UK surname
A surname derived from a Scandinavian nickname for an industrious person.
In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Billis surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 56, ranked #34,562, down from #27,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ruabon, Bangor and St George Bloomsbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Billis is 120 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.3%.
1881 census count
42
Ranked #27,721
Modern count
56
2016, ranked #34,562
Peak year
1861
120 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Billis surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Billis surname density by area, 1861 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 | 46 | #24,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 120 | #18,255 |
| 1881 | historical | 42 | #27,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 75 | #27,414 |
| 1901 | historical | 49 | #28,696 |
| 1911 | historical | 45 | #28,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 66 | #31,387 |
| 1999 | modern | 71 | #31,036 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 67 | #31,796 |
| 2004 | modern | 61 | #32,581 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 50 | #34,077 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 53 | #34,481 |
| 2010 | modern | 49 | #34,886 |
| 2011 | modern | 53 | #34,630 |
| 2012 | modern | 57 | #34,452 |
| 2013 | modern | 57 | #34,538 |
| 2014 | modern | 58 | #34,500 |
| 2015 | modern | 56 | #34,571 |
| 2016 | modern | 56 | #34,562 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ruabon, Bangor, St George Bloomsbury, London parishes and Northop. 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 | Ruabon | Denbighshire |
| 2 | Bangor | Denbighshire |
| 3 | St George Bloomsbury | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Northop | Flintshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Billis 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 Billis, 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 Billis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Billis 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, Billis 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 Billis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Billis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BILLIS has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bill," meaning a promontory or hill, suggesting that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a prominent hill or ridge.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name BILLIS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Bille" and "Billes," indicating its evolution over time.
In the 13th century, records show a Willelmus Billis residing in Oxfordshire, while a Thomas Billis is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273. These early examples illustrate the surname's established presence in different parts of the country.
During the 14th century, the name BILLIS appeared to be particularly concentrated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, with several references found in local records and tax rolls. One notable individual from this period was John Billis (c. 1320 - 1391), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Norfolk.
In the 16th century, the name BILLIS gained further recognition with the birth of Edmund Billis (1537 - 1616), a respected scholar and clergyman who served as the Archbishop of York from 1595 until his death. His ecclesiastical career and contributions to the Church of England helped solidify the surname's standing.
Another noteworthy figure was Sir Thomas Billis (1568 - 1642), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1632. His success in business and civic leadership further elevated the prominence of the BILLIS name during the Jacobean era.
Throughout the centuries, the surname BILLIS has been associated with various place names and localities across England, particularly in regions like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Oxfordshire, where it has deep historical roots. The name has also been recorded with slight variations in spelling, such as "Billys" and "Billiss," reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Billis 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 12 Billis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.93x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 12 | 2.93x |
| Surrey | 12 | 6.01x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.65x |
| Durham | 6 | 4.92x |
| Dorset | 2 | 7.44x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.72x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 11 Billis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey | 11 | 90.24x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 9 | 382.98x |
| Heworth | 6 | 250.00x |
| Salford | 3 | 20.99x |
| Toxteth Park | 3 | 18.23x |
| Islington London | 2 | 5.04x |
| Poole St James | 2 | 198.02x |
| Caterham | 1 | 113.64x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 9.28x |
| Everton | 1 | 6.46x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 17.27x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 5.63x |
| Westbury On Trym | 1 | 36.76x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Billis surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Billis 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 Billis households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Machinist | 2 |
| Assistant In Shoe Shop | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Dock Lab | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Driver In Coalmine | 1 |
| Finisher Of Cloth (Cott Manuf) | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Nurse (3/3) | 1 |
| Office Boy (Messr) | 1 |
| Office Boy Daily Newspr (Messr) | 1 |
| Purse Maker | 1 |
| Working Brush Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Billis surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 56 in 2016. That gives Billis a modern rank of #34,562.
A surname derived from a Scandinavian nickname for an industrious person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Billis 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.