Find out how popular the last name Bailiff is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bailiff.

Bailiff, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bailiff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bailiff in America

Bailiff is the 29366th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bailiff surname appeared 805 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bailiff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bailiff to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bailiff

The surname "BAILIFF" is of Anglo-Norman origin, deriving from the Old French word "baillif" which means "officer of justice". It emerged in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, when Norman French administrators and officials were appointed to oversee legal and administrative affairs throughout the English territories.

The name is associated with the feudal system, where bailiffs were appointed by lords or landowners to manage their estates, collect rents, and enforce laws within their jurisdiction. They held a position of authority and responsibility, often acting as intermediaries between the local population and the ruling class.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "BAILIFF" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and property rights commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various forms, such as "Baillivus" and "Baillif", reflecting the evolving spelling variations common during that era.

In the 12th century, the name "BAILIFF" is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls, which were financial records maintained by the Exchequer of England. These rolls document the activities and responsibilities of bailiffs in collecting taxes and managing royal estates.

Notable individuals with the surname "BAILIFF" throughout history include:

1. Sir William Bailiff (c. 1330-1399), an English judge and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Richard II.
2. John Bailiff (c. 1510-1592), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the Marian Persecutions.
3. Samuel Bailiff (1768-1845), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
4. Henry Bailiff (1859-1931), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.
5. Gwendoline Bailiff (1899-1981), a British artist and sculptor known for her portraiture and religious works, including sculptures at Salisbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.

The surname "BAILIFF" has also been associated with various place names, such as Bailiff Bridge in West Yorkshire, England, and Bailiff Gate in Lincolnshire, which may have derived their names from the presence of bailiffs or their administrative roles in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bailiff

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bailiff.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bailiff was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bailiff has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bailiff was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bailiff, please contact us.

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