basten is 265 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.2%.

1881 census count

190

Ranked #13,270

Modern count

234

2016, ranked #17,572

Peak year

1999

265 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Basten had 190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016, ranked #17,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 214 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Basten surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Basten surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Basten 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 126 #14,626
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 190 #13,270
1891 historical 185 #15,803
1901 historical 214 #14,517
1911 historical 205 #14,733
1997 modern 247 #15,399
1998 modern 257 #15,401
1999 modern 265 #15,187
2000 modern 262 #15,272
2001 modern 246 #15,684
2002 modern 265 #15,197
2003 modern 261 #15,180
2004 modern 258 #15,386
2005 modern 246 #15,802
2006 modern 245 #15,956
2007 modern 242 #16,296
2008 modern 250 #16,065
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 241 #17,186
2011 modern 244 #16,922
2012 modern 241 #16,925
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 236 #17,577
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 234 #17,572

Geography

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Where Bastens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Saviour Southwark, Battersea and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Leicester, Herefordshire, Wokingham and Tandridge. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Saviour Southwark London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk
2 Leicester 037 Leicester
3 Herefordshire 022 Herefordshire, County of
4 Wokingham 015 Wokingham
5 Tandridge 008 Tandridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Basten

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Basten

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Basten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Basten household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Basten is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Basten is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Basten falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Basten is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Basten

The surname Basten is of Dutch origin, with its roots traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Dutch province of Gelderland, particularly in the regions around the city of Nijmegen.

The name Basten is thought to be derived from the Old Dutch word "bast," which referred to the inner bark of trees, such as linden or lime trees. This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with occupations related to the processing or handling of tree bark, such as basket weavers or tanners.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Basten can be found in the Gelderland archives from the late 1500s, where it appears in various municipal records and parish registers. The name was also present in the Utrecht region during this period, with slightly different spellings like "Baste" or "Baeste."

In the 17th century, the Basten surname gained prominence through notable individuals like Jan Basten (1592-1649), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life and genre paintings. Another notable figure was Pieter Basten (1624-1705), a Dutch theologian and author who served as a minister in Rotterdam.

As the Dutch explored and settled in various parts of the world, the surname Basten spread to different regions. For instance, in the late 18th century, a Basten family settled in South Africa, where their descendants carried on the name.

In later centuries, the Basten surname continued to appear in historical records and was associated with several individuals of note. For example, Hendrik Basten (1812-1887) was a Dutch politician and statesman who served as the Minister of Finance in the Netherlands from 1868 to 1870. Another notable figure was Willem Basten (1870-1938), a Dutch architect known for his work in the Art Nouveau style, including the design of the iconic Basten House in Amsterdam.

Additionally, the surname Basten has been carried by several prominent athletes, particularly in the realm of soccer. One of the most famous is Marco van Basten (born in 1964), a Dutch striker who played for Ajax, AC Milan, and the Dutch national team, winning numerous titles and accolades, including the prestigious Ballon d'Or in 1988 and 1992.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Basten families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Basten 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. Devon leads with 80 Bastens recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.00x.

County Total Index
Devon 80 20.00x
Surrey 41 4.38x
Middlesex 27 1.40x
Kent 12 1.83x
Channel Islands 6 10.54x
Hampshire 5 1.27x
Warwickshire 5 1.03x
Berkshire 4 2.77x
Gloucestershire 4 1.06x
Bedfordshire 3 3.02x
Renfrewshire 3 2.01x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.86x
Cornwall 1 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.39x
Royal Navy 1 4.37x
Somerset 1 0.32x
Suffolk 1 0.43x
Sussex 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ottery St Mary in Devon leads with 74 Bastens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2824.43x.

Place Total Index
Ottery St Mary 74 2824.43x
Battersea 8 11.31x
Southwark St Saviour 8 80.97x
Newdigate 7 1590.91x
Westminster St James 7 35.43x
Clerkenwell London 6 13.23x
Croydon 6 11.54x
St Sampson 6 233.46x
Walmer 6 210.53x
Basingstoke 5 110.38x
Bermondsey 5 8.74x
Birmingham 5 3.10x
Eltham 5 130.21x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 12.93x
Bradfield 4 526.32x
St Marylebone London 4 3.90x
Cardington 3 370.37x
Dursley 3 193.55x
West Greenock 3 11.22x
Westminster St John 3 12.82x
Acton 2 17.75x
Charterhouse London 2 219.78x
Holy Trinity 2 238.10x
Ashprington 1 333.33x
Bideford 1 23.36x
Broadwater 1 13.46x
Chesham Bois 1 434.78x
Clapham 1 4.16x
Fulham London 1 3.59x
Gwennap 1 24.39x
Ilton 1 344.83x
Ixworth 1 151.52x
Maidstone 1 5.12x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.49x
Reigate Foreign 1 9.86x
Royal Navy 1 5.11x
Sidmouth 1 43.67x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 12.02x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.95x
Stroud 1 13.64x
Whitestone 1 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 8
James 8
John 8
Edward 4
Frank 4
Henry 4
Charles 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Thomas 3
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Edwin 1
Eleazier 1
Felix 1
Francois 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Geo.Jas. 1
Herbert 1
Jas.W. 1
Levi 1
Mark 1
Robert 1
Victor 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Basten surname: questions and answers

How common was the Basten surname in 1881?

In 1881, 190 people were recorded with the Basten surname. That placed it at #13,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Basten surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016. That gives Basten a modern rank of #17,572.

What does the Basten surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a particular town or region.

What does the Basten map show?

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