NameCensus.

UK surname

Belfon

A French surname indicating a place of origin or residence near a handsome or beautiful hill.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wellingborough, North Tyneside and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Belfon is 105 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2010

105 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Belfon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Belfon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Belfon 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 #33,133
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1997 modern 69 #30,712
1998 modern 66 #31,387
1999 modern 64 #31,692
2000 modern 60 #32,124
2001 modern 61 #31,891
2002 modern 60 #32,388
2003 modern 60 #32,446
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 98 #29,906
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 101 #29,938
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 99 #30,934
2014 modern 100 #31,033
2015 modern 100 #31,005
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Belfons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wellingborough, North Tyneside, Lewisham, Northampton and Croydon. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wellingborough 008 Wellingborough
2 North Tyneside 027 North Tyneside
3 Lewisham 015 Lewisham
4 Northampton 025 Northampton
5 Croydon 024 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Belfon

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Belfon

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Belfon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Belfon 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Belfon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Belfon 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

Belfon falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Belfon 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Belfon

The surname Belfon has its origins in the Normandy region of France, tracing back to the early 11th century. It is derived from the Old French words "bel" meaning "beautiful" and "fon" from the Latin "fundum" meaning "land" or "estate". The name likely referred to someone who owned or resided on a particularly scenic or picturesque property.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the Belfon name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and settlements across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry refers to a "Robert de Belfon" holding lands in the county of Wiltshire.

By the 13th century, variations of the name began to appear in records across northern France and parts of England. Spellings such as Belfoun, Belfoyn, and Belfoine were common during this period. A notable early bearer of the name was Sir William Belfon, a Norman knight who fought alongside Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade in the late 12th century.

The Belfon name can also be traced to various place names in Normandy, such as the village of Beaufour, which translates to "beautiful estate" or "beautiful land". It is likely that some Belfon families took their surname from these locales.

Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, several Belfon individuals achieved prominence in various fields. Jean Belfon (1492-1554) was a French scholar and humanist who contributed to the study of classical literature and philosophy. Marie Belfon (1598-1676) was a renowned French painter and portraitist during the Baroque era, known for her depictions of aristocratic subjects.

In England, the Belfon name was associated with landed gentry and the aristocracy. Sir Roger Belfon (1624-1693) was a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles II. His son, Edward Belfon (1659-1721), was a noted botanist and horticulturist who introduced several new plant species to England from his extensive travels.

As the centuries progressed, the Belfon name spread across Europe and eventually to other parts of the world through emigration and exploration. Today, while not a particularly common surname, it remains represented in various countries and cultures, carrying with it the legacy of its Norman roots and associations with beauty, land, and distinction.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Belfon surname: questions and answers

How common is the Belfon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Belfon a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Belfon surname mean?

A French surname indicating a place of origin or residence near a handsome or beautiful hill.

What does the Belfon map show?

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