NameCensus.

UK surname

Bauer

An occupational surname referring to a farmer or someone who worked as a builder or construction worker.

In the 1881 census there were 201 people recorded with the Bauer surname, ranking it #12,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 727, ranked #7,484, up from #12,791 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lewisham and Pinhoe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lenzie South, Cornwall and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bauer is 728 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 261.7%.

1881 census count

201

Ranked #12,791

Modern count

727

2016, ranked #7,484

Peak year

2015

728 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bauer had 201 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 727 in 2016, ranked #7,484.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 343 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bauer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bauer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bauer 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 201 #12,791
1891 historical 147 #18,592
1901 historical 343 #10,583
1911 historical 191 #15,392
1997 modern 453 #10,015
1998 modern 498 #9,622
1999 modern 511 #9,500
2000 modern 531 #9,194
2001 modern 540 #8,919
2002 modern 564 #8,811
2003 modern 545 #8,902
2004 modern 555 #8,804
2005 modern 561 #8,667
2006 modern 589 #8,395
2007 modern 606 #8,287
2008 modern 609 #8,309
2009 modern 633 #8,240
2010 modern 658 #8,165
2011 modern 679 #7,873
2012 modern 695 #7,649
2013 modern 722 #7,554
2014 modern 722 #7,590
2015 modern 728 #7,503
2016 modern 727 #7,484

Geography

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Where Bauers are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Lenzie South, Cornwall, Tower Hamlets, Westminster and Wiltshire. 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 Lewisham London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Pinhoe Devon
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lenzie South East Dunbartonshire
2 Cornwall 047 Cornwall
3 Tower Hamlets 031 Tower Hamlets
4 Westminster 003 Westminster
5 Wiltshire 012 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bauer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bauer

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Bauer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bauer 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Bauer is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bauer 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

Bauer falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bauer 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Bauer

The surname "BAUER" is of German origin, derived from the Old High German word "búr" or "gebúr," meaning "farmer" or "peasant." It originated in the 8th or 9th century when surnames began to emerge in German-speaking regions. The name was initially used as an occupational surname for those involved in agricultural work or farming.

In the Middle Ages, the name Bauer appeared in various records and documents across German territories. One of the earliest recorded mentions can be found in the "Codex Traditionum Monasterii Sanct Pauli in Carinthia," a medieval cartulary from the St. Paul's Abbey in Carinthia, Austria, dating back to the 11th century.

As families migrated and settled in different regions, variations of the name emerged, such as Baur, Bauer, Paur, and Paur. Place names were often incorporated into the surname, leading to forms like Bauermann, Bauersfeld, and Bauernfeind.

One notable figure bearing the Bauer surname was Kaspar Bauer (c. 1615-1672), a German painter and engraver from Bavaria. He was known for his landscapes and architectural depictions. Another prominent individual was Johann Bauer (1681-1726), a German astronomer and mathematician from Nuremberg, who made significant contributions to the study of comets and celestial mechanics.

In the 19th century, the name Bauer gained wider recognition with the work of Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826), an Austrian botanical illustrator renowned for his exquisite drawings of plants during expeditions to Australia and the South Pacific. His brother, Franz Andreas Bauer (1758-1840), was also a notable botanical illustrator.

In the literary world, Ida Bauer (1882-1945) was a German writer and novelist known for her works exploring themes of love, family, and societal issues. Her novel "Die Bräute des Herrn" (The Brides of the Lord) was a notable success.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Bauer throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence and varied contributions across different fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bauer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bauer 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 78 Bauers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.02x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 78 4.02x
Surrey 30 3.17x
Yorkshire 25 1.30x
Lancashire 20 0.87x
Kent 12 1.81x
Warwickshire 8 1.63x
Essex 7 1.83x
Sussex 5 1.53x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.15x
Durham 2 0.35x
Hampshire 2 0.50x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Denbighshire 1 1.36x
Dorset 1 0.79x
Lanarkshire 1 0.16x
Lincolnshire 1 0.32x
Suffolk 1 0.42x
Westmorland 1 2.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Luke London in Middlesex leads with 14 Bauers recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.97x.

Place Total Index
St Luke London 14 44.97x
St Marylebone London 14 13.51x
Lambeth 13 7.68x
Islington London 9 4.78x
Lewisham 9 25.49x
Shipley 8 80.16x
Battersea 7 9.80x
Bradford 7 15.03x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 16.40x
Enfield 6 47.10x
Hampstead London 6 19.85x
St Pancras London 6 3.84x
Bowling 5 26.25x
Bradford 5 46.38x
Clerkenwell London 5 10.91x
Sutton Coldfield 5 97.09x
West Derby 5 7.42x
West Ham 4 4.73x
Brighton 3 4.54x
Camberwell 3 2.42x
Newington 3 4.18x
St George Bloomsbury 3 26.93x
Wanstead 3 44.71x
Broughton In Salford 2 9.50x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 5.11x
Edgbaston 2 13.18x
Hackney London 2 1.84x
Mile End Old Town London 2 4.84x
Portslade 2 100.00x
St Martin In Fields 2 17.21x
Whitburn 2 148.15x
All Hallows Barking 1 208.33x
Boldre 1 69.93x
Denbigh 1 34.01x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 1 97.09x
Finchley 1 13.44x
Gorton 1 4.62x
Govan 1 0.64x
Hammersmith London 1 2.09x
Kendal 1 12.80x
Leamington Priors 1 8.31x
Liverpool 1 0.71x
Liversedge 1 11.68x
Manningham 1 4.22x
Milton In Gravesend 1 10.07x
Paddington London 1 1.40x
Rastrick 1 18.73x
Ratcliffe London 1 9.33x
Sale 1 19.01x
Seale 1 163.93x
Snenton 1 9.73x
South Collingham 1 192.31x
Southwark Christchurch 1 11.00x
Southwark St Saviour 1 10.02x
St Anne Soho London 1 9.03x
St Giles In Fields London 1 10.50x
St Mary Bothaw London 1 1428.57x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 1 22.88x
Streatham 1 6.94x
Sudbury St Peter 1 76.92x
Tonbridge 1 4.19x
Ventnor 1 26.46x
Westminster St Margaret 1 10.68x
Woolwich 1 4.09x
Worksop 1 12.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Florence 5
Gertrude 5
Elizabeth 3
Maria 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Grace 2
Louisa 2
Rhoda 2
Anne 1
Antonia 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Emertine 1
Emilie 1
Emma 1
Erocestina 1
Frances 1
Frederiske 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Hedwig 1
Henrietta 1
Henriette 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Linda 1
Magdalena 1
Malfita 1
Margaret 1
Margaretta 1
Margratha 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 7
Charles 6
William 6
Louis 5
Frederick 4
George 4
Christian 3
Jacob 3
John 3
Philip 3
Adolphus 2
Edward 2
Emil 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Heinrich 2
Herbert 2
Julius 2
Arthur 1
Augustus 1
Bunharnd 1
C. 1
Carl 1
Chas. 1
Conrad 1
Feler 1
Frank 1
Franz 1
Fred.Wm. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Germain 1
Gilbert 1
Gotlieb 1
Gustave 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
James 1
Johann 1
Johannes 1
Karl 1
Maurice 1
Otto 1
Pauline 1
Philipp 1
Phillip 1
Robert 1
Rudolf 1
Wm.Fred 1

FAQ

Bauer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bauer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 201 people were recorded with the Bauer surname. That placed it at #12,791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bauer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 727 in 2016. That gives Bauer a modern rank of #7,484.

What does the Bauer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a farmer or someone who worked as a builder or construction worker.

What does the Bauer map show?

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