NameCensus.

UK surname

Bavin

A locational surname originating from Bavent in Calvados, France.

In the 1881 census there were 298 people recorded with the Bavin surname, ranking it #9,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 466, ranked #10,542, down from #9,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Kesteven, South Holland and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bavin is 547 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.4%.

1881 census count

298

Ranked #9,765

Modern count

466

2016, ranked #10,542

Peak year

1911

547 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bavin had 298 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 466 in 2016, ranked #10,542.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 547 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bavin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bavin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bavin 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 157 #14,732
1881 historical 298 #9,765
1891 historical 353 #9,760
1901 historical 444 #8,792
1911 historical 547 #7,323
1997 modern 477 #9,652
1998 modern 508 #9,473
1999 modern 505 #9,587
2000 modern 480 #9,932
2001 modern 481 #9,743
2002 modern 478 #9,963
2003 modern 465 #9,985
2004 modern 468 #10,005
2005 modern 458 #10,077
2006 modern 441 #10,411
2007 modern 431 #10,703
2008 modern 441 #10,600
2009 modern 467 #10,372
2010 modern 463 #10,660
2011 modern 475 #10,346
2012 modern 454 #10,588
2013 modern 471 #10,464
2014 modern 465 #10,628
2015 modern 460 #10,652
2016 modern 466 #10,542

Geography

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Where Bavins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes, Lambeth, St George the Martyr and Aldbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Kesteven, South Holland, South Norfolk and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)
5 Aldbury Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Kesteven 005 North Kesteven
2 South Holland 005 South Holland
3 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
4 North Kesteven 004 North Kesteven
5 Redcar and Cleveland 005 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bavin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bavin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bavin, 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 Bavin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bavin 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, Bavin 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

Bavin is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bavin falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bavin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bavin

The surname BAVIN originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bæfen," meaning "small hill" or "ridge." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive term referring to someone who lived near a small hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BAVIN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bavin" in the county of Lincolnshire. This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in medieval England.

In the 13th century, the name BAVIN appeared in various records from the county of Yorkshire, where it was often spelled as "Baveyn" or "Bavyn." These variations highlight the fluidity of surname spellings during that era, as they were primarily based on phonetic representation rather than standardized spellings.

One notable figure associated with the surname BAVIN was Sir John Bavin, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 15th century. He was a prominent landowner in the county of Warwickshire and served as a Justice of the Peace during the reign of King Henry VII (1457-1509).

Another individual of note was William Bavin, who was born in 1612 in the village of Maidstone, Kent. He was a successful merchant and played a significant role in the local community, serving as a churchwarden and contributing to the construction of several public buildings.

In the 18th century, the BAVIN surname was also found in the county of Dorset, where a family by the name of Bavin resided in the town of Bridport. One member of this family, Thomas Bavin (1732-1807), was a renowned shipbuilder and naval architect, known for his innovative designs and contributions to the maritime industry.

Moving into the 19th century, the BAVIN surname gained prominence in the field of literature with the birth of Charles Bavin (1856-1931), an English poet and novelist. He was widely acclaimed for his works, which often drew inspiration from the rural landscapes and traditions of his native Warwickshire.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Sir Arthur Bavin (1880-1962), a distinguished Australian jurist and politician. Born in England, he emigrated to Australia in the early 20th century and went on to serve as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1935 to 1950.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bavin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bavin 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. Lincolnshire leads with 99 Bavins recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.30x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 99 21.30x
Surrey 50 3.53x
Middlesex 41 1.41x
Essex 28 4.88x
Nottinghamshire 20 5.10x
Yorkshire 16 0.56x
Hertfordshire 13 6.49x
Kent 12 1.21x
Norfolk 5 1.12x
Cambridgeshire 4 2.17x
Leicestershire 3 0.93x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.14x
Oxfordshire 2 1.11x
Berkshire 1 0.46x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 25 Bavins recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.86x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 25 9.86x
Metheringham 24 1290.32x
Mile End Old Town London 16 25.86x
St Martin Lincoln 16 371.23x
Aldbury 12 1318.68x
Billinghay 12 839.16x
Camberwell 11 5.92x
West Ham 11 8.68x
Lewisham 10 18.91x
Sutton On Trent 10 1041.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 13.68x
Blankney 7 1076.92x
Stansted Mountfitchet 7 482.76x
Waddingham 7 985.92x
Louth 6 56.34x
Middlesbrough 6 16.00x
Staines 6 130.43x
Boston 4 28.37x
Bow London 4 10.81x
Chigwell 4 73.80x
Gomersal 4 29.76x
Laughton In Gainsborough 4 1379.31x
Newark Upon Trent 4 28.41x
Ormesby 4 51.68x
Over 4 366.97x
Radford 4 20.10x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 4 61.16x
Heigham 3 12.51x
Loughton 3 105.63x
Melton Mowbray 3 51.81x
South Common Lincoln 3 1250.00x
St Mark Lincoln 3 303.03x
Fakenham 2 90.91x
Fulham London 2 4.74x
Lewknor 2 377.36x
Navenby 2 210.53x
Shoreditch London 2 1.59x
Southwark Christchurch 2 14.68x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.91x
Stebbing 2 180.18x
Tottenham 2 4.32x
Ashford 1 43.48x
Balderton 1 93.46x
Berkhampstead 1 22.22x
Bierton With Broughton 1 123.46x
Blyton 1 142.86x
Brant Broughton 1 147.06x
Caterham 1 15.97x
Clewer 1 11.19x
Croydon 1 1.27x
Dunston 1 128.21x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.71x
Finchley 1 8.98x
Folkestone 1 5.20x
Hampstead London 1 2.21x
Headon Cum Upton 1 454.55x
Hythe St Leonard 1 28.57x
Kensington London 1 0.62x
Latchford 1 23.47x
Madron Penzance 1 8.35x
Newton Upon Trent 1 322.58x
North Kyme 1 144.93x
Paddington London 1 0.94x
Poplar London 1 1.82x
Rotherhithe 1 2.78x
St Botolph Lincoln 1 29.94x
St Pancras London 1 0.43x
St Peterin Eastgate 1 69.44x
Tankersley 1 46.51x
Wandsworth 1 3.57x
Wanstead 1 9.95x
West Wycombe 1 42.02x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 17
Thomas 14
George 10
Joseph 8
Charles 7
Edward 6
Alfred 5
James 4
Tom 4
Nicholas 3
Peter 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Willie 2
Adam 1
Alexanda 1
Alexander 1
Bronsly 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Wm. 1
Christopher 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Ethelbert 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Georg 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Jubez 1
Nat 1
Percival 1
Richd.Hy. 1
Silas 1
Summerset 1
Thos.S. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bavin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bavin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 298 people were recorded with the Bavin surname. That placed it at #9,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bavin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 466 in 2016. That gives Bavin a modern rank of #10,542.

What does the Bavin surname mean?

A locational surname originating from Bavent in Calvados, France.

What does the Bavin map show?

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