NameCensus.

UK surname

Batsford

A locational surname deriving from the village of Bathford in Somerset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 234 people recorded with the Batsford surname, ranking it #11,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 381, ranked #12,317, down from #11,607 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Paddington, St Pancras and St Matthew Bethnal Green. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Cherwell and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Batsford is 456 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.8%.

1881 census count

234

Ranked #11,607

Modern count

381

2016, ranked #12,317

Peak year

1999

456 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Batsford had 234 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,607 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016, ranked #12,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 392 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Batsford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Batsford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Batsford 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 146 #13,157
1861 historical 152 #15,126
1881 historical 234 #11,607
1891 historical 267 #12,136
1901 historical 318 #11,187
1911 historical 392 #9,421
1997 modern 396 #11,086
1998 modern 435 #10,678
1999 modern 456 #10,354
2000 modern 432 #10,771
2001 modern 428 #10,653
2002 modern 436 #10,712
2003 modern 411 #11,044
2004 modern 407 #11,135
2005 modern 394 #11,308
2006 modern 391 #11,432
2007 modern 399 #11,396
2008 modern 407 #11,310
2009 modern 410 #11,503
2010 modern 417 #11,606
2011 modern 410 #11,644
2012 modern 386 #12,037
2013 modern 384 #12,295
2014 modern 391 #12,214
2015 modern 380 #12,364
2016 modern 381 #12,317

Geography

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Where Batsfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Paddington, St Pancras, St Matthew Bethnal Green, St Mary Islington 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 Stratford-on-Avon, Cherwell and Warwick. 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 Paddington London (West Districts)
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 009 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Stratford-on-Avon 011 Stratford-on-Avon
3 Cherwell 013 Cherwell
4 Stratford-on-Avon 010 Stratford-on-Avon
5 Warwick 005 Warwick

Forenames

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First names often paired with Batsford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Batsford

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Batsford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Batsford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Batsford is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Batsford is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Batsford 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 Batsford 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Batsford

The surname Batsford originated in England during the medieval era. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bat" and "ford," which together refer to a ford or shallow river crossing where bats were commonly found. This name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near such a location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Batsforde in the county of Gloucestershire. This suggests that the name had already become established as a surname by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Batsford appeared in various records and documents across different regions of England. For example, in the 13th century, a Richard de Batesford was recorded as holding land in Warwickshire. The "de" prefix indicated that the family originated from a specific place, likely a settlement named Batsford.

Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Battesforde, Batsforthe, and Batsford appearing in historical records. This was common during a period when standardized spelling was not yet established.

One notable figure bearing the Batsford name was Sir Robert Batsford (1570-1642), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Gloucestershire. He was knighted by King James I in 1617 for his services to the Crown.

Another prominent individual was John Batsford (1695-1768), a merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He was instrumental in establishing several charitable institutions in the city, including almshouses and schools for the poor.

In the 19th century, Thomas Batsford (1826-1898) gained recognition as a successful publisher and bookseller in London. His company, Batsford Ltd., became renowned for its publications on art, architecture, and design, and continues to operate today.

Additionally, Henry Batsford (1862-1943) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Automobile Club and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Lastly, the artist and engraver Edward Batsford (1907-1995) made significant contributions to the field of wood engraving and was elected a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers in 1938.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Batsford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Batsford 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. Middlesex leads with 95 Batsfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.16x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 95 4.16x
Warwickshire 52 9.03x
Worcestershire 24 8.05x
Kent 15 1.93x
Essex 14 3.11x
Gloucestershire 9 2.01x
Surrey 8 0.72x
Hampshire 7 1.50x
Staffordshire 6 0.78x
Berkshire 1 0.58x
Derbyshire 1 0.28x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Suffolk 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 21 Batsfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.18x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 21 21.18x
Ilmington 17 2741.94x
Paddington London 15 17.87x
Tredington 15 1851.85x
Edmonton 14 76.13x
St Pancras London 14 7.62x
Aston 13 8.20x
Whatcote 9 7500.00x
Acton 8 59.79x
West Ham 8 8.04x
Foots Cray 7 469.80x
Birmingham 6 3.13x
Harborne 6 24.30x
Islington London 6 2.71x
St Marylebone London 6 4.92x
Bromley 5 42.12x
St Mary Bourne 5 588.24x
Buckland 4 1818.18x
Tardebigg 4 888.89x
Battersea 3 3.57x
Chelmsford 3 38.81x
Kensington London 3 2.36x
Knowle 3 254.24x
Newington 3 3.56x
South Weald 3 77.72x
Admington 2 1818.18x
Eltham 2 43.86x
Kings Norton 2 7.48x
Lambeth 2 1.00x
Milford 2 145.99x
Moreton In Marsh 2 178.57x
Shoreditch London 2 2.02x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 20.24x
The Hill 2 104.71x
Wellesbourne Mountford 2 363.64x
Alcester 1 52.63x
Clifford Chambers 1 333.33x
Fairfield 1 41.84x
Greenwich 1 2.75x
Hackney London 1 0.78x
Moston 1 36.76x
Newbury 1 18.21x
Newmarket St Mary 1 46.95x
Redditch 1 16.56x
St Dunstan In West London 1 140.85x
St Giles In Fields London 1 8.93x
St Luke London 1 2.73x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 23.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Mary 12
Emma 9
Emily 5
Ann 4
Charlotte 4
Eliza 4
Florence 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Fanny 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Amy 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Alberta 1
Allin 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
E.L. 1
Edith 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Ettie 1
F. 1
Fannie 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Letitia 1
Lillian 1
Lousia 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Matilda 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Susan 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 15
Thomas 13
George 12
Charles 7
Henry 5
Robert 5
James 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Bradley 2
Edmund 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Walter 2
Bernard 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
J. 1
Jas 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Richard 1
Teresa 1
Thos. 1
Wat... 1

FAQ

Batsford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Batsford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 234 people were recorded with the Batsford surname. That placed it at #11,607 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Batsford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 381 in 2016. That gives Batsford a modern rank of #12,317.

What does the Batsford surname mean?

A locational surname deriving from the village of Bathford in Somerset, England.

What does the Batsford map show?

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