Bailey Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Bailey Name Meaning: From the Middle English "baili", meaning "bailiff".

With both English and French Origins, the surname is thought to derive from the term \"motte-and-bailey\". This is a type of castle which was popular in the 11th and 12th Century by both England and France. The motte is a raised mound, often an artificial hill, toppped with a stone structure which is know as the keep. The bailey is the enclosed courtyard which is overlooked by the motte, and usually contains a chapel, stables, huts for local people, and stalls for merchants.

Discover how your Bailey ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Bailey Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Bailey family

Profession Census Frequency
Agricultural Labourer 1,145
Female Servant 755
Independent 451
Labourer 367
Male Servant 300
Farmer 277
Shoe Maker 201
Weaver 128
Tailor 122
Carpenter 120
Cotton Weaver 118
Ag Labourer 85
Blacksmith 82
Dress Maker 81
Coal Miner 65
Collier 57
Butcher 56
Apprentice 54
Pupil 51
Grocer 49
Pauper 47
Publican 47
Gardener 46
Potter 42
Miner 42

Bailey Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Bailey 100% 319,576
2 Bayley 83% 37,433
3 Baily 83% 14,135
4 Beeley 67% 4,485
5 Blay 50% 4,268
6 Baley 83% 4,170
7 Baillie 57% 3,597
8 Bayly 67% 3,130
9 Balley 83% 2,751
10 Bealey 67% 2,030
11 Bly 50% 1,725
12 Buley 67% 1,623
13 Booley 67% 1,524
14 Boley 67% 1,523
15 Bloye 33% 1,424
16 Biley 83% 1,387
17 Abley 67% 1,329
18 Bloy 50% 1,093
19 Baly 67% 988
20 Bailly 83% 878
21 Bailley 86% 874
22 Bailie 67% 819
23 Baylie 50% 816
24 Bealy 50% 397
25 Boiley 83% 392
26 Bloyee 33% 316
27 Beely 50% 302
28 Bleay 50% 296
29 Bouley 67% 250
30 Beley 67% 229
31 Builey 83% 192
32 Bailay 83% 183
33 Beiley 83% 163
34 Bley 67% 147
35 Bailye 67% 146
36 Beyley 67% 142
37 Ebley 50% 112

Did you know?

The surname Bailey is the most popular version of all its varients

Search for the Bailey family