NameCensus.

UK surname

Bellis

An English surname derived from the French word "belle," meaning "beautiful," or referring to someone who lived near a bell tower.

In the 1881 census there were 1,704 people recorded with the Bellis surname, ranking it #2,521 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,155, ranked #3,000, down from #2,521 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ruabon, Northop and Hawarden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire and Wrexham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bellis is 2,380 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.5%.

1881 census count

1,704

Ranked #2,521

Modern count

2,155

2016, ranked #3,000

Peak year

1999

2,380 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bellis had 1,704 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,521 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,155 in 2016, ranked #3,000.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,377 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bellis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bellis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bellis 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 970 #2,875
1861 historical 849 #3,254
1881 historical 1,704 #2,521
1891 historical 1,824 #2,519
1901 historical 2,199 #2,455
1911 historical 2,377 #2,157
1997 modern 2,225 #2,791
1998 modern 2,362 #2,743
1999 modern 2,380 #2,744
2000 modern 2,330 #2,777
2001 modern 2,300 #2,756
2002 modern 2,347 #2,761
2003 modern 2,275 #2,779
2004 modern 2,265 #2,782
2005 modern 2,233 #2,794
2006 modern 2,231 #2,802
2007 modern 2,231 #2,819
2008 modern 2,267 #2,806
2009 modern 2,316 #2,821
2010 modern 2,333 #2,858
2011 modern 2,283 #2,873
2012 modern 2,222 #2,895
2013 modern 2,259 #2,897
2014 modern 2,241 #2,931
2015 modern 2,205 #2,939
2016 modern 2,155 #3,000

Geography

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Where Bellis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ruabon, Northop, Hawarden, Liverpool and Holywell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire and Wrexham. 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 Ruabon Denbighshire
2 Northop Flintshire
3 Hawarden Cheshire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Holywell Flintshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 017 Flintshire
2 Wrexham 020 Wrexham
3 Flintshire 014 Flintshire
4 Flintshire 006 Flintshire
5 Flintshire 012 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bellis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bellis

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bellis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bellis 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bellis is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bellis is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bellis 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 Bellis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bellis

The surname Bellis is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "belle," meaning "beautiful" or "fair." It is thought to have emerged as a descriptive nickname in medieval times, possibly referring to someone with a striking appearance or a fair complexion.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century onwards, including the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which mentions a Thomas Bellis. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 also list a John Bellis.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, with a reference to a Thomas Bellis in 1349. The Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 mention a William Bellis, while the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1380 list a John Bellis.

During the 16th century, the surname Bellis was found in various parts of England, including London, where a Robert Bellis was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1541. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire from 1576 mention a William Bellis.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Bellis was Sir John Bellis (c. 1560-1630), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1608-1609.

Another notable figure was Robert Bellis (1620-1695), an English mathematician and astronomer who published works on navigation and astronomy.

In the 18th century, John Bellis (1714-1795) was a prominent English engraver and printmaker known for his architectural and landscape prints.

The 19th century saw the birth of James Bellis (1835-1899), a British architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Bellis was Sir Edward Bellis (1882-1964), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Bellis Charitable Trust, which supported various educational and charitable initiatives.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bellis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bellis 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. Flintshire leads with 526 Bellis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 117.93x.

County Total Index
Flintshire 526 117.93x
Lancashire 327 1.66x
Cheshire 271 7.40x
Denbighshire 244 38.93x
Durham 52 1.05x
Staffordshire 47 0.84x
Yorkshire 42 0.26x
Caernarfonshire 26 3.88x
Essex 20 0.61x
Middlesex 19 0.11x
Surrey 15 0.19x
Anglesey 14 4.76x
Kent 14 0.25x
Merionethshire 11 3.62x
Shropshire 10 0.70x
Warwickshire 10 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.40x
Hertfordshire 7 0.61x
Monmouthshire 7 0.58x
Montgomeryshire 7 1.84x
Channel Islands 5 1.02x
Hampshire 5 0.15x
Gloucestershire 4 0.12x
Wiltshire 3 0.20x
Sussex 2 0.07x
Glamorgan 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ruabon in Denbighshire leads with 83 Bellis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 96.30x.

Place Total Index
Ruabon 83 96.30x
Hawarden 77 219.75x
Flint 60 236.97x
Mold 58 143.35x
Holywell 49 87.50x
Birkenhead 46 15.75x
Liverpool 44 3.68x
Hope 39 175.75x
Chester St Mary On Hill 34 108.21x
Bersham 29 108.45x
Toxteth Park 29 4.35x
Tryddyn 29 299.59x
West Derby 29 5.03x
Whitford 29 125.43x
Tranmere 28 20.80x
Wrexham Regis 26 55.85x
Liscard 23 34.85x
Halkin 22 281.33x
Stoke Upon Trent 22 3.70x
Mold Bistree 20 275.86x
Minera 17 200.24x
Stretford 17 15.69x
West Ham 17 2.35x
Holt 16 275.86x
Chester St John Baptist 15 22.78x
Everton 15 2.39x
Hawarden Ewloe Town 15 311.20x
Mold Leeswood 15 148.66x
Northop Caer Fallwch 15 627.62x
Sale 15 33.39x
Widnes 15 10.56x
Brymbo 14 64.13x
Eccleston In Prescot 14 14.16x
Gresford Gwersyllt 14 72.02x
Northop 14 88.61x
Warrington 14 6.00x
Chester St Oswald 13 19.60x
Hulme 12 2.92x
Mold Argoed 12 189.87x
Wolverhampton 12 2.79x
Crook Billy Row 11 17.40x
Hawarden Pentrobin 11 154.71x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 11 26.11x
Brinnington 10 29.22x
Sculcoates 10 3.84x
Shildon 10 25.21x
Broughton In Salford 9 5.00x
Bulwell 9 18.51x
Carden 9 937.50x
Croydon 9 2.01x
Gresford 9 151.01x
Northop Golftyn 9 171.76x
Wigan 9 3.27x
Wrexham Abbot 9 57.11x
Chatham 8 5.14x
Coundon 8 39.98x
Great Bolton 8 3.07x
Halliwell 8 11.16x
Holyhead 8 14.59x
Holywell Bagillt Fawr 8 5333.33x
Manchester 8 0.90x
Northenden 8 119.76x
Abram 7 46.33x
Bangor 7 10.82x
Chepstow 7 34.28x
Conway 7 53.89x
Corwen 7 91.50x
Kirkdale 7 2.11x
Llanllwchaiarn 7 42.50x
Lower Bebington 7 32.17x
Mold Hartsheath 7 603.45x
Walton On Hill 7 6.56x
West Kirby 7 109.72x
Blackley 6 17.38x
Broughton 6 24.35x
Chester St Michael 6 138.89x
Darfield 6 40.08x
Holy Trinity 6 1.52x
Llanrwst 6 27.65x
Sutton 6 9.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 154
Elizabeth 97
Sarah 71
Ann 54
Jane 38
Hannah 36
Margaret 35
Catherine 31
Martha 24
Annie 22
Harriet 20
Eliza 17
Emily 14
Emma 14
Alice 13
Edith 13
Ellen 13
Anne 12
Susannah 8
Ada 7
Elizth. 7
Florence 7
Frances 7
Maria 7
Agnes 5
Amy 5
Barbara 5
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Jessie 5
Kate 5
Matilda 5
Clara 4
Gertrude 4
Louisa 4
Miriam 4
Sophia 4
Betsy 3
Deborah 3
Jemima 3
Lucy 3
Rachel 3
Rose 3
Dinah 2
Dorothy 2
E.A. 2
Esther 2
M. 2
Magaret 2
Winifred 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 141
Thomas 94
William 88
Edward 70
Joseph 49
Robert 44
Charles 24
Richard 22
James 21
George 20
Henry 14
Samuel 14
Peter 13
Alfred 12
Edwin 9
Hugh 9
Thos. 9
Frank 8
Wm. 8
Walter 6
Isaac 5
Arthur 4
David 4
Jesse 4
Jno. 4
Jonathan 4
Mathew 4
Moses 4
Enoch 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Josiah 3
Price 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Humphrey 2
Jos. 2
Patrick 2
Robt. 2
Roger 2
C. 1
Eliza 1
Ermel 1
Ezra 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Bellis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bellis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,704 people were recorded with the Bellis surname. That placed it at #2,521 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bellis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,155 in 2016. That gives Bellis a modern rank of #3,000.

What does the Bellis surname mean?

An English surname derived from the French word "belle," meaning "beautiful," or referring to someone who lived near a bell tower.

What does the Bellis map show?

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