NameCensus.

UK surname

Baxter

An occupational surname referring to a baker, derived from the Old English "baecestre" meaning a female baker.

In the 1881 census there were 17,875 people recorded with the Baxter surname, ranking it #214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24,983, ranked #230, down from #214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, West Lancashire and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baxter is 25,375 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.8%.

1881 census count

17,875

Ranked #214

Modern count

24,983

2016, ranked #230

Peak year

2010

25,375 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baxter had 17,875 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 24,983 in 2016, ranked #230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22,195 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Baxter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baxter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Baxter 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 11,457 #214
1861 historical 9,768 #269
1881 historical 17,875 #214
1891 historical 18,081 #215
1901 historical 22,195 #216
1911 historical 18,880 #245
1997 modern 24,538 #224
1998 modern 25,217 #226
1999 modern 25,319 #226
2000 modern 25,276 #225
2001 modern 24,688 #225
2002 modern 25,288 #226
2003 modern 24,634 #226
2004 modern 24,639 #225
2005 modern 24,332 #225
2006 modern 24,192 #226
2007 modern 24,367 #227
2008 modern 24,405 #228
2009 modern 24,939 #228
2010 modern 25,375 #228
2011 modern 25,009 #229
2012 modern 24,602 #228
2013 modern 25,177 #228
2014 modern 25,330 #228
2015 modern 25,162 #228
2016 modern 24,983 #230

Geography

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Where Baxters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, West Lancashire, South Holland and Berwickshire Central. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 004 Boston
2 Boston 007 Boston
3 West Lancashire 001 West Lancashire
4 South Holland 007 South Holland
5 Berwickshire Central Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Baxter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Baxter

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Baxter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Baxter 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Baxter 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

Baxter is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Baxter

The surname Baxter originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word 'bækestere', meaning 'baker'. The Baxters were skilled tradespeople who baked and sold bread, which was a highly valued commodity in medieval times.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Baxter dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled 'Bakestere'. This comprehensive survey of England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of various surnames during the Norman era.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various documents and records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as 'Bakester'. During this period, the Baxters were concentrated in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, which were major centers of agriculture and trade.

One notable figure in history bearing the surname Baxter was Richard Baxter (1615-1691), an English Puritan church leader and prolific author. He wrote numerous influential works, including "The Saints' Everlasting Rest" and "A Call to the Unconverted". His writings had a significant impact on the religious and political landscape of 17th-century England.

Another prominent Baxter was William Baxter (1786-1868), a British philosopher and botanist. He made significant contributions to the study of botany and wrote several influential works, including "British Phaenogamous Botany" and "Stirpes Cryptogamicae Oxoniensis".

In the 19th century, the name Baxter was associated with the textile industry. One notable figure from this era was Sir David Baxter (1809-1889), a Scottish industrialist and philanthropist. He established the Baxter Brothers & Co. textile mill, which became one of the largest employers in Dundee, Scotland.

Another Baxter of note was Beverley Baxter (1896-1956), a Canadian novelist, journalist, and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons and was known for his outspoken views on social and political issues. His literary works included the novel "The Blinding Sunrise" and the autobiography "Memories and Portraits".

The name Baxter has also been associated with place names in various parts of England. For example, Baxter's Green is a village in Warwickshire, and Baxter's Hill is a location in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely derived from the occupational surname, reflecting the presence of Baxter families in these areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Baxter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baxter 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. Yorkshire leads with 2,540 Baxters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2,540 1.47x
Lancashire 1,848 0.89x
Middlesex 1,561 0.90x
Lanarkshire 1,086 1.93x
Lincolnshire 712 2.56x
Surrey 639 0.75x
Angus 577 3.58x
Midlothian 567 2.43x
Durham 514 0.99x
Suffolk 463 2.18x
Staffordshire 446 0.76x
Norfolk 423 1.58x
Aberdeenshire 372 2.31x
Cheshire 352 0.92x
Northamptonshire 339 2.07x
Warwickshire 338 0.77x
Fife 332 3.22x
Essex 315 0.92x
Kent 301 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 301 1.28x
Leicestershire 281 1.46x
Cumberland 257 1.71x
Huntingdonshire 226 6.54x
Stirlingshire 224 3.49x
Gloucestershire 222 0.65x
Renfrewshire 219 1.62x
Northumberland 183 0.71x
Perthshire 172 2.20x
Cambridgeshire 162 1.47x
Derbyshire 162 0.59x
West Lothian 123 4.69x
Sussex 102 0.35x
Dumfriesshire 96 2.50x
Berkshire 86 0.66x
Worcestershire 77 0.34x
Ayrshire 76 0.58x
Bedfordshire 72 0.80x
Hampshire 66 0.19x
Devon 62 0.17x
Dunbartonshire 61 1.30x
Shropshire 58 0.39x
Wiltshire 55 0.36x
Montgomeryshire 48 1.20x
Oxfordshire 48 0.45x
Argyllshire 47 0.97x
Hertfordshire 43 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 39 0.37x
Selkirkshire 39 2.48x
East Lothian 36 1.56x
Glamorgan 36 0.12x
Banffshire 33 0.91x
Kirkcudbrightshire 33 1.31x
Roxburghshire 32 1.01x
Morayshire 31 1.15x
Westmorland 31 0.81x
Clackmannanshire 29 2.02x
Buteshire 28 2.65x
Channel Islands 21 0.41x
Kinross-shire 17 3.86x
Peeblesshire 17 2.08x
Monmouthshire 16 0.13x
Berwickshire 15 0.71x
Somerset 15 0.05x
Inverness-shire 14 0.27x
Rutland 13 1.02x
Denbighshire 11 0.17x
Dorset 9 0.08x
Royal Navy 9 0.43x
Wigtownshire 9 0.39x
Caernarfonshire 8 0.11x
Cornwall 8 0.04x
Sutherland 8 0.60x
Anglesey 5 0.16x
Flintshire 5 0.11x
Kincardineshire 4 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.07x
Ross-shire 4 0.08x
Brecknockshire 3 0.09x
Isle of Man 2 0.06x
Merionethshire 2 0.06x
Nairnshire 2 0.38x
Radnorshire 2 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 301 Baxters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.11x.

Place Total Index
Barony 301 2.11x
Dundee 283 4.70x
Islington London 236 1.40x
Govan 230 1.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 200 2.13x
Idle 189 23.63x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 186 6.17x
Linthwaite 182 50.20x
Liff Benvie 154 6.29x
Camberwell 148 1.33x
St Pancras London 144 1.03x
Lambeth 134 0.88x
Leeds 121 1.24x
Glasgow 116 1.16x
West Ham 114 1.50x
Aston 105 0.87x
Hackney London 93 0.95x
Salford 88 1.45x
Slamannan 88 25.03x
Bradford 87 2.08x
Leicester St Margaret 81 1.72x
Bethnal Green London 78 1.03x
Fulham London 77 3.05x
Nottingham St Mary 75 1.24x
Birmingham 74 0.51x
Mile End Old Town London 74 2.00x
Bishopwearmouth 73 1.64x
Nether Hallam 73 3.13x
Lesmahagow 71 11.92x
Manningham 69 3.25x
St Marylebone London 68 0.73x
Eccleshill 67 15.96x
Poulton Barre 63 26.80x
Cambusnethan 62 4.96x
Kensington London 62 0.64x
Hulme 61 1.41x
South Leith 59 2.25x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 59 9.92x
St George Hanover Square 58 1.89x
Holy Trinity 57 1.37x
Aberdeen Old Machar 56 1.66x
Polesworth 56 26.86x
West Greenock 56 2.31x
North Meols 54 2.67x
Croydon 52 1.10x
Manchester 52 0.56x
Oldham 52 0.78x
Ashton Under Lyne 51 1.13x
Bathgate 51 8.96x
Wolstanton 50 2.80x
Horton In Bradford 49 1.82x
Shipley 49 5.47x
Clee With Weelsby 47 7.71x
Dunfermline 47 2.97x
St Luke London 47 1.68x
East Greenock 46 3.61x
Kirkdale 46 1.32x
Caldewgate 44 5.36x
Hampstead London 44 1.62x
Warrington 43 1.76x
West Derby 43 0.71x
Hammersmith London 42 0.98x
Old Monkland 42 1.88x
Shoreditch London 42 0.56x
Newington 41 0.64x
Annan 40 12.11x
Brighton 40 0.68x
Hunslet 40 1.49x
Liverpool 40 0.32x
Preston 40 0.72x
Sheffield 40 0.73x
Skipton 40 7.37x
Rothwell 39 23.71x
Bedford 38 8.79x
Aberdour 37 35.64x
Kegworth 37 28.84x
Llanidloes 37 12.51x
Paddington London 37 0.58x
Pemberton 37 4.49x
Stockton On Tees 37 1.48x
Burton Upon Trent 36 2.62x
St Neots 36 19.16x
Little Bolton 35 1.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 958
Sarah 539
Elizabeth 513
Jane 298
Ann 293
Emma 227
Eliza 211
Ellen 207
Alice 196
Annie 191
Hannah 166
Emily 144
Margaret 137
Martha 134
Maria 85
Charlotte 81
Harriet 81
Edith 80
Ada 79
Clara 75
Fanny 74
Louisa 74
Florence 69
Lucy 62
Catherine 58
Isabella 57
Susan 57
Kate 56
Agnes 51
Frances 48
Anne 47
Caroline 47
Susannah 38
Esther 32
Laura 30
Amelia 28
Minnie 28
Betsy 26
Harriett 26
Jessie 26
Rebecca 25
Rose 25
Julia 22
Sophia 22
Ethel 21
Grace 21
Rachel 21
Eleanor 20
Gertrude 20
Ruth 19

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 829
John 814
James 488
George 435
Thomas 435
Joseph 247
Henry 243
Charles 240
Robert 223
Richard 143
Samuel 139
Arthur 133
Alfred 116
Frederick 113
Edward 112
David 93
Harry 87
Walter 84
Albert 66
Benjamin 55
Herbert 55
Frank 52
Fred 44
Ernest 42
Wm. 41
Edwin 37
Thos. 35
Alexander 33
Francis 32
Tom 30
Geo. 25
Abraham 22
Peter 22
Isaac 20
Joe 20
Daniel 17
Mark 15
Willm. 15
Andrew 14
Hugh 14
Frederic 13
Chas. 12
Edgar 12
Edmund 12
Leonard 12
Percy 12
Fredrick 11
Robt. 11
Horace 10
Jesse 10

FAQ

Baxter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baxter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17,875 people were recorded with the Baxter surname. That placed it at #214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baxter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 24,983 in 2016. That gives Baxter a modern rank of #230.

What does the Baxter surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a baker, derived from the Old English "baecestre" meaning a female baker.

What does the Baxter map show?

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