NameCensus.

UK surname

Baulch

A surname possibly derived from the Germanic word "balk" meaning ridge or beam.

In the 1881 census there were 214 people recorded with the Baulch surname, ranking it #12,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 387, ranked #12,170, up from #12,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Chard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, East Devon and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baulch is 443 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.8%.

1881 census count

214

Ranked #12,284

Modern count

387

2016, ranked #12,170

Peak year

1998

443 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baulch had 214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016, ranked #12,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 336 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Baulch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baulch surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Baulch 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 132 #14,174
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 214 #12,284
1891 historical 229 #13,539
1901 historical 322 #11,090
1911 historical 336 #10,563
1997 modern 423 #10,550
1998 modern 443 #10,526
1999 modern 435 #10,754
2000 modern 420 #10,998
2001 modern 409 #11,032
2002 modern 402 #11,405
2003 modern 408 #11,115
2004 modern 391 #11,468
2005 modern 380 #11,639
2006 modern 371 #11,916
2007 modern 380 #11,820
2008 modern 378 #11,993
2009 modern 389 #11,980
2010 modern 390 #12,233
2011 modern 395 #11,966
2012 modern 383 #12,099
2013 modern 400 #11,915
2014 modern 397 #12,076
2015 modern 391 #12,113
2016 modern 387 #12,170

Geography

Back to top

Where Baulchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Chard, London parishes, Lambeth and Stoke-under-Hamdon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, East Devon, West Devon and East Dorset. 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 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
2 Chard Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Stoke-under-Hamdon Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 002 Caerphilly
2 Caerphilly 003 Caerphilly
3 East Devon 005 East Devon
4 West Devon 003 West Devon
5 East Dorset 003 East Dorset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Baulch

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Baulch

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Baulch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Baulch household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Baulch is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Baulch is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Baulch

The surname Baulch has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a variation of the Old English word "bāle," meaning "tree trunk" or "log," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent tree trunk or log.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Baulch can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Baaloc." This entry suggests that the name was already established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Balogh" or "Balugh," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time. The surname Baulch is thought to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire, where several villages and parishes bear similar names, such as Baulcombe and Baulking.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Baulch, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. He was recorded as taking part in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Siege of Calais in 1347.

In the 16th century, the Baulch family was well-established in the village of Quinton, Gloucestershire. Records show that a William Baulch was born there in 1542 and served as a church warden in the local parish.

Another prominent figure with the surname Baulch was Thomas Baulch (1653-1721), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Westbury in Wiltshire. He published several works on theology and religious doctrine during his lifetime.

The 18th century saw the emergence of John Baulch (1722-1793), a renowned architect and surveyor from Somerset. He is credited with designing several notable buildings in the region, including the Taunton Assembly Rooms and the Market House in Frome.

In the 19th century, the Baulch family continued to be represented in various professions. One notable individual was Henry Baulch (1827-1897), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Bristol, who made significant contributions to the city's development and supported various charitable causes.

While the surname Baulch has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of emigration and exploration. However, the name remains relatively uncommon, with its strongest presence still found in the regions of its origin in southwestern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Baulch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baulch 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. Somerset leads with 65 Baulchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.73x.

County Total Index
Somerset 65 18.73x
Surrey 45 4.28x
Monmouthshire 22 14.12x
Middlesex 16 0.74x
Devon 10 2.23x
Kent 9 1.22x
Worcestershire 9 3.20x
Glamorgan 8 2.13x
Channel Islands 7 10.96x
Gloucestershire 7 1.66x
Dorset 6 4.24x
Northamptonshire 5 2.47x
Wiltshire 4 2.10x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.03x
Sussex 2 0.55x
Hampshire 1 0.23x
Shropshire 1 0.54x
Staffordshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Yeovil in Somerset leads with 18 Baulchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 255.32x.

Place Total Index
Yeovil 18 255.32x
St Woollos 15 86.26x
Rotherhithe 13 48.82x
Lambeth 12 6.38x
Deptford St Paul 9 15.86x
Worcester Blockhouse 9 580.65x
Beer Crocombe 8 8000.00x
Stoke Under Hambdon 8 701.75x
Caerleon 7 864.20x
St Martin 7 179.03x
Camberwell 6 4.36x
Islington London 6 2.87x
Milborne Port 6 431.65x
North Curry 6 508.47x
Preston Plucknett 6 3529.41x
Llangeinor 5 226.24x
Northampton All Sts 5 72.67x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 14.46x
Sherborne 5 119.90x
Southwark Christchurch 5 49.51x
Uplyme 5 746.27x
Bristol St Augustine 4 58.65x
Fugglestone St Peter 4 533.33x
Bristol St Paul In 3 26.64x
Newington 3 3.77x
Nottingham St Mary 3 3.99x
St Marylebone London 3 2.61x
Willesden 3 14.76x
Bermondsey 2 3.12x
Butleigh 2 350.88x
Combe St Nicholas 2 238.10x
Curry Rivell 2 172.41x
Edmonton 2 11.51x
Kingston On Thames 2 7.93x
North Petherton 2 71.43x
Penmark 2 571.43x
Pitney 2 833.33x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 2 71.68x
Bath St Michael 1 57.14x
Caterham 1 21.55x
Chailey 1 88.50x
Cowbridge 1 109.89x
Hornsey 1 3.67x
Long Ditton 1 58.48x
Longburton 1 357.14x
Oswestry Town 1 16.78x
Petersfield 1 81.97x
Rudgwick 1 120.48x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.63x
Walsall Borough 1 17.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 10
Alice 7
Ellen 6
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Emma 4
Susan 4
Ann 3
Hannah 3
Sarah 3
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Lottie 2
Louie 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Angelina 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Daisy 1
E. 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Henrietta 1
Honor 1
Jessia 1
Julia 1
Kelurah 1
Laura 1
Lillie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Minna 1
Phoebe 1
Precilla 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 11
Henry 10
Charles 7
Richard 7
Frederick 6
George 6
James 5
Joseph 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Robert 2
Adolphus 1
Alban 1
Albert 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Edward 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Harild 1
Herbert 1
Hermon 1
Jno. 1
Julius 1
Laurence 1
Percy 1
Raymond 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Simeon 1
Stuart 1
W. 1

FAQ

Baulch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baulch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 214 people were recorded with the Baulch surname. That placed it at #12,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baulch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016. That gives Baulch a modern rank of #12,170.

What does the Baulch surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Germanic word "balk" meaning ridge or beam.

What does the Baulch map show?

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