NameCensus.

UK surname

Bing

A surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or referring to a high-pitched ringing sound.

In the 1881 census there were 369 people recorded with the Bing surname, ranking it #8,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 432, ranked #11,135, down from #8,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, London parishes and Stockbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thurrock, Thanet and Tunbridge Wells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bing is 485 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.1%.

1881 census count

369

Ranked #8,443

Modern count

432

2016, ranked #11,135

Peak year

1911

485 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bing had 369 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016, ranked #11,135.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 485 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Bing surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bing surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bing 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 268 #8,326
1861 historical 348 #7,339
1881 historical 369 #8,443
1891 historical 460 #7,953
1901 historical 411 #9,300
1911 historical 485 #8,012
1997 modern 343 #12,349
1998 modern 357 #12,372
1999 modern 345 #12,755
2000 modern 357 #12,380
2001 modern 341 #12,588
2002 modern 347 #12,699
2003 modern 328 #13,026
2004 modern 326 #13,122
2005 modern 309 #13,552
2006 modern 299 #13,949
2007 modern 314 #13,618
2008 modern 322 #13,487
2009 modern 341 #13,214
2010 modern 365 #12,825
2011 modern 362 #12,773
2012 modern 390 #11,946
2013 modern 405 #11,813
2014 modern 410 #11,788
2015 modern 419 #11,483
2016 modern 432 #11,135

Geography

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Where Bings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, London parishes, Stockbury, St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital and St Lawrence in Thanet. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thurrock, Thanet and Tunbridge Wells. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stockbury Kent
4 St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital Kent
5 St Lawrence in Thanet Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thurrock 005 Thurrock
2 Thanet 004 Thanet
3 Thanet 005 Thanet
4 Thanet 006 Thanet
5 Tunbridge Wells 002 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bing

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bing

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Bing surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bing household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bing is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bing is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bing falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bing

The surname Bing is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bince," which referred to a bench or long seat, potentially indicating that the name's earliest bearers lived near or worked with benches or seating areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bing can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England completed in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Bing in the county of Somerset.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Byng, Binge, and Byngge, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. The surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Devon in southwestern England.

One notable bearer of the name Bing was Sir George Byng (1663-1733), a British naval officer who served as an admiral and played a significant role in the War of the Spanish Succession. He was knighted in 1721 for his military achievements.

Another prominent figure with the surname Bing was John Bing (1778-1856), a British architect and surveyor who worked on several notable projects in London, including the Regent's Park and Regent Street developments.

In the 19th century, the surname Bing was also found in Scotland, where it was associated with the town of Bingry in Fife. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was Alexander Bing (1811-1894), a Presbyterian minister and author of several religious works.

Other notable individuals with the surname Bing include Rudolf Bing (1902-1997), an Austrian-born opera impresario who served as the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1950 to 1972, and Herman Bing (1889-1965), a German-American artist and illustrator known for his work in children's books and magazines.

While the surname Bing is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and regions, with bearers contributing to various fields, including military, architecture, religion, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bing families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bing 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. Kent leads with 253 Bings recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.55x.

County Total Index
Kent 253 20.55x
Middlesex 37 1.03x
Surrey 15 0.85x
Oxfordshire 14 6.28x
Derbyshire 9 1.59x
Lancashire 7 0.16x
Berkshire 6 2.21x
Hampshire 5 0.68x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.75x
Norfolk 4 0.72x
Northumberland 3 0.56x
Sussex 2 0.33x
Wiltshire 2 0.63x
Worcestershire 2 0.42x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.46x
Herefordshire 1 0.68x
Lincolnshire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 2.33x
Rutland 1 3.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Peters in Kent leads with 26 Bings recorded in 1881 and an index of 456.14x.

Place Total Index
St Peters 26 456.14x
Ramsgate 16 79.60x
St Lawrence 16 188.90x
Greenwich 15 26.11x
Wheatley 11 873.02x
Canterbury St Dunstan 10 471.70x
Hammersmith London 10 11.25x
Wickhambreux 10 1666.67x
Canterbury St Paul 8 361.99x
Ickham Well 8 1126.76x
Sandwich St Clement 8 769.23x
Deal 7 66.67x
Deptford St Paul 7 7.37x
Dover St Mary Virgin 7 58.72x
Lambeth 7 2.22x
Tottenham 7 12.18x
Camberwell 6 2.60x
Canterbury Holy Cross 6 504.20x
Canterbury St George 6 405.41x
Canterbury St Peter 6 431.65x
Folkestone 6 25.12x
Harbledown 6 674.16x
Lower Halstow 6 674.16x
Reading St Mary 5 23.04x
Sittingbourne 5 51.44x
Stockbury 5 649.35x
Thanington Wilton In 5 862.07x
Tonbridge 5 11.26x
Walmer 5 93.46x
Dry Drayton 4 869.57x
Higham 4 240.96x
Portsea 4 2.76x
Rainham 4 118.34x
Roudham 4 1904.76x
St Martin In Fields 4 18.51x
Byker 3 11.30x
Canterbury St Gregory 3 185.19x
Cheetham 3 9.39x
Derby St Werburgh 3 9.19x
Minster In Sheppey 3 14.71x
Northfleet 3 27.65x
Ospringe 3 197.37x
Oxford St Martin 3 833.33x
Paddington London 3 2.26x
Rochester St Margaret 3 23.09x
St Pancras London 3 1.03x
Winshill 3 83.33x
Boughton Under Blean 2 97.09x
Bridge 2 188.68x
Canterbury St Alphage 2 151.52x
Canterbury St Mary 2 24.21x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.94x
Islington London 2 0.57x
Kensington London 2 1.00x
Maidstone 2 5.45x
Margate St John Baptist 2 8.87x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.60x
Molash 2 487.80x
Oddingley 2 833.33x
Plumstead 2 4.87x
Richmond 2 8.12x
St Nicholas Hospital 2 5000.00x
Upper Langwith 2 800.00x
Aldershot 1 4.04x
Beaconsfield 1 49.51x
Beeston 1 27.62x
Canterbury St Mary N 1 120.48x
Chatham 1 2.95x
Exton 1 123.46x
Heaton Norris 1 4.10x
Kirton 1 43.29x
Lee 1 5.59x
Marden 1 34.60x
Patrixbourne 1 333.33x
Sandwich St Peter 1 77.52x
Sevenoaks 1 10.02x
St George In East London 1 2.95x
Stratford Toney 1 769.23x
Winchelsea St Thomas 1 131.58x
Wingham 1 70.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Annie 12
Eliza 11
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 11
Emily 8
Alice 6
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Julia 5
Edith 4
Emma 4
Isabella 4
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Esther 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Amey 1
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
Constance 1
Daisy 1
Diana 1
Dorah 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Evangeline 1
Fannie 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 17
Henry 15
George 12
Alfred 11
James 10
Edward 8
Frederick 8
Thomas 8
Albert 6
Arthur 5
Herbert 5
Daniel 4
Joseph 4
Jarvis 3
Walter 3
Andrew 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Robert 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
C. 1
Charles 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Frederic 1
Geoffrey 1
Jacob 1
Lewes 1
Louis 1
Moses 1
Philip 1
Richd. 1
Robt.P. 1
Rupert 1
W.E. 1
Wallis 1
Wiliam 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bing surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bing surname in 1881?

In 1881, 369 people were recorded with the Bing surname. That placed it at #8,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bing surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016. That gives Bing a modern rank of #11,135.

What does the Bing surname mean?

A surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or referring to a high-pitched ringing sound.

What does the Bing map show?

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