NameCensus.

UK surname

Bazley

A name derived from the Old English word 'bæzlære' meaning 'basil seller'.

In the 1881 census there were 311 people recorded with the Bazley surname, ranking it #9,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 453, ranked #10,748, down from #9,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bedford St Paul and Stockland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Mid Devon and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bazley is 551 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.7%.

1881 census count

311

Ranked #9,470

Modern count

453

2016, ranked #10,748

Peak year

1911

551 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bazley had 311 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016, ranked #10,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 551 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bazley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bazley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bazley 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 275 #8,150
1861 historical 159 #14,553
1881 historical 311 #9,470
1891 historical 444 #8,149
1901 historical 401 #9,472
1911 historical 551 #7,274
1997 modern 476 #9,665
1998 modern 501 #9,578
1999 modern 509 #9,527
2000 modern 516 #9,396
2001 modern 506 #9,382
2002 modern 516 #9,432
2003 modern 501 #9,471
2004 modern 494 #9,589
2005 modern 494 #9,527
2006 modern 491 #9,600
2007 modern 496 #9,626
2008 modern 483 #9,890
2009 modern 503 #9,804
2010 modern 498 #10,091
2011 modern 499 #9,965
2012 modern 466 #10,403
2013 modern 474 #10,421
2014 modern 481 #10,387
2015 modern 467 #10,535
2016 modern 453 #10,748

Geography

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Where Bazleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bedford St Paul, Stockland and Frodsham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Mid Devon, Mendip and Sedgemoor. 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 3
2 Bedford St Paul Bedfordshire
3 Stockland Devon
4 Frodsham Cheshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 012 Halton
2 Halton 011 Halton
3 Mid Devon 008 Mid Devon
4 Mendip 005 Mendip
5 Sedgemoor 001 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bazley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bazley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bazley 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

Bazley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bazley

The surname Bazley has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bæc," meaning "back," and the suffix "-ley," which refers to a meadow or clearing. The surname likely originated as a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a meadow at the back of a village or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bazley can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records compiled for taxation purposes during the reign of King Edward I. In these rolls, the name is spelled "Bakeleg," a variation of the modern spelling.

The name Bazley appears in several medieval records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a John Bakelay. Additionally, the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1399 refer to a Thomas Bakeley.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Bakelay," "Bakeley," and "Backley," as seen in parish records and other historical documents. During this period, the name was concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Staffordshire.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Bazley include:

1. William Bazley (1599-1671), an English merchant and politician from Worcestershire who served as Sheriff of London in 1653.

2. Thomas Bazley (1797-1885), a British industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester. He established the Bazley Charity for the education of children in the area.

3. Sir Thomas Sebastian Bazley (1829-1919), a British lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted in 1892.

4. John Bazley White (1835-1902), an English architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in the Victorian Gothic style.

5. Reverend Henry Bazley (1848-1925), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Radley, Oxfordshire, and wrote several religious works.

The surname Bazley has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Bazley End in Worcestershire and Bazley's Green in Gloucestershire, further highlighting its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bazley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bazley 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. Devon leads with 87 Bazleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.73x.

County Total Index
Devon 87 13.73x
Northamptonshire 29 10.13x
Cheshire 25 3.72x
Lancashire 17 0.47x
Cornwall 16 4.64x
Oxfordshire 16 8.51x
Bedfordshire 13 8.25x
Glamorgan 13 2.45x
Middlesex 13 0.43x
Warwickshire 13 1.69x
Somerset 12 2.45x
Gloucestershire 11 1.84x
Surrey 11 0.74x
Essex 6 1.00x
Kent 6 0.58x
Herefordshire 5 4.01x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.22x
Yorkshire 5 0.17x
Dorset 2 1.00x
Staffordshire 2 0.19x
Cumberland 1 0.38x
Durham 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.45x
Royal Navy 1 2.76x
Shropshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 27 Bazleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.89x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 27 60.89x
Runcorn 25 161.39x
Daventry 10 246.91x
Saltash 9 337.08x
Ecton 8 1250.00x
Eglwysilan 8 87.05x
Broughton In Salford 7 21.20x
Exeter Holy Trinity 7 282.26x
Hatherop 7 1944.44x
Silverstone 7 578.51x
Caterham 6 91.46x
Cullompton 6 216.61x
Hemington 6 983.61x
Shute 6 1000.00x
Stagsden 6 1052.63x
Wellesbourne Mountford 6 821.92x
Alkerton 5 2941.18x
Arnold 5 83.47x
Birmingham 5 1.95x
Bridgewater 5 37.59x
Cropredy 5 877.19x
Exeter St David 5 92.42x
Leominster 5 96.71x
Okehampton 5 209.21x
South Cave 5 500.00x
St Pancras London 5 2.04x
Aspley Guise 4 264.90x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.99x
Kentisbeare 4 459.77x
Plymouth Charles The 4 14.33x
St Columb Major 4 139.86x
Stockland 4 434.78x
Wardington 4 625.00x
Warlingham 4 333.33x
West Ham 4 3.02x
Whitchurch 4 139.37x
Widworthy 4 2857.14x
Bristol St Paul In 3 18.87x
Collumpton 3 1034.48x
Eaton Socon 3 121.46x
Hammersmith London 3 4.00x
Moss Side 3 15.79x
Uplyme 3 315.79x
Bradninch 2 111.73x
Brentwood 2 54.64x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.49x
Leamington Priors 2 10.59x
Sedgley 2 5.24x
Shoreditch London 2 1.52x
Tiverton 2 18.33x
Welton 2 392.16x
Wynford Eagle 2 1250.00x
Accrington 1 3.05x
Antony 1 30.03x
Bodmin 1 17.54x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.78x
Caldewgate 1 6.96x
Caldicot 1 68.49x
Castleton 1 2.77x
Compton 1 238.10x
Devonport 1 13.74x
Gillingham 1 4.67x
Holywell 1 113.64x
Honiton 1 28.49x
Islington London 1 0.34x
Kenton 1 50.00x
Lewisham 1 1.81x
Little Weldon 1 212.77x
Liverpool 1 0.46x
Luxulyan 1 86.96x
Manchester 1 0.62x
Neithrop 1 15.82x
North Meols 1 2.83x
Roath 1 4.15x
Royal Navy 1 3.23x
Southwark Christchurch 1 7.01x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.87x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.29x
Tormoham 1 3.73x
Wem 1 25.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 10
Ann 7
Emma 7
Jane 7
Harriet 5
Alice 4
Eleanor 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Annie 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Rachel 2
Robina 2
Susan 2
Charlott 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Constantine 1
Edward 1
Elizth. 1
Elzbth. 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Isabella 1
Jennett 1
Jennie 1
Jessie 1
L. 1
Lena 1
Lillie 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Matty 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
John 24
George 10
Charles 9
Joseph 9
Henry 7
James 6
Robert 6
Thomas 6
Francis 5
Samuel 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
David 2
Edward 2
Herbert 2
Mathew 2
Sydney 2
Albion 1
Arthur 1
Claude 1
Clifford 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Evan 1
F. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Joshua 1
Michael 1
Nathaniel 1
R.C. 1
Reginald 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bazley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bazley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 311 people were recorded with the Bazley surname. That placed it at #9,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bazley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016. That gives Bazley a modern rank of #10,748.

What does the Bazley surname mean?

A name derived from the Old English word 'bæzlære' meaning 'basil seller'.

What does the Bazley map show?

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