UK surname
A surname potentially denoting place of origin near a bell maker or foundry.
In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Bellam surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #19,877 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stilton and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bellam is 106 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 86.9%.
1881 census count
99
Ranked #19,877
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
106 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bellam surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bellam surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 52 | #23,915 |
| 1861 | historical | 106 | #20,147 |
| 1881 | historical | 99 | #19,877 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 97 | #23,227 |
| 1911 | historical | 89 | #23,922 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 19 | #36,668 |
| 2012 | modern | 22 | #36,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Stilton, Halifax, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Alfreton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Stilton | Northamptonshire |
| 3 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Peterborough St John the Baptist | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Alfreton | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bellam surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bellam, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bellam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bellam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bellam is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bellam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bellam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BELLAM is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "bellan," meaning "to bellow" or "to roar," suggesting a connection to a loud or boisterous individual or perhaps someone who lived near a noisy waterfall or stream.
The earliest recorded instance of the BELLAM surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1273. This document lists a certain Richard Bellam as a resident of the county. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Bellam is mentioned.
During the 14th century, the BELLAM surname was predominantly concentrated in the counties of Norfolk, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. It is speculated that the name may have derived from a place name, possibly a now-lost or obscure location that incorporated the Old English word "bellan" in its name.
In the 15th century, the BELLAM surname gained prominence with the rise of William Bellam (c. 1420-1492), a notable English merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He was a prominent figure in the city's mercantile community and played a significant role in the construction of several churches and charitable institutions.
Another notable bearer of the BELLAM surname was Robert Bellam (1552-1621), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, from 1612 until his death. He was a respected scholar and theologian during the Elizabethan era.
The BELLAM surname also found its way into literary circles with the celebrated English writer and poet, Mary Bellam (1658-1728). Her works, which included poetry and plays, earned her recognition among the literary elite of her time.
In the 18th century, the BELLAM family produced a notable military figure, General Sir Thomas Bellam (1742-1816). He served with distinction in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War and later became the Governor of Gibraltar.
Throughout its history, the BELLAM surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Belham, Bellham, Bellom, and Bellome, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bellam surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 14 Bellams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.21x |
| Durham | 13 | 4.48x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.33x |
| Surrey | 13 | 2.74x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 1.14x |
| Northamptonshire | 8 | 8.72x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 3.14x |
| Oxfordshire | 6 | 9.96x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.20x |
| Somerset | 3 | 1.91x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 5.13x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.70x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.46x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.49x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.52x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.50x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.76x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.61x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 11 Bellams recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.88x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey | 11 | 37.88x |
| Peterborough | 8 | 120.48x |
| Newchurch | 7 | 73.92x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 6 | 47.73x |
| Billingham | 5 | 1000.00x |
| Ealing | 5 | 57.34x |
| Skircoat | 5 | 131.23x |
| Bicester Market End | 4 | 360.36x |
| Cheltenham | 4 | 27.10x |
| Folkestone | 4 | 61.92x |
| Preston | 4 | 12.92x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 3 | 15.26x |
| Hulme | 3 | 12.41x |
| Nether Stowey | 3 | 1200.00x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 3.82x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 2 | 8.03x |
| Mixbury | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Skelton In Guisbrough | 2 | 76.63x |
| Westminster St John | 2 | 16.84x |
| Attercliffe Cum Darnall | 1 | 11.11x |
| Bristol St George | 1 | 11.30x |
| Bristol St Stephen | 1 | 200.00x |
| Carshalton | 1 | 54.95x |
| Fulmer | 1 | 714.29x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.84x |
| Llanelly | 1 | 42.92x |
| Malpas | 1 | 312.50x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 2.94x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 6.39x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.55x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 10.06x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 5.82x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.92x |
| Tipton | 1 | 9.92x |
| Weybridge | 1 | 98.04x |
| Writtle | 1 | 126.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bellam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bellam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Bellam households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 18 |
| Cotton Weaver | 5 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Servant | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Artist (P) | 1 |
| Artists Colourman Assistant | 1 |
| Boiler | 1 |
| Bookbinder &c Employing 5 Boys 3 Girls | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenter Unemployed | 1 |
| Civil Engineer | 1 |
| Cook (Domestic) | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| Engine Fireman (Stoker) (Ry) | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Goods Guard (Railway) | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Gunner R M Artillery | 1 |
| House Duties | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
| Leiutenant (N) | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Miners Wife | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Optician | 1 |
| Pensioner | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Rolling Mills Labourer | 1 |
| Rolling Mills Labourer (Iron) | 1 |
| Stoker | 1 |
| Stone Cutter | 1 |
| Table Knife Cutler | 1 |
| Upholsteress | 1 |
| Wife Of Above | 1 |
| Woollen Peicener | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Bellam surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Bellam a modern rank of #37,278.
A surname potentially denoting place of origin near a bell maker or foundry.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bellam bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.