NameCensus.

UK surname

Bastian

A surname derived from the given name Sebastian, meaning "venerable" or "revered," or from a place name.

In the 1881 census there were 165 people recorded with the Bastian surname, ranking it #14,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 295, ranked #14,915, down from #14,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Keverne, Kea and Germoe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Fylde and Eastleigh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bastian is 295 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.8%.

1881 census count

165

Ranked #14,559

Modern count

295

2016, ranked #14,915

Peak year

2016

295 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bastian had 165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016, ranked #14,915.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 195 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bastian surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bastian surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bastian 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 159 #12,400
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 165 #14,559
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 180 #16,171
1911 historical 195 #15,197
1997 modern 237 #15,809
1998 modern 242 #16,037
1999 modern 239 #16,268
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 258 #15,485
2003 modern 246 #15,769
2004 modern 251 #15,655
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 263 #15,215
2007 modern 268 #15,172
2008 modern 255 #15,859
2009 modern 272 #15,475
2010 modern 288 #15,162
2011 modern 289 #14,974
2012 modern 267 #15,791
2013 modern 283 #15,401
2014 modern 294 #15,047
2015 modern 292 #15,046
2016 modern 295 #14,915

Geography

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Where Bastians are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Keverne, Kea, Germoe, Crowan and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Fylde, Eastleigh and Bridgend. 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 St Keverne Cornwall
2 Kea Cornwall
3 Germoe Cornwall
4 Crowan Cornwall
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 073 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 060 Cornwall
3 Fylde 002 Fylde
4 Eastleigh 008 Eastleigh
5 Bridgend 002 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bastian

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bastian

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bastian is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Bastian 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

Bastian 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 Bastian 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 Bastian, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bastian

The surname BASTIAN is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the given name Sebastianus, which was the Latin form of the Greek name Sebastianos, meaning "venerable" or "revered."

In its earliest form, the surname was likely spelled as Bastiaans or Bastiaens in German-speaking regions. These variations reflect the phonetic pronunciations of the name in different dialects. Over time, the spelling evolved to the more standardized form of BASTIAN.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Bavarian town of Landshut, where a certain Bastian von Landshut was mentioned in a historical document from the 14th century. This suggests that the name had already gained prominence in parts of southern Germany during that era.

During the Renaissance period, the name BASTIAN appeared in various literary works and records throughout German-speaking regions. Notable figures bearing this surname include the German Renaissance artist Hans Bastian (c. 1500-1560), known for his woodcuts and engravings.

As the surname spread across Europe, it took on different spellings and variations in different languages. In France, for example, it was often rendered as Bastien or Bastiaan. One of the earliest known bearers of the name in France was Jean Bastien (c. 1520-1590), a French Huguenot and Protestant reformer.

In the Netherlands, the BASTIAN surname can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing individuals such as Pieter Bastiaens (c. 1550-1620), a Dutch painter and etcher from Antwerp. The Dutch spelling Bastiaens remained common until the 19th century when it gradually evolved to the more modern form of BASTIAN.

Other notable figures throughout history who bore the BASTIAN surname include the German Renaissance humanist Hieronymus Bastian (c. 1480-1545), the Dutch Golden Age painter Bastian Jacobsz (c. 1580-1640), and the German composer and organist Johann Gottfried Bastian (1719-1789).

Overall, the surname BASTIAN has a rich history spanning several centuries and countries, with its origins firmly rooted in the Germanic regions of Europe. Its evolution and adoption across different cultures reflect the widespread influence and migration patterns of those bearing this distinguished name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bastian families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bastian 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 106 Bastians recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.18x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 106 58.18x
Middlesex 27 1.68x
Lancashire 12 0.63x
Cheshire 7 1.97x
Devon 5 1.49x
Gloucestershire 3 0.95x
Surrey 3 0.38x
Monmouthshire 1 0.86x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camborne in Cornwall leads with 17 Bastians recorded in 1881 and an index of 226.36x.

Place Total Index
Camborne 17 226.36x
Scilly Islands St Mary 15 2112.68x
St Keverne 14 1400.00x
Illogan 13 269.71x
Kea 13 955.88x
St Ives 11 308.12x
St George In East London 10 66.05x
Ashton In Makerfield 8 147.06x
Hanwell 7 245.61x
Tintwistle 7 368.42x
Germoe 6 1875.00x
Ratcliffe London 6 67.49x
St Gluvias 5 490.20x
Abram 4 272.11x
Cheltenham 3 12.32x
Crowan 3 208.33x
Holbeton 3 491.80x
Newington 3 5.05x
Breage 2 120.48x
Budock 2 145.99x
Kensington London 2 2.24x
Madron Penzance 2 30.17x
Manaccan 2 1000.00x
Falmouth 1 15.50x
Islington London 1 0.64x
Newport 1 18.02x
Otterton 1 185.19x
Paddington London 1 1.69x
Tiverton 1 17.33x
Wakefield 1 8.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Annie 4
Elizabeth 4
Ann 3
Fanny 3
Maria 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Emma 2
Joanna 2
Margaret 2
Margret 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Anney 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Edith 1
Eliz.Jane 1
Elizth. 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Honor 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Loveday 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Melly 1
Olivia 1
Phillippa 1
Priscilla 1
Susan 1
Sybil 1
Ursilla 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
James 8
Thomas 7
William 7
Charles 4
George 4
Richard 4
Adam 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Willm. 3
Wm. 3
Frank 2
Albert 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Jacob 1
Ludwig 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Richd.J. 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Saml.F. 1
Samuel 1
W. 1

FAQ

Bastian surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bastian surname in 1881?

In 1881, 165 people were recorded with the Bastian surname. That placed it at #14,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bastian surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016. That gives Bastian a modern rank of #14,915.

What does the Bastian surname mean?

A surname derived from the given name Sebastian, meaning "venerable" or "revered," or from a place name.

What does the Bastian map show?

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