NameCensus.

UK surname

Bath

An English locational surname derived from the city of Bath in Somerset, known for its ancient Roman baths.

In the 1881 census there were 2,246 people recorded with the Bath surname, ranking it #1,983 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,391, ranked #2,746, down from #1,983 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stithians, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Walsall and Torfaen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bath is 2,619 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.5%.

1881 census count

2,246

Ranked #1,983

Modern count

2,391

2016, ranked #2,746

Peak year

1911

2,619 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bath had 2,246 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,983 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,391 in 2016, ranked #2,746.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,619 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bath surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bath surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bath 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 2,407 #1,233
1861 historical 2,105 #1,378
1881 historical 2,246 #1,983
1891 historical 2,318 #2,025
1901 historical 2,400 #2,269
1911 historical 2,619 #1,961
1997 modern 2,347 #2,661
1998 modern 2,504 #2,613
1999 modern 2,533 #2,600
2000 modern 2,522 #2,596
2001 modern 2,455 #2,602
2002 modern 2,532 #2,587
2003 modern 2,442 #2,617
2004 modern 2,426 #2,635
2005 modern 2,418 #2,617
2006 modern 2,396 #2,633
2007 modern 2,418 #2,639
2008 modern 2,411 #2,658
2009 modern 2,471 #2,673
2010 modern 2,496 #2,700
2011 modern 2,510 #2,665
2012 modern 2,402 #2,705
2013 modern 2,428 #2,730
2014 modern 2,423 #2,748
2015 modern 2,374 #2,767
2016 modern 2,391 #2,746

Geography

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Where Baths are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Hounslow, Walsall, Torfaen, Hillingdon and Ealing. 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 Stithians Cornwall
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 North Meols Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hounslow 017 Hounslow
2 Walsall 035 Walsall
3 Torfaen 001 Torfaen
4 Hillingdon 027 Hillingdon
5 Ealing 017 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bath

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bath

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bath surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bath 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Bath 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

Bath 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bath

The surname Bath originated in England and dates back to the medieval era. The name is derived from the Old English word 'bæth', which means 'bath' or 'place of bathing'. It likely referred to someone who lived near a natural hot spring or a bathhouse.

The name Bath has its roots in the historic city of Bath in Somerset, England, which was known as 'Aquae Sulis' during Roman times. This ancient city was renowned for its natural hot springs and Roman baths, which were a popular destination for travelers and residents alike.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror, the city of Bath is mentioned as 'Batha'. This early record provides evidence of the name's long-standing association with the area.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bath was William de Batha, who lived in Somerset during the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Bath, a wealthy merchant and alderman of London, who was born in the city of Bath around 1450.

Sir John Bath, born in 1528, was a prominent English diplomat and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and ambassador to France during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Blois in 1572.

In the literary world, Walter Bath (1620-1696) was an English poet and physician who wrote several works, including "The Art of Angling" and "The Spiritual Quixote".

The name Bath has also been associated with the titled nobility, such as the Marquesses of Bath. The first Marquess of Bath was John Granville, who was born in 1628 and served as a politician and courtier during the reigns of Charles II and James II.

Throughout history, the surname Bath has been linked to various locations and place names, including Bath in Somerset, Bath in Gloucestershire, and Bath in Wiltshire, among others. Variations in spelling, such as Bathe, Bathes, and Bathes, have also been recorded over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bath 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 265 Baths recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.68x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 265 10.68x
Somerset 195 5.53x
Middlesex 192 0.88x
Kent 175 2.34x
Hampshire 164 3.65x
Wiltshire 154 7.94x
Surrey 131 1.23x
Gloucestershire 129 3.00x
Lancashire 121 0.47x
Devon 112 2.45x
Staffordshire 102 1.38x
Glamorgan 74 1.94x
Monmouthshire 66 4.17x
Yorkshire 57 0.26x
Sussex 55 1.49x
Warwickshire 38 0.69x
Derbyshire 24 0.70x
Dorset 21 1.46x
Durham 20 0.31x
Berkshire 19 1.15x
Worcestershire 15 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 12 0.86x
Carmarthenshire 11 1.19x
Cumberland 11 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.34x
Westmorland 9 1.87x
Huntingdonshire 8 1.84x
Leicestershire 8 0.33x
Norfolk 8 0.24x
Lincolnshire 6 0.17x
Northamptonshire 6 0.29x
Essex 5 0.12x
Royal Navy 5 1.91x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.45x
Hertfordshire 4 0.26x
Cheshire 3 0.06x
Midlothian 3 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.10x
Brecknockshire 1 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 50 Baths recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.37x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 50 6.37x
Lambeth 46 2.41x
Brighton 40 5.37x
Trowbridge 31 36.18x
Portsea 30 3.41x
Walcot 29 15.43x
Toxteth Park 27 3.07x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 26 6.42x
St Pancras London 25 1.42x
Stoke Damerel 25 7.83x
Southampton St Mary 23 8.14x
Corsham 22 77.77x
St Stithians 22 160.82x
Aberystruth 21 15.03x
Batheaston 19 157.28x
Lydney 18 81.12x
Paddington London 18 2.23x
Illogan 17 25.88x
Islington London 17 0.80x
Swansea Town 17 5.43x
Fisherton Anger 16 44.59x
Laycock 16 182.03x
Shoreditch London 16 1.68x
Stapleton 16 19.62x
Horwich 15 52.87x
Wendron 15 43.54x
Cannock 14 10.84x
Deptford St Paul 14 2.43x
Plymouth Charles The 14 6.96x
St Marylebone London 14 1.20x
Tintagel 14 207.41x
West Derby 14 1.84x
Aston 13 0.85x
Bedminster 13 3.92x
Camberwell 13 0.93x
Forrabury 13 580.36x
Plymouth St Andrew 13 3.70x
Titchfield 13 38.39x
Westbury 13 28.74x
Battersea 12 1.49x
Bolehall Glascote 12 51.24x
Iwerne Courtnay 12 123.84x
Redruth 12 17.09x
Ribbesford 12 50.38x
Salford 12 1.57x
Stockton On Tees 12 3.82x
Bermondsey 11 1.69x
Briton Ferry 11 24.15x
Camborne 11 10.76x
Chatham 11 5.35x
Drypool 11 33.08x
Gillingham 11 7.13x
Lee 11 10.13x
Lezant 11 198.56x
Paul 11 24.40x
Tavistock 11 21.17x
Anstey 10 454.55x
Barnstaple 10 13.96x
Bristol St George 10 5.03x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 6.98x
Clapham 10 3.65x
Greenwich 10 2.87x
Kensington London 10 0.82x
Liverpool 10 0.63x
Nottingham St Mary 10 1.31x
St Mary Kalendar 10 106.84x
Stoke Climsland 10 63.09x
Swansea St Thomas 10 26.08x
Aberavon 9 25.63x
Charterhouse Hinton 9 217.39x
Christchurch 9 18.36x
Gwennap 9 19.23x
Heaton Norris 9 6.08x
Holdenhurst 9 7.64x
Mabe 9 176.82x
Maker 9 39.27x
Paulton 9 55.73x
Plumstead 9 3.61x
Ramsgate 9 7.37x
Trevethin 9 6.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 161
Elizabeth 105
Sarah 70
Emily 51
Jane 51
Ann 42
Annie 37
Eliza 37
Ellen 35
Emma 34
Martha 25
Alice 22
Florence 20
Edith 18
Harriet 17
Louisa 17
Maria 16
Hannah 15
Kate 13
Fanny 12
Frances 12
Susan 12
Caroline 11
Charlotte 11
Margaret 11
Matilda 11
Agnes 8
Amy 8
Anne 8
Catherine 8
Laura 8
Ada 7
Clara 7
Julia 7
Amelia 6
Bessie 6
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Gertrude 5
Grace 5
Lucy 5
Sabina 5
Anna 4
Eleanor 4
Flora 4
Helena 4
Jessie 4
Lydia 4
M. 4
Mabel 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 148
John 104
George 80
James 71
Henry 66
Thomas 59
Charles 50
Joseph 32
Frederick 28
Edward 27
Edwin 25
Robert 25
Alfred 24
Richard 24
Arthur 20
Albert 14
Frank 13
Samuel 13
Walter 13
Francis 11
Benjamin 9
Ernest 8
Fred 8
Harry 6
Jacob 6
Stephen 6
David 5
Herbert 5
Caleb 3
Josiah 3
Oliver 3
Percy 3
Sydney 3
Tom 3
Willm. 3
Abel 2
Andrew 2
Daniel 2
Ed.Jas. 2
Edmond 2
Evan 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Simon 2
Uriah 2

FAQ

Bath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,246 people were recorded with the Bath surname. That placed it at #1,983 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,391 in 2016. That gives Bath a modern rank of #2,746.

What does the Bath surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from the city of Bath in Somerset, known for its ancient Roman baths.

What does the Bath map show?

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