NameCensus.

UK surname

Bayer

An occupational surname referring to someone who grew or sold berries or lived near a berry farm.

In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Bayer surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 257, ranked #16,485, up from #21,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Worcester, The Vale of Glamorgan and East Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bayer is 280 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 209.6%.

1881 census count

83

Ranked #21,808

Modern count

257

2016, ranked #16,485

Peak year

1861

280 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bayer had 83 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016, ranked #16,485.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Bayer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bayer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bayer 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 280 #8,953
1881 historical 83 #21,808
1891 historical 133 #19,870
1901 historical 92 #23,800
1911 historical 172 #16,408
1997 modern 184 #18,580
1998 modern 192 #18,561
1999 modern 187 #18,999
2000 modern 198 #18,330
2001 modern 195 #18,215
2002 modern 187 #19,083
2003 modern 194 #18,463
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 205 #17,838
2006 modern 207 #17,892
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 223 #17,395
2009 modern 229 #17,431
2010 modern 248 #16,886
2011 modern 234 #17,383
2012 modern 250 #16,523
2013 modern 258 #16,421
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 256 #16,524
2016 modern 257 #16,485

Geography

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Where Bayers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, Manchester and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Worcester, The Vale of Glamorgan, East Hertfordshire, South Northamptonshire and South Somerset. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Worcester 005 Worcester
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 005 Vale of Glamorgan
3 East Hertfordshire 017 East Hertfordshire
4 South Northamptonshire 007 South Northamptonshire
5 South Somerset 006 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bayer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bayer

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Bayer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bayer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bayer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bayer 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

Bayer 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 Bayer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Bayer

The surname Bayer is of German origin and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the German word "bauer," which means "peasant" or "farmer." The name likely originated in areas of Germany where farming and agriculture were prominent occupations.

One of the earliest known references to the Bayer surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of ancient documents from the 9th century. In this text, a person named Baiarius is mentioned, which is believed to be an early variant of the modern Bayer name.

During the Middle Ages, the Bayer surname began to spread across various regions of Germany, with different spellings emerging, such as Bair, Baier, and Beyer. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and customs.

In the 14th century, the Bayer name appeared in several historical records, including the Nuremberg Chronicles, a famous illustrated world history book published in 1493. One notable individual from this period was Johannes Bayer (1572-1625), a German astronomer known for introducing the modern system of stellar designations.

Another prominent figure with the Bayer surname was Otto Bayer (1902-1982), a German chemist who worked for the company Bayer AG and played a crucial role in the development of various pharmaceutical drugs, including aspirin.

In the 16th century, the Bayer surname was associated with several place names in Germany, such as Bayerbach and Bayersdorf, which likely contributed to the spread and popularity of the name in those regions.

Other notable individuals with the Bayer surname include:

1. Hans Bayer (1895-1968), a German architect and urban planner. 2. Herbert Bayer (1900-1985), an Austrian-American graphic designer and artist. 3. Willi Bayer (1913-1990), a German football player and manager. 4. Leverkusen Bayer (1904-1958), a German-born American chemist and inventor. 5. Konrad Bayer (1932-1964), an Austrian mountaineer and author.

The Bayer surname has a rich history deeply rooted in German culture and occupations, with its origins dating back to the early medieval period and its presence documented in various historical records and manuscripts throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bayer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bayer 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 42 Bayers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.38x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 42 5.38x
Lincolnshire 11 8.82x
Lancashire 8 0.86x
Norfolk 5 4.17x
Monmouthshire 3 5.32x
Yorkshire 3 0.39x
Cheshire 2 1.16x
Worcestershire 2 1.96x
Devon 1 0.62x
Hampshire 1 0.63x
Kent 1 0.38x
Lanarkshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 10 Bayers recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.00x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 10 24.00x
Clerkenwell London 8 43.43x
Newton Upon Trent 6 7500.00x
St George In East London 6 81.74x
Gosberton 5 909.09x
Enfield 4 78.13x
Hardingham 4 2857.14x
West Derby 4 14.77x
Hammersmith London 3 15.61x
Stoke Newington London 3 49.34x
Altrincham 2 66.45x
Bedwellty 2 20.08x
Garton On Wolds 2 1428.57x
Great Malvern 2 93.90x
Hackney London 2 4.57x
Hornsey 2 20.26x
Manchester 2 4.80x
Abergavenny 1 47.39x
Alton 1 82.64x
Barnsley 1 12.53x
Barrow In Furness 1 7.94x
Bow London 1 10.07x
Ditton 1 263.16x
Govan 1 1.60x
Hampstead London 1 8.23x
Milton In Gravesend 1 25.06x
Norwich St James 1 106.38x
St George Hanover Square 1 7.27x
St Pancras London 1 1.59x
Stoke Damerel 1 8.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Emma 3
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Jane 2
Katherine 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Fannie 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Marie 1
Minnie 1
Miriam 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bayer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bayer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Bayer surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bayer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016. That gives Bayer a modern rank of #16,485.

What does the Bayer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who grew or sold berries or lived near a berry farm.

What does the Bayer map show?

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