NameCensus.

UK surname

Belger

A topographic surname derived from Old French belge, meaning "Belgian".

In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Belger surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, up from #29,646 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Belger is 120 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 307.1%.

1881 census count

28

Ranked #29,646

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

2015

120 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Belger had 28 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 75 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Belger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Belger surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Belger 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 28 #29,646
1891 historical 45 #30,747
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 75 #25,322
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 88 #29,284
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 102 #27,637
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 100 #29,597
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 117 #28,109
2015 modern 120 #27,561
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Belgers 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 Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St. Helens and Welwyn Hatfield. 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 Liverpool 002 Liverpool
2 Sefton 027 Sefton
3 Knowsley 004 Knowsley
4 St. Helens 016 St. Helens
5 Welwyn Hatfield 015 Welwyn Hatfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Belger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Belger

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Belger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Belger household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Belger 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

Belger 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

Belger falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Belger is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Belger

The surname Belger originates from England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "belg" meaning a leather bag or pouch, and "er" referring to an occupation. The name likely referred to someone who made or sold leather pouches, belts, or other leather goods.

Early references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a William Belger. The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 also record a Robert Le Belgere. These early spellings, such as "Le Belgere" and "Belger," reflect the name's origins.

The Belger surname is closely tied to the village of Belgrave in Leicestershire, which was formerly known as "Belegrave" or "Belegravia" in the 13th century. It is likely that some Belgers hailed from this area, contributing to the spread of the name.

Notable individuals with the surname Belger include John Belger (c. 1530-1598), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Belger (1691-1753), a wealthy merchant and benefactor from Somerset.

In the 18th century, Samuel Belger (1720-1789) was a successful banker and businessman in London. His son, John Belger (1760-1841), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent financier.

During the Victorian era, Emily Belger (1837-1919) was a renowned author and poet, known for her romantic novels and vivid descriptions of English countryside life.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the Belger surname throughout history, reflecting its roots in the English leather trade and its widespread presence across various regions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Belger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Belger 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. Middlesex leads with 17 Belgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.01x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 6.01x
Lancashire 6 1.79x
Ayrshire 3 14.18x
Berkshire 1 4.71x
Isle of Man 1 19.05x
Lanarkshire 1 1.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Anne Soho London in Middlesex leads with 8 Belgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 496.89x.

Place Total Index
St Anne Soho London 8 496.89x
St Martin In Fields 7 414.20x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 81.86x
Stewarton 3 714.29x
Govan 1 4.42x
Lezayre 1 416.67x
Spitalfields London 1 46.95x
St Pancras London 1 4.39x
Tilehurst 1 232.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Caroline 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Elruya 1
Florence 1
Madoline 1
Mariah 1
Maud 1
Sarah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
James 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Waller 1
Walter 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Belger households.

FAQ

Belger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Belger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Belger surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Belger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Belger a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Belger surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from Old French belge, meaning "Belgian".

What does the Belger map show?

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