NameCensus.

UK surname

Billard

A French surname derived from billard meaning "billiard table," referring to an occupation connected to billiard tables or cues.

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Billard surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 193, ranked #20,039, up from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Coddington, Bourn and Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Billard is 210 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 164.4%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

193

2016, ranked #20,039

Peak year

2014

210 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Billard had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016, ranked #20,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 118 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Billard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Billard surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Billard 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 114 #19,011
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 97 #24,447
1901 historical 78 #25,500
1911 historical 118 #20,649
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 182 #19,162
1999 modern 179 #19,539
2000 modern 174 #19,829
2001 modern 171 #19,770
2002 modern 186 #19,150
2003 modern 184 #19,075
2004 modern 187 #18,993
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 184 #19,254
2007 modern 181 #19,680
2008 modern 178 #20,094
2009 modern 189 #19,727
2010 modern 196 #19,698
2011 modern 197 #19,483
2012 modern 203 #19,025
2013 modern 208 #19,041
2014 modern 210 #19,064
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 193 #20,039

Geography

Back to top

Where Billards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Coddington, Bourn, Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Coddington Nottinghamshire
2 Bourn Lincolnshire
3 Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick Northamptonshire
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 039 Sheffield
2 Sheffield 006 Sheffield
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 004 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Sheffield 076 Sheffield
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Billard

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Billard

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Billard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Billard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Billard is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Billard is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Billard 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 Billard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Billard

The surname BILLARD has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "bille," meaning a stick or a piece of wood, which was likely a reference to an occupation involving woodworking or forestry.

The earliest known record of the BILLARD surname can be traced back to the 13th century in the region of Normandy, where it was often spelled as "Billart" or "Billard." This name was common among families living in rural areas and small villages, suggesting a connection to agricultural or forestry-related professions.

In the 14th century, the BILLARD name appeared in various historical documents, including tax records and land registries in the northern regions of France. One notable mention is in the "Livre des Métiers" (Book of Trades) from Paris, where a certain Guillaume BILLARD was listed as a master carpenter in the year 1368.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BILLARD surname spread to other parts of France, particularly in the regions of Brittany, Burgundy, and Champagne. In these areas, the name was sometimes spelled as "Billault" or "Billauld," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One of the earliest known individuals with the BILLARD surname was Jean BILLARD, a prominent merchant and landowner born in 1542 in the town of Rouen, Normandy. He played a significant role in the local economy and left a lasting legacy through his business ventures and charitable contributions.

In the 18th century, the BILLARD name gained further prominence with the birth of François BILLARD (1698-1778), a renowned mathematician and astronomer from the city of Angers. He made important contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected to the prestigious French Academy of Sciences in 1733.

Another notable figure was Jacques BILLARD (1775-1842), a French general who served under Napoleon Bonaparte during the Napoleonic Wars. He was recognized for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield, particularly during the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo.

In the 19th century, the BILLARD surname was carried by Jean-Baptiste BILLARD (1828-1907), a celebrated French sculptor known for his intricate works in marble and bronze. His sculptures can be found in various museums and public spaces throughout France.

The BILLARD name has also been associated with the game of billiards, though the direct connection remains unclear. Some historians suggest that the name may have been adopted by early billiard table makers or players, adding to the richness of its cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Billard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Billard 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. Yorkshire leads with 26 Billards recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.69x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 26 3.69x
Nottinghamshire 10 10.42x
Lincolnshire 8 7.03x
Glamorgan 6 4.84x
Middlesex 5 0.70x
Lancashire 4 0.47x
Derbyshire 3 2.69x
Leicestershire 3 3.80x
Northamptonshire 3 4.48x
Essex 2 1.42x
Warwickshire 2 1.11x
Staffordshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 18 Billards recorded in 1881 and an index of 125.44x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 18 125.44x
Worksop 9 315.79x
Bourn 8 869.57x
Cwmdu 6 397.35x
Islington London 5 7.25x
Sheffield 4 17.81x
West Derby 4 16.18x
Clowne 3 681.82x
Huddersfield 3 29.18x
Leicester St Mary 3 47.02x
Aston 2 4.05x
Nassington 2 1176.47x
Barking 1 24.33x
Brightside Bierlow 1 7.23x
Carlton In Lindrick 1 400.00x
Oundle 1 133.33x
Tipton 1 13.59x
West Ham 1 3.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 7
George 5
William 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Henry 2
James 2
Robert 2
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Evan 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.W. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Phillip 1
Rubin 1
Tos.Henry 1

FAQ

Billard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Billard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Billard surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Billard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016. That gives Billard a modern rank of #20,039.

What does the Billard surname mean?

A French surname derived from billard meaning "billiard table," referring to an occupation connected to billiard tables or cues.

What does the Billard map show?

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