UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English words "bel" meaning bell and "anunga" meaning meadow or valley.
In the 1881 census there were 54 people recorded with the Bellany surname, ranking it #26,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #26,009 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, St Pancras and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bellany is 368 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.8%.
1881 census count
54
Ranked #26,009
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1911
368 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bellany surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bellany surname density by area, 1911 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 | 168 | #11,873 |
| 1861 | historical | 305 | #8,321 |
| 1881 | historical | 54 | #26,009 |
| 1891 | historical | 329 | #10,320 |
| 1901 | historical | 150 | #18,075 |
| 1911 | historical | 368 | #9,886 |
| 1997 | modern | 69 | #30,712 |
| 1998 | modern | 73 | #30,681 |
| 1999 | modern | 69 | #31,223 |
| 2000 | modern | 64 | #31,735 |
| 2001 | modern | 62 | #31,798 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 60 | #32,446 |
| 2004 | modern | 62 | #32,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 62 | #32,708 |
| 2006 | modern | 63 | #32,943 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 68 | #33,632 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 63 | #34,193 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, St Pancras, Sheffield, London parishes and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. 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 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | London parishes | London 2 |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bellany 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 Bellany, 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 Bellany surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bellany 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, Bellany 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 Bellany is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bellany, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bellany originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "belane," which means "a woolen girdle." The name is believed to have been an occupational surname given to weavers or makers of woolen girdles.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Staffordshire in 1242, where it appears as "William de Belane." This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several entries that may be related to the name, such as "Belanus" and "Belannus," which could be early variations or precursors to the surname Bellany.
The name has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Bellany in Shropshire and Bellany Farm in Staffordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and spread of the surname over time.
Notable individuals with the surname Bellany include:
1. Thomas Bellany (c. 1550-1616), an English playwright and poet known for his work "The Bayte and Snare of Fortune." 2. Sir John Bellany (1596-1667), an English military officer who served as Governor of Duncannon Fort in Ireland during the English Civil War. 3. Margaret Bellany (1771-1858), a Scottish poet and writer who published a collection of poems titled "Poems on Several Occasions." 4. William Bellany (1825-1892), an English landscape painter and member of the Royal Academy. 5. James Bellany (1901-1976), a Scottish footballer who played for Hibernian and represented Scotland at the international level.
The surname Bellany has a rich history rooted in the medieval period, with connections to occupations, places, and notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bellany 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. East Lothian leads with 20 Bellanys recorded in 1881 and an index of 286.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| East Lothian | 20 | 286.53x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.60x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.92x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 3.56x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 4.25x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.51x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.86x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.97x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.71x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.19x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 10.48x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.39x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Prestonpans in East Lothian leads with 14 Bellanys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2978.72x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Prestonpans | 14 | 2978.72x |
| Warton With Lindeth | 10 | 3846.15x |
| Skipton | 7 | 426.83x |
| Tranent | 6 | 638.30x |
| Newbattle | 3 | 500.00x |
| Southcoates | 3 | 103.45x |
| Aston | 2 | 5.47x |
| St Swithin Lincoln | 2 | 151.52x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 29.07x |
| Jedburgh | 1 | 106.38x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.18x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 7.02x |
| Lyme Handley | 1 | 2000.00x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.36x |
| St Peterat Gowts Lincoln | 1 | 84.75x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bellany 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 Bellany 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 Bellany households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| Iron Works Laborer | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Cotton Overlooker | 1 |
| Day School Mistress | 1 |
| Domestic Ser Housemaid | 1 |
| Earthenware Dealer | 1 |
| Gen Ser Dom | 1 |
| In Laws Labourer (Timber) | 1 |
| Laundry Maid | 1 |
| Scholar Ethware Dealer | 1 |
| Shopkeeper Grocers | 1 |
| Sizer In Cotton Mill | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 54 people were recorded with the Bellany surname. That placed it at #26,009 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Bellany a modern rank of #33,762.
A surname derived from the Old English words "bel" meaning bell and "anunga" meaning meadow or valley.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bellany 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.