NameCensus.

UK surname

Belle

A French surname referring to a person who was known for being beautiful or handsome.

In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Belle surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 385, ranked #12,232, up from #31,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Belle is 385 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2038.9%.

1881 census count

18

Ranked #31,019

Modern count

385

2016, ranked #12,232

Peak year

2016

385 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Belle had 18 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 385 in 2016, ranked #12,232.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 68 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Belle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Belle surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Belle 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 16 #30,441
1861 historical 55 #27,007
1881 historical 18 #31,019
1891 historical 45 #30,747
1901 historical 32 #30,501
1911 historical 68 #26,050
1997 modern 256 #15,034
1998 modern 277 #14,646
1999 modern 290 #14,281
2000 modern 289 #14,272
2001 modern 284 #14,221
2002 modern 298 #14,048
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 286 #14,312
2005 modern 309 #13,552
2006 modern 303 #13,834
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 313 #13,746
2009 modern 330 #13,513
2010 modern 355 #13,099
2011 modern 332 #13,608
2012 modern 355 #12,816
2013 modern 374 #12,521
2014 modern 377 #12,535
2015 modern 377 #12,428
2016 modern 385 #12,232

Geography

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Where Belles 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 Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets, Birmingham, Luton and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Waltham Forest 018 Waltham Forest
2 Tower Hamlets 012 Tower Hamlets
3 Birmingham 054 Birmingham
4 Luton 018 Luton
5 Suffolk Coastal 011 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Belle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Belle

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

Belle 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

Belle 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 Belle 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Belle

The surname Belle is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "belle" meaning "beautiful" or "fair." It dates back to the medieval period, when it was likely first used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone with attractive physical features.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Belle can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Radulfus Belle in Nottinghamshire, England. This suggests that the name had already been established in France and brought over to England by the Norman conquest in 1066.

In the 12th century, the name Belle appeared in various forms, such as Bele, Bel, and Bella, in records from different regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and Île-de-France. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and spelling conventions.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Belle was also associated with certain place names, such as Bellerive (meaning "beautiful shore") and Bellevue (meaning "beautiful view"). This connection indicates that some individuals may have taken the surname Belle based on their place of origin or residence.

One notable figure with the surname Belle was Jean-Baptiste Belle, a French engraver and publisher who lived from 1704 to 1786. He is known for his intricate engravings and illustrations, particularly those depicting scenes from classical mythology.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Françoise Belle, a French painter and engraver who lived from 1723 to 1799. She was renowned for her portraits and historical paintings, and her works are featured in several museums across Europe.

In the 19th century, the surname Belle gained recognition through the work of Marie-Guillemine Benoist, née Belle (1768-1826), a French painter and one of the few women admitted to the prestigious Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture.

Étienne-Prosper Belle (1806-1886) was a French dramatist and playwright who wrote several successful comedies and vaudevilles during the 19th century.

Lastly, Georges Belle (1830-1909) was a French architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the redesign and modernization of Paris during the Second Empire under Napoleon III.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Belle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Belle 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. Lancashire leads with 4 Belles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4 1.73x
Kent 3 4.51x
Surrey 3 3.16x
Channel Islands 2 34.66x
Essex 2 5.20x
Northumberland 2 6.90x
Berkshire 1 6.84x
Cornwall 1 4.53x
Perthshire 1 11.43x
Wiltshire 1 5.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chorlton On Medlock in Lancashire leads with 3 Belles recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.74x.

Place Total Index
Chorlton On Medlock 3 81.74x
Lambeth 3 17.66x
Lewisham 3 84.51x
Great Easton 2 4000.00x
Prudhoe 2 1000.00x
St Helier 2 106.38x
Lanteglos 1 1000.00x
Liverpool 1 7.12x
Marcham 1 2000.00x
Rattray 1 500.00x
Rowde 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Frances 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
John 2
Victor 2
William 2
Arthur 1
Job 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 Belle households.

FAQ

Belle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Belle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Belle surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Belle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 385 in 2016. That gives Belle a modern rank of #12,232.

What does the Belle surname mean?

A French surname referring to a person who was known for being beautiful or handsome.

What does the Belle map show?

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