UK surname

Bham

A variant spelling of the surname Bhame, originating from the Sanskrit term meaning earth or land.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gloucester, Kirklees and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bham is 363 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

347

2016, ranked #13,259

Peak year

2011

363 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 347 in 2016, ranked #13,259.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Map

Bham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bham surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Bham 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
1861	historical	5	#33,418
1891	historical	5	#33,939
1997	modern	222	#16,508
1998	modern	234	#16,404
1999	modern	254	#15,638
2000	modern	255	#15,538
2001	modern	265	#14,915
2002	modern	286	#14,442
2003	modern	294	#14,002
2004	modern	306	#13,720
2005	modern	324	#13,108
2006	modern	326	#13,128
2007	modern	338	#12,925
2008	modern	329	#13,286
2009	modern	334	#13,409
2010	modern	352	#13,187
2011	modern	363	#12,738
2012	modern	340	#13,245
2013	modern	339	#13,477
2014	modern	335	#13,720
2015	modern	337	#13,560
2016	modern	347	#13,259

Geography

Where Bhams 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 Gloucester, Kirklees, Hackney and Bolton. 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	Gloucester 005	Gloucester
2	Kirklees 010	Kirklees
3	Kirklees 007	Kirklees
4	Hackney 006	Hackney
5	Bolton 021	Bolton

Forenames

First names often paired with Bham

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Sabera Fatima Amina Mariam Asma Sara Aisha Bilkis Hajra Khadija

Recent male names

Mohammed Ahmed Ismail Yusuf Adam Abdul Mohamed Khalid Imran Bilal

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Bham

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Bham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Bham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Bham 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bham falls in decile 2 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: Other Ethnic Group

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Bham

The surname BHAM originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "beam," which means a tree or a post. The name was likely first adopted by individuals who lived near a prominent tree or a wooden structure, or perhaps worked with wood in some capacity.

The earliest recorded instances of the name BHAM can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Somerset, suggesting that the name may have originated in the West Midlands region of England.

In the 13th century, the name BHAM appeared in various forms, such as Beame, Beam, and Beaume, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. One notable figure bearing this name was John Bham, a wealthy landowner in Somerset, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1230.

During the 14th century, the surname BHAM became more widespread across England, and several place names were derived from it, including Beamhurst in Staffordshire and Beamsley in Yorkshire. This suggests that individuals with the name BHAM may have established settlements or owned significant properties in these areas.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named William BHAM (c. 1430-1495) was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London, a powerful guild of textile merchants. He was known for his success in the wool trade and his philanthropic contributions to the city.

Another notable individual was Sir John BHAM (c. 1520-1578), a successful merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was instrumental in establishing trade routes with the Netherlands and played a significant role in the development of the English wool industry.

Moving into the 17th century, the surname BHAM continued to be found across England, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields. One such person was Thomas BHAM (1638-1701), a renowned botanist and naturalist who published several influential works on the flora of England.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the BHAM surname was carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, musicians, and writers. One notable figure was the painter William BHAM (1776-1848), whose landscapes and portraits were highly regarded during the Romantic era.

These are just a few examples of the individuals who have carried the surname BHAM throughout history, reflecting its rich heritage and the contributions made by those who bore this name across various realms of human endeavor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Bham surname: questions and answers

How common is the Bham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 347 in 2016. That gives Bham a modern rank of #13,259.

What does the Bham surname mean?