NameCensus.

UK surname

Bauld

A surname derived from the French word "balde" meaning bold or daring.

In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Bauld surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 367, ranked #12,669, up from #23,816 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inverkeithing, Batley and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gretna, Whisky Isles and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bauld is 373 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 431.9%.

1881 census count

69

Ranked #23,816

Modern count

367

2016, ranked #12,669

Peak year

2015

373 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bauld had 69 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,816 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 367 in 2016, ranked #12,669.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 175 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Bauld surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bauld surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bauld 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 71 #20,875
1861 historical 73 #24,492
1881 historical 69 #23,816
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 175 #16,469
1911 historical 29 #30,190
1997 modern 335 #12,575
1998 modern 347 #12,607
1999 modern 349 #12,638
2000 modern 355 #12,430
2001 modern 352 #12,318
2002 modern 348 #12,674
2003 modern 333 #12,875
2004 modern 337 #12,818
2005 modern 344 #12,521
2006 modern 341 #12,684
2007 modern 340 #12,872
2008 modern 352 #12,631
2009 modern 353 #12,894
2010 modern 364 #12,851
2011 modern 370 #12,576
2012 modern 339 #13,271
2013 modern 355 #13,045
2014 modern 363 #12,908
2015 modern 373 #12,519
2016 modern 367 #12,669

Geography

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Where Baulds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inverkeithing, Batley, Glasgow, Paisley Abbey and Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gretna, Whisky Isles, Cornwall, Carlisle and Lochore and Crosshill. 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 Inverkeithing Fife
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Paisley Abbey Renfrew
5 Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gretna Dumfries and Galloway
2 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
3 Cornwall 041 Cornwall
4 Carlisle 001 Carlisle
5 Lochore and Crosshill Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bauld

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bauld

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Bauld surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Bauld household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bauld is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bauld is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bauld falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bauld 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 Bauld, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bauld

The surname BAULD originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "bald," which means bold or daring. The name was likely given as a nickname to someone who exhibited these traits.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries. These records document individuals named BAULD residing in various regions of Scotland, including Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Perthshire.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Willelmus Bald, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296. These rolls were a collection of written acts of homage to King Edward I of England, rendered by Scottish nobles and landholders following the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Another notable historical figure with the surname BAULD was John Bauld, a Scottish merchant and burgess of Edinburgh who lived in the late 16th century. He was involved in trade with the Netherlands and is mentioned in several contemporary records related to his business dealings.

In the 17th century, the name BAULD was often associated with the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland. A prominent individual from this time was George Bauld, a minister of the Church of Scotland who served as the minister of Banchory-Ternan parish from 1641 to 1670.

During the 18th century, the name BAULD continued to be found in various parts of Scotland, including the Highlands and Lowlands. One notable figure was Robert Bauld, a renowned Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Tron Kirk and the Old College of the University of Edinburgh. He lived from 1723 to 1792.

Another individual of significance was Alexander Bauld, a Scottish naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He participated in several notable battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and attained the rank of Rear Admiral before his death in 1839.

Throughout the centuries, the surname BAULD has been found in various spellings, such as Bald, Balde, and Baulde, reflecting the regional variations and the influence of different languages and dialects in Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bauld families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bauld 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. Fife leads with 28 Baulds recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.27x.

County Total Index
Fife 28 69.27x
Midlothian 15 16.40x
Lanarkshire 6 2.72x
Staffordshire 6 2.60x
Kent 5 2.15x
Angus 2 3.16x
Renfrewshire 2 3.78x
Stirlingshire 2 7.94x
Ayrshire 1 1.96x
Durham 1 0.49x
Kinross-shire 1 57.80x
Middlesex 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdour in Fife leads with 12 Baulds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2926.83x.

Place Total Index
Aberdour 12 2926.83x
Dalgety 9 2903.23x
Borthwick 7 1707.32x
Plumstead 5 64.43x
Edinburgh Greenside 4 330.58x
South Leith 4 38.87x
Wemyss 4 233.92x
Wolstanton 4 57.14x
Rutherglen 3 92.59x
Barony 2 3.58x
Dunipace 2 454.55x
Leslie 2 196.08x
Montrose 2 52.22x
Norton In Moors 2 163.93x
Abbotshall 1 66.23x
Cambuslang 1 44.84x
Cleish 1 833.33x
Ochiltree 1 285.71x
Paisley Middle Church 1 32.47x
Port Glasgow 1 39.06x
St Pancras London 1 1.82x
Stockton On Tees 1 10.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Catherine 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 2
Edwin 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Bauld households.

FAQ

Bauld surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bauld surname in 1881?

In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Bauld surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bauld surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 367 in 2016. That gives Bauld a modern rank of #12,669.

What does the Bauld surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "balde" meaning bold or daring.

What does the Bauld map show?

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