NameCensus.

UK surname

Belford

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places called Belford in England or Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 259 people recorded with the Belford surname, ranking it #10,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 429, ranked #11,214, down from #10,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glossop, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, East Northamptonshire and Montrose South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Belford is 459 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.6%.

1881 census count

259

Ranked #10,808

Modern count

429

2016, ranked #11,214

Peak year

1999

459 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Belford had 259 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 429 in 2016, ranked #11,214.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 319 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Belford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Belford surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Belford 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 180 #11,300
1861 historical 267 #9,290
1881 historical 259 #10,808
1891 historical 319 #10,563
1901 historical 314 #11,285
1911 historical 221 #14,044
1997 modern 405 #10,908
1998 modern 443 #10,526
1999 modern 459 #10,310
2000 modern 455 #10,340
2001 modern 438 #10,462
2002 modern 454 #10,367
2003 modern 443 #10,413
2004 modern 444 #10,435
2005 modern 442 #10,346
2006 modern 434 #10,543
2007 modern 439 #10,553
2008 modern 434 #10,756
2009 modern 435 #10,991
2010 modern 435 #11,208
2011 modern 441 #10,958
2012 modern 448 #10,702
2013 modern 447 #10,885
2014 modern 449 #10,926
2015 modern 434 #11,142
2016 modern 429 #11,214

Geography

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Where Belfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glossop, London parishes, Edinburgh, Brechin and Kirkcudbright. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, East Northamptonshire, Montrose South and Islington. 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 Glossop Derbyshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Brechin Forfar
5 Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 003 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Stoke-on-Trent 004 Stoke-on-Trent
3 East Northamptonshire 001 East Northamptonshire
4 Montrose South Angus
5 Islington 014 Islington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Belford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Belford

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Belford 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

Belford 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

Belford falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Belford 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 Belford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Belford

The surname Belford originates from England, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name derived from the village of Belford in Northumberland, which means "bell ford" or "bell crossing" in Old English. This suggests that the name may have originated from a location where bells were used to signal the safe crossing of a river or stream.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Belford can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from the 12th century. These were records of financial accounts kept by the British government, indicating that individuals bearing this surname were living in the region during this period.

In the 13th century, variations of the spelling, such as Beleford and Belleford, appeared in various historical documents, including the Hundred Rolls. These were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I, which provides evidence of the name's continued use and its association with the village of Belford.

One notable individual bearing this surname was Sir William Belford, a prominent English landowner and knight who lived in the 14th century. He was known for his involvement in the Hundred Years' War and his service to King Edward III.

In the 16th century, the name Belford gained further recognition with the birth of William Belford (1530-1594), an English author and translator who is known for his works on classical literature and philosophy.

Another famous bearer of the Belford surname was John Belford (1688-1757), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts and served as the rector of a parish in Northumberland.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Belford also appeared in various parish records and historical documents throughout England, indicating its continued presence and geographic spread beyond its original roots in Northumberland.

One notable example from this period is William Belford (1730-1801), an English naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars.

As the centuries progressed, the Belford surname continued to be carried by individuals of note, including the 19th-century English writer and journalist James Belford (1828-1892), who was a prominent contributor to several literary publications of his time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Belford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Belford 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. Angus leads with 55 Belfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.97x.

County Total Index
Angus 55 22.97x
Middlesex 28 1.08x
Midlothian 26 7.51x
Kirkcudbrightshire 20 53.45x
Fife 19 12.42x
Staffordshire 17 1.95x
Durham 14 1.82x
Yorkshire 13 0.51x
Derbyshire 10 2.47x
Nottinghamshire 9 2.58x
Essex 7 1.37x
Channel Islands 6 7.83x
Lancashire 6 0.20x
Cheshire 5 0.88x
East Lothian 5 14.60x
Devon 4 0.74x
Gloucestershire 3 0.59x
Perthshire 3 2.59x
Denbighshire 2 2.05x
Hampshire 2 0.38x
Renfrewshire 2 1.00x
Argyllshire 1 1.39x
Ayrshire 1 0.52x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.64x
Cumberland 1 0.45x
Lanarkshire 1 0.12x
Roxburghshire 1 2.14x
Somerset 1 0.24x
West Lothian 1 2.57x
Wigtownshire 1 2.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brechin in Angus leads with 28 Belfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 297.56x.

Place Total Index
Brechin 28 297.56x
Edinburgh Canongate 12 136.21x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 7.90x
Tannadice 11 990.99x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 30.02x
Leslie 10 258.40x
Bolton In Bradford 9 548.78x
Dunfermline 9 38.25x
Edzell 8 1095.89x
Kirkpatrick Durham 8 689.66x
Norton In Moors 8 173.16x
Clerkenwell London 7 11.47x
Snenton 7 51.13x
West Ham 6 5.33x
Girthon 5 396.83x
Hampstead London 5 12.42x
St Helier 5 20.05x
Stockport 5 17.03x
Tranent 5 107.99x
Forfar 4 30.84x
Hayfield 4 161.29x
Islington London 4 1.60x
Kirkcudbright 4 129.03x
Ratcliffe London 4 28.03x
Wolstanton 4 15.09x
Crediton 3 58.82x
Glossop Dale 3 15.83x
Newent 3 116.28x
Perth East Church 3 27.42x
Toxteth Park 3 2.89x
Bishopwearmouth 2 3.03x
Edinburgh New North 2 66.45x
Kingswinford 2 6.31x
Llansantffraid Glan 2 194.17x
Mile End Old Town London 2 3.64x
Paisley Middle Church 2 17.15x
St Pancras London 2 0.96x
Barony 1 0.47x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 1 37.59x
Biddulph 1 20.33x
Burley In Wharfdale 1 44.25x
Carsphairn 1 232.56x
Chesterfield 1 6.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.05x
Christchurch 1 8.70x
Cleckheaton 1 10.59x
Corston 1 294.12x
Devonport 1 16.18x
Dundee 1 1.12x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 17.83x
Everton 1 1.02x
Fairfield 1 36.90x
Gateshead 1 1.74x
Handsworth 1 4.65x
Harton 1 32.89x
Hawick 1 9.54x
Ilkley 1 23.87x
Kells 1 116.28x
Kensington London 1 0.70x
Kilmarnock 1 4.34x
Kirriemuir 1 16.92x
Lasswade 1 12.63x
Linlithgow 1 20.04x
Montrose 1 6.89x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.11x
Parton 1 158.73x
Prittlewell 1 14.14x
Radford 1 5.65x
Sheffield 1 1.23x
Southampton St Mary 1 3.00x
Spitalfields London 1 5.14x
Spotland 1 2.93x
St Ann St Agnes London 1 1111.11x
St Marylebone London 1 0.72x
St Saviour 1 23.64x
St Vigeans 1 7.73x
Stranraer 1 31.85x
Whitehaven 1 8.43x
Wolstanton Oldcott 1 31.65x
Wolverton 1 30.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 5
Margaret 5
Mary 5
Martha 4
Sarah 4
Ada 3
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Barbara 1
Betsey 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Eliz. 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellen 1
Eunice 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Isabl. 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
M.A. 1
Margery 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Patience 1
Rachel 1
Rosalie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 12
John 7
Charles 3
David 3
Thomas 3
William 3
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Allan 1
Ann 1
Arthur 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Gustavus 1
Harry 1
Helier 1
Henry 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Sheldon 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Belford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Belford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 259 people were recorded with the Belford surname. That placed it at #10,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Belford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 429 in 2016. That gives Belford a modern rank of #11,214.

What does the Belford surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places called Belford in England or Scotland.

What does the Belford map show?

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