UK surname
A locational surname derived from the Old French term "baillis," referring to a fortified area or courtyard.
In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Bayless surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #15,259 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, St Mary Stratford-le-Bow and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bayless is 304 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.8%.
1881 census count
154
Ranked #15,259
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1861
304 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bayless surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bayless surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 206 | #10,183 |
| 1861 | historical | 304 | #8,340 |
| 1881 | historical | 154 | #15,259 |
| 1891 | historical | 295 | #11,255 |
| 1901 | historical | 127 | #19,893 |
| 1911 | historical | 170 | #16,510 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 61 | #31,891 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 67 | #31,796 |
| 2004 | modern | 74 | #31,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 79 | #30,950 |
| 2006 | modern | 75 | #31,733 |
| 2007 | modern | 79 | #31,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 78 | #32,081 |
| 2009 | modern | 75 | #32,733 |
| 2010 | modern | 73 | #33,249 |
| 2011 | modern | 63 | #33,982 |
| 2012 | modern | 63 | #34,095 |
| 2013 | modern | 64 | #34,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, St Mary Stratford-le-Bow, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire), Walsall and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St Mary Stratford-le-Bow | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Walsall | Staffordshire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bayless surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bayless, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bayless surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bayless household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bayless is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bayless is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bayless, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bayless is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the southwestern regions of the country, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bæg" and "leah," which translate to "ring-shaped hill" or "clearing in a ring of trees." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person or family who lived near or owned such a geographic feature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bayless surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Here, the name appears as "Bagelei," a spelling that reflects the linguistic evolution of the name over time.
In the 13th century, records show variants of the name, such as "Bayly" and "Bailly," appearing in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Dorset, Somerset, and Devon. This supports the theory that the name originated in the southwestern regions.
A notable figure bearing the Bayless surname was Sir John Bayless, a prominent English judge who lived from 1512 to 1589. He served as a Justice of the Court of King's Bench during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and played a significant role in the legal system of his time.
Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Bayless, born in 1612 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a renowned Puritan clergyman and author who emigrated to New England in 1638 and became one of the founders of the town of Sandwich, Massachusetts.
In the 18th century, the name appears in various records and documents, such as parish registers and court proceedings. For instance, a certain William Bayless, born in 1724 in Wiltshire, England, was a prominent landowner and farmer who contributed to the local economy and community.
Across the Atlantic, the Bayless surname took root in the American colonies, with several individuals bearing the name making their mark. One such figure was Samuel Bayless, born in 1745 in Virginia, who served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
As the centuries passed, the Bayless surname continued to spread and evolve, with various branches and lineages emerging in different regions and countries. While the origins of the name can be traced back to medieval England, it has since become a part of the cultural tapestry of many nations, reflecting the diverse histories and journeys of those who bear it.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bayless surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 26 Bayless' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 26 | 1.73x |
| Warwickshire | 22 | 5.81x |
| Staffordshire | 18 | 3.55x |
| Leicestershire | 16 | 9.61x |
| Surrey | 11 | 1.50x |
| Worcestershire | 10 | 5.10x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 2.38x |
| Shropshire | 7 | 5.39x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 1.62x |
| Kent | 5 | 0.98x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.28x |
| Oxfordshire | 5 | 5.39x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 1.49x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.20x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.45x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.67x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 1.42x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 1.62x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.97x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.43x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.49x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tipton in Staffordshire leads with 10 Bayless' recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.39x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bayless surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Sarah | 9 |
| Mary | 7 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Annie | 5 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Casandra | 1 |
| Elen | 1 |
| Ellenor | 1 |
| Evelyn | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Herietta | 1 |
| Herriett | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Keturah | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Mariam | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Susanah | 1 |
| Tamar | 1 |
| Zipporah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bayless surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Bayless households.
FAQ
In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Bayless surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Bayless a modern rank of #34,017.
A locational surname derived from the Old French term "baillis," referring to a fortified area or courtyard.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bayless bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.