NameCensus.

UK surname

Baylis

An English habitational surname derived from placenames meaning "bailey" or enclosed outer courtyard of a castle.

In the 1881 census there were 3,145 people recorded with the Baylis surname, ranking it #1,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,301, ranked #2,822, down from #1,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Wychavon and Wyre Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Baylis is 3,145 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.8%.

1881 census count

3,145

Ranked #1,433

Modern count

2,301

2016, ranked #2,822

Peak year

1881

3,145 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Baylis had 3,145 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,301 in 2016, ranked #2,822.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,145 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Baylis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Baylis surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Baylis 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 2,690 #1,097
1861 historical 2,021 #1,438
1881 historical 3,145 #1,433
1891 historical 2,689 #1,768
1901 historical 3,061 #1,826
1911 historical 3,037 #1,722
1997 modern 2,432 #2,588
1998 modern 2,518 #2,593
1999 modern 2,524 #2,611
2000 modern 2,522 #2,596
2001 modern 2,451 #2,605
2002 modern 2,505 #2,610
2003 modern 2,380 #2,685
2004 modern 2,395 #2,664
2005 modern 2,344 #2,682
2006 modern 2,315 #2,710
2007 modern 2,313 #2,740
2008 modern 2,306 #2,760
2009 modern 2,342 #2,788
2010 modern 2,386 #2,800
2011 modern 2,373 #2,785
2012 modern 2,308 #2,798
2013 modern 2,345 #2,806
2014 modern 2,332 #2,835
2015 modern 2,300 #2,838
2016 modern 2,301 #2,822

Geography

Back to top

Where Baylis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and Tardebigg. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Wychavon, Wyre Forest and Redditch. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Tardebigg Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 006 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Wychavon 017 Wychavon
3 Wyre Forest 014 Wyre Forest
4 Stratford-on-Avon 008 Stratford-on-Avon
5 Redditch 007 Redditch

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Baylis

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Baylis

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Baylis, 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 Baylis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Baylis 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, Baylis 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

Baylis is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Baylis

The surname Baylis is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "bæg" meaning "bag" and "hlæsa" meaning "carrier" or "loader." It was initially an occupational name given to those who carried or loaded bags, likely related to the trade of transporting goods or materials.

Baylis is believed to have originated in the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire in the southwest of England during the medieval period. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire, where it was spelled as "Baillif."

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Baylis. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as "Baggelie" in Shropshire and "Baillis" in Essex, which may have influenced the development of the surname.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Baylis was John Baylis, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Bristol during the late 14th century. Records indicate that he owned several properties and played an influential role in the city's trade activities.

In the 16th century, a notable figure was William Baylis, a farmer and landowner from the village of Abson in Gloucestershire. He was involved in several legal disputes over land ownership and inheritance, which are documented in historical records from the period.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a soldier named Thomas Baylis fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He is mentioned in several accounts of the battles and campaigns of the era.

In the 18th century, a renowned clockmaker named Samuel Baylis made significant contributions to the art of watchmaking in London. His intricate and innovative designs were highly sought after by the aristocracy and wealthy merchants of the time.

Another notable individual was Mary Baylis, a philanthropist and social reformer who lived in the 19th century. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and establishing schools and orphanages in the East End of London.

Throughout history, the surname Baylis has been associated with various professions and trades, including agriculture, craftsmanship, and military service. While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the occupational roots of carrying or loading bags in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Baylis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Baylis 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. Worcestershire leads with 764 Baylis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.09x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 764 19.09x
Middlesex 421 1.37x
Gloucestershire 418 6.95x
Warwickshire 351 4.54x
Surrey 204 1.37x
Oxfordshire 142 7.50x
Lancashire 123 0.34x
Herefordshire 80 6.37x
Staffordshire 78 0.75x
Monmouthshire 73 3.29x
Berkshire 51 2.22x
Essex 45 0.74x
Kent 43 0.41x
Yorkshire 39 0.13x
Glamorgan 31 0.58x
Buckinghamshire 29 1.57x
Somerset 29 0.59x
Northamptonshire 23 0.80x
Denbighshire 20 1.73x
Devon 13 0.20x
Leicestershire 12 0.35x
Shropshire 12 0.45x
Sussex 12 0.23x
Lanarkshire 11 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.27x
Lincolnshire 10 0.20x
Cheshire 9 0.13x
Derbyshire 9 0.19x
Durham 9 0.10x
Brecknockshire 8 1.31x
Hampshire 8 0.13x
Stirlingshire 8 0.71x
Wiltshire 7 0.26x
Norfolk 5 0.11x
Westmorland 5 0.74x
Cumberland 4 0.15x
Hertfordshire 4 0.19x
Northumberland 4 0.09x
Radnorshire 4 1.62x
Bedfordshire 3 0.19x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.43x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.07x
Angus 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 0.55x
Midlothian 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 101 Baylis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.75x.

Place Total Index
Aston 101 4.75x
Redditch 88 108.44x
Cheltenham 70 15.09x
Birmingham 69 2.68x
Islington London 65 2.19x
Kidderminster Borough 45 19.21x
Lambeth 42 1.57x
Bromsgrove 41 30.44x
Hackney London 39 2.27x
Worcester St Peter 36 47.52x
Feckenham 34 74.22x
St Marylebone London 33 2.02x
St Pancras London 31 1.26x
Bengeworth 30 217.71x
Camberwell 30 1.53x
Broughton 27 442.62x
Paddington London 27 2.40x
Belbroughton 26 125.24x
Evesham St Lawrence 26 122.24x
Battersea 24 2.13x
Bethnal Green London 24 1.80x
Hanbury 24 221.61x
Shipston On Stour 23 126.30x
Upton On Severn 23 87.72x
West Ham 23 1.72x
Leckhampton 22 59.40x
Sutton Coldfield 21 25.85x
Charlton Kings 20 48.09x
Croydon 20 2.41x
Newington 20 1.77x
Shoreditch London 20 1.51x
Worcester St Martin 20 37.04x
Chaddesley Corbett 19 126.67x
Upton St Leonards 19 124.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 18 2.92x
Thornbury 18 43.80x
Alvechurch 17 99.82x
Buckland 17 568.56x
Cradley 17 92.49x
Tewkesbury 17 31.69x
Walsall Foreign 17 3.18x
Kensington London 16 0.94x
Monmouth 16 27.23x
Old Stratford 16 36.56x
Stratford On Avon 16 37.32x
Wrexham Regis 16 18.61x
Edgbaston 15 6.26x
Hanley Castle 15 62.63x
Hornsey 15 3.87x
Neithrop 15 23.58x
St Woollos 15 6.07x
West Derby 15 1.41x
Blockley 14 61.86x
Reading St Giles 14 6.20x
Toxteth Park 14 1.14x
Worcester St John 14 29.29x
Clerkenwell London 13 1.80x
Fulham London 13 2.92x
Lower Mitton 13 36.86x
Stroud 13 11.11x
Worcester All Sts 13 56.03x
Worcester St Helen 13 101.56x
Claines 12 10.92x
Clapham 12 3.13x
Ombersley 12 53.84x
Pershore Holy Cross 12 46.78x
St Giles In Fields London 12 7.98x
Areley Kings 11 154.93x
Aston Cantlow 11 95.16x
Bedminster 11 2.37x
Castlemorton 11 140.31x
Chipping Norton 11 25.14x
Kempsey 11 72.46x
Nottingham St Mary 11 1.03x
Powick 11 39.68x
Whitchurch 11 38.12x
Yatton 11 572.92x
Gloucester St John Baptist 10 25.76x
Ledbury 10 23.17x
Ruardean 10 73.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 178
Elizabeth 135
Sarah 99
Ann 77
Eliza 63
Ellen 63
Emma 60
Annie 54
Jane 52
Alice 44
Emily 38
Hannah 37
Louisa 31
Charlotte 25
Harriet 24
Anne 23
Maria 23
Fanny 21
Florence 21
Lucy 21
Caroline 20
Edith 20
Martha 19
Clara 18
Ada 16
Sophia 15
Susan 15
Kate 12
Agnes 11
Frances 11
Harriett 11
Catherine 10
Amelia 9
Lizzie 9
Margaret 8
Selina 8
Jessie 7
Julia 7
Eleanor 6
Ethel 6
Lydia 6
Matilda 6
Minnie 6
Anna 5
Florance 5
Maud 5
Rebecca 5
Rosa 5
Rose 5
Gertrude 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 216
John 156
Thomas 141
George 116
Charles 82
James 62
Edward 49
Henry 44
Alfred 41
Albert 40
Frederick 36
Arthur 34
Joseph 34
Samuel 29
Richard 27
Walter 22
Robert 21
Francis 19
Benjamin 18
Ernest 18
Harry 17
Frank 16
Edwin 10
Herbert 9
Edgar 8
Wm. 7
Chas. 6
Fredk. 6
Percy 5
Willm. 5
Fred 4
Fredrick 4
Harold 4
Alexander 3
Geo. 3
Job 3
Mark 3
Philip 3
Phillip 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Christopher 2
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Eustace 2
Josiah 2
Martin 2
Noah 2
Oliver 2
Peter 2

FAQ

Baylis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Baylis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,145 people were recorded with the Baylis surname. That placed it at #1,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Baylis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,301 in 2016. That gives Baylis a modern rank of #2,822.

What does the Baylis surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from placenames meaning "bailey" or enclosed outer courtyard of a castle.

What does the Baylis map show?

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