NameCensus.

UK surname

Biles

Derived from the Old English word "bile," referring to a shelter or dwelling place.

In the 1881 census there were 763 people recorded with the Biles surname, ranking it #4,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 864, ranked #6,491, down from #4,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Poorstock and Cerne Abbas. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Test Valley and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Biles is 1,038 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.2%.

1881 census count

763

Ranked #4,837

Modern count

864

2016, ranked #6,491

Peak year

1911

1,038 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Biles had 763 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 864 in 2016, ranked #6,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,038 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Biles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Biles surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Biles 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 663 #3,915
1861 historical 631 #4,244
1881 historical 763 #4,837
1891 historical 874 #4,705
1901 historical 955 #4,918
1911 historical 1,038 #4,426
1997 modern 947 #5,735
1998 modern 974 #5,803
1999 modern 970 #5,849
2000 modern 940 #5,980
2001 modern 913 #6,021
2002 modern 916 #6,123
2003 modern 884 #6,170
2004 modern 870 #6,247
2005 modern 862 #6,243
2006 modern 873 #6,183
2007 modern 872 #6,248
2008 modern 861 #6,357
2009 modern 860 #6,513
2010 modern 881 #6,506
2011 modern 871 #6,495
2012 modern 866 #6,432
2013 modern 861 #6,567
2014 modern 873 #6,519
2015 modern 864 #6,517
2016 modern 864 #6,491

Geography

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Where Biles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Poorstock, Cerne Abbas, Southampton St Mary and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Test Valley, Swindon, West Dorset and West Oxfordshire. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Poorstock Dorset
3 Cerne Abbas Dorset
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 003 Purbeck
2 Test Valley 007 Test Valley
3 Swindon 001 Swindon
4 West Dorset 009 West Dorset
5 West Oxfordshire 003 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Biles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Biles

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Biles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Biles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Biles is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Biles is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Biles falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Biles 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 Biles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Biles

The surname BILES has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, specifically a location called "Biles" or "Byles" in the county of Gloucestershire. This place name itself is derived from the Old English words "bil" or "byll," meaning a hill or ridge, and "leah," meaning a clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BILES can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a certain "John de Byles." The Subsidy Rolls were tax records kept by the English government during the 14th century.

Another notable historical reference to the surname BILES comes from the Feet of Fines for Gloucestershire in 1541, which documents a land transaction involving a person named "Thomas Byles." The Feet of Fines were legal records of land transfers and property disputes.

In the 16th century, the BILES surname appears to have been primarily concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, with some variations in spelling such as "Byles" and "Billes." This is evident in parish records and legal documents from that period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname BILES was William Biles, a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) who was born in Gloucestershire around 1640. He was known for his active involvement in the Quaker community and his efforts in promoting religious tolerance.

Another notable figure was John Biles, a prominent architect and builder who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings in the city of Bristol, including the impressive St. Michael's Hill Shot Tower in 1719.

In the 19th century, a family of BILES was recorded as residing in the village of Painswick in Gloucestershire. Among them was Henry Biles (1805-1881), a respected local farmer and landowner who played an active role in the community.

The surname BILES also has ties to the United States, with several individuals bearing this name immigrating from England in the 17th and 18th centuries. One such individual was Thomas Biles, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 and settled in what is now Bucks County.

Another notable figure with the BILES surname was James Biles (1825-1901), a British-born engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and boilers. He held several patents and was widely recognized for his innovative designs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Biles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Biles 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. Hampshire leads with 207 Biles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.39x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 207 13.39x
Dorset 185 37.38x
Oxfordshire 69 14.82x
Middlesex 65 0.86x
Surrey 57 1.55x
Worcestershire 26 2.64x
Warwickshire 18 0.95x
Sussex 17 1.34x
Gloucestershire 16 1.08x
Kent 13 0.51x
Wiltshire 13 1.95x
Somerset 12 0.99x
Essex 10 0.67x
Channel Islands 9 4.03x
Suffolk 8 0.87x
Yorkshire 8 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 7 1.54x
Lancashire 7 0.08x
Brecknockshire 6 3.98x
Dunbartonshire 5 2.47x
Durham 4 0.18x
Cheshire 3 0.18x
Norfolk 2 0.17x
Staffordshire 2 0.08x
Berkshire 1 0.18x
Devon 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 41 Biles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.54x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 41 13.54x
Southampton St Mary 37 38.07x
Charlbury 24 458.89x
Southampton All Sts 22 82.96x
Milborne St Andrew 21 1428.57x
St Pancras London 21 3.46x
Battersea 18 6.49x
Powerstock 18 849.06x
Southampton St Michael 18 353.63x
Christchurch 17 50.73x
Lambeth 17 2.59x
Shorthampton 15 2631.58x
Cerne Abbas 13 541.67x
Chideock 12 689.66x
Ringwood 12 121.33x
Broadway 11 259.43x
Holdenhurst 11 27.13x
Melcombe Regis 11 53.63x
Eling 10 63.90x
Netherbury 10 244.50x
Westcote 9 1875.00x
Begbroke 8 4444.44x
Ibsley 8 1269.84x
Islington London 8 1.09x
Maiden Newton 8 386.47x
Subdeanary 8 233.92x
Wilton 8 169.49x
Yardley 8 31.76x
Alverstoke 7 12.51x
Croydon 7 3.43x
Ilmington 7 341.46x
Owermoigne 7 642.20x
Shapwick 7 614.04x
St Marylebone London 7 1.74x
Steeple 7 921.05x
Stoke Poges 7 125.90x
Sturminster Marshall 7 338.16x
Wilmington 7 194.99x
Winterborne St Martin 7 630.63x
Brighton 6 2.34x
Chipping Norton 6 55.71x
Fulham London 6 5.49x
Liverpool 6 1.10x
Llangunider 6 63.90x
Oldbury 6 12.38x
Shoreditch London 6 1.84x
West Ham 6 1.83x
Wincanton 6 96.00x
Yarnton 6 833.33x
Allington 5 113.38x
Bedminster 5 4.38x
Gatton 5 847.46x
Godmanstone 5 1162.79x
Osmington 5 510.20x
Portsmouth 5 14.05x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 24.74x
St Mary Extra 5 40.19x
St Peter 5 77.52x
Witney 5 64.18x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 2.87x
Bungay St Mary 4 87.91x
Donhead St Mary 4 117.99x
Hackney London 4 0.95x
Old Kilpatrick 4 16.71x
Tarrant Gunville 4 434.78x
Westminster St John 4 4.36x
Aston 3 0.57x
Blandford Forum 3 30.74x
Bridport 3 29.44x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 3 17.40x
Camberwell 3 0.62x
Chapel Allerton 3 26.83x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.51x
Millbrook 3 7.71x
Shipton Under Wychwood 3 100.00x
St Brelade 3 52.17x
Bere Regis 2 60.42x
Bexley 2 8.80x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 2 49.88x
Wimbledon 2 4.85x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 51
George 49
John 30
Charles 23
James 21
Henry 18
Joseph 15
Thomas 15
Alfred 14
Frederick 12
Harry 9
Albert 8
Ernest 8
Richard 8
Arthur 6
Robert 6
Benjamin 5
David 5
Edward 5
Frank 5
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Edmund 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Josiah 3
Alexander 2
Anthony 2
Edwd. 2
Enoch 2
Fredrick 2
Infant 2
Jasper 2
Leonard 2
Baby 1
Bertie 1
Charley 1
Christopher 1
Dan 1
Edwin 1
Frances 1
Frederic 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Jas.Geo. 1
Jaspar 1
Joe 1
Julius 1
Mark 1
Mark.M. 1
Wm.Robert 1

FAQ

Biles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Biles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 763 people were recorded with the Biles surname. That placed it at #4,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Biles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 864 in 2016. That gives Biles a modern rank of #6,491.

What does the Biles surname mean?

Derived from the Old English word "bile," referring to a shelter or dwelling place.

What does the Biles map show?

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