UK surname
A surname derived from a place name referencing a bell maker or bell founder.
In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Belling surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #16,515 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bury, Barking and Chard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Belling is 241 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.4%.
1881 census count
135
Ranked #16,515
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1861
241 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Belling surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Belling surname density by area, 1881 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 | 93 | #17,946 |
| 1861 | historical | 241 | #10,192 |
| 1881 | historical | 135 | #16,515 |
| 1891 | historical | 133 | #19,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 61 | #27,379 |
| 1911 | historical | 69 | #25,965 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 44 | #33,462 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 36 | #34,171 |
| 2002 | modern | 42 | #33,951 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 44 | #34,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 38 | #35,003 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 35 | #35,545 |
| 2010 | modern | 40 | #35,403 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 43 | #35,293 |
| 2015 | modern | 43 | #35,269 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bury, Barking, Chard, London parishes and Ham, East. 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 | Bury | Lancashire |
| 2 | Barking | Essex |
| 3 | Chard | Somerset |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Ham, East | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Belling 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 Belling, 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 Belling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Belling 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, Belling 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 Belling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Belling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Belling is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "bellan," meaning "to bellow" or "to roar." This suggests that the name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a particularly loud or booming voice.
The name is found in various historical records from the 13th century onwards, appearing in forms such as Bellyng, Bellyng, and Bellynge. One of the earliest recorded instances is in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, dated 1273, which mentions a John Belling.
Belling is also known to have been associated with various place names in England. For instance, the village of Belling in Lincolnshire is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting a potential connection between the surname and this location.
Notable individuals bearing the Belling surname include:
1. Roger Belling (c. 1386 - 1459), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Warden of Merton College, Oxford. 2. Richard Belling (1613 - 1677), an English puritan minister and author known for his work "A Sixth Window in Christ's Cabinet." 3. William Belling (1774 - 1846), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. 4. John Belling (1844 - 1912), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century. 5. Lancelot Belling (1879 - 1939), a British actor and stage manager who worked extensively in London's West End theaters.
While the Belling surname may not be as widespread as some others, its rich history and connections to various places and notable individuals make it a fascinating part of England's onomastic heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Belling 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. Middlesex leads with 35 Bellings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 35 | 2.66x |
| Surrey | 21 | 3.27x |
| Devon | 17 | 6.20x |
| Essex | 8 | 3.08x |
| Norfolk | 8 | 3.95x |
| Oxfordshire | 7 | 8.61x |
| Cornwall | 5 | 3.35x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.38x |
| Cambridgeshire | 4 | 4.80x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 1.74x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.20x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.19x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.77x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 2.20x |
| Somerset | 2 | 0.94x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.45x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.16x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.34x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.49x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.37x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 11 Bellings recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.62x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Belling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 8 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Esther | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Lidia | 2 |
| Rebecca | 2 |
| Adeline | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| George | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Liviania | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Maude | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Belling 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 Belling households.
FAQ
In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Belling surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Belling a modern rank of #35,224.
A surname derived from a place name referencing a bell maker or bell founder.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Belling 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.