UK surname
A surname potentially derived from the Old French word "battre," meaning "to beat" or "to strike."
In the 1881 census there were 146 people recorded with the Battie surname, ranking it #15,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #15,752 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Doncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Battie is 146 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.1%.
1881 census count
146
Ranked #15,752
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1881
146 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Battie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Battie surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 117 | #15,456 |
| 1861 | historical | 141 | #16,072 |
| 1881 | historical | 146 | #15,752 |
| 1891 | historical | 101 | #23,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 103 | #22,328 |
| 1997 | modern | 76 | #29,997 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 71 | #31,036 |
| 2000 | modern | 64 | #31,735 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 62 | #32,214 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 62 | #32,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 62 | #33,346 |
| 2008 | modern | 65 | #33,303 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 76 | #33,191 |
| 2013 | modern | 70 | #33,753 |
| 2014 | modern | 73 | #33,587 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Doncaster and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Doncaster | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Battie surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Battie, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Battie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Battie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Battie is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Battie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Battie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Battie has its roots in the county of Yorkshire, England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old French word "batie," which means "beaten" or "battered." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who had been in a physical altercation or worked in a profession that involved physical labor or combat.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a Robert Batie is mentioned. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, and their inclusion of the name Batie indicates that it was already in use at that time.
In the 13th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as Baty, Batie, and Battye, in various records from Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable example is the mention of a William Baty in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246.
The Batties were a prominent family in Yorkshire, and several members of the family held positions of importance. John Battie (1647-1707) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. Thomas Battie (1705-1776) was a renowned English physician and author, known for his work on mental illness and his advocacy for humane treatment of the mentally ill.
Another notable figure was Nathaniel Battie (1647-1718), an English physician and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and insects. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and published several works on botany and entomology.
In the 18th century, the name Battie appeared in various records from Yorkshire and Lancashire, including parish registers and land records. One notable example is the mention of a William Battie in the Land Tax Redemption records of Yorkshire from 1798.
The Battie family also had connections to the United States, with several members emigrating to the country in the 18th and 19th centuries. One notable American Battie was James Battie (1788-1865), a merchant and politician from Virginia who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Throughout history, the surname Battie has been associated with various professions, including clergymen, physicians, naturalists, merchants, and politicians. While the name may have originated from a physical description or occupation, it has since become a respected surname with a rich history in England and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Battie surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 57 Batties recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 57 | 4.07x |
| Middlesex | 25 | 1.77x |
| Durham | 13 | 3.09x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 0.77x |
| Cumberland | 12 | 9.86x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 2.38x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.73x |
| Dumfriesshire | 4 | 12.80x |
| Wiltshire | 4 | 3.20x |
| Denbighshire | 2 | 3.74x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.34x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 5.81x |
| Peeblesshire | 1 | 15.04x |
| Selkirkshire | 1 | 7.82x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.44x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Doncaster in Yorkshire leads with 15 Batties recorded in 1881 and an index of 146.48x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Battie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Sarah | 8 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Dorothy | 2 |
| Eleanor | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lillie | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Rosaline | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Battie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Battie households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 18 |
| Clerk | 4 |
| Dressmaker | 4 |
| Sch | 3 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| House Painter | 2 |
| Shepherd | 2 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Booksellers Assistant | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Carpenter Apprentice | 1 |
| Carpenter Employing (1 Apprentice) | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Cellarman | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Companion | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cotton Dyer | 1 |
| Cotton Dyer Wife | 1 |
| Cotton Warp Sider | 1 |
| Cotton Winder | 1 |
| Domestic General Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servt General | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Edge Tool Forger | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Of 126 Acres | 1 |
| Farm Of 126 Acres Wife | 1 |
| Fish Man | 1 |
| Formerly Laundress | 1 |
| Gen. Lab. | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Worker | 1 |
| Genl Lab | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Herbalist | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Marble Polisher | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Millwright | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 146 people were recorded with the Battie surname. That placed it at #15,752 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Battie a modern rank of #33,700.
A surname potentially derived from the Old French word "battre," meaning "to beat" or "to strike."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Battie bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.