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

Baylis, 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 Baylis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Baylis in America

Baylis is the 16238th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Baylis surname appeared 1,778 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Baylis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Baylis 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 Baylis

The surname Baylis is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "bæg" meaning "bag" and "hlæsa" meaning "carrier" or "loader." It was initially an occupational name given to those who carried or loaded bags, likely related to the trade of transporting goods or materials.

Baylis is believed to have originated in the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire in the southwest of England during the medieval period. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire, where it was spelled as "Baillif."

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Baylis. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as "Baggelie" in Shropshire and "Baillis" in Essex, which may have influenced the development of the surname.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Baylis was John Baylis, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Bristol during the late 14th century. Records indicate that he owned several properties and played an influential role in the city's trade activities.

In the 16th century, a notable figure was William Baylis, a farmer and landowner from the village of Abson in Gloucestershire. He was involved in several legal disputes over land ownership and inheritance, which are documented in historical records from the period.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a soldier named Thomas Baylis fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He is mentioned in several accounts of the battles and campaigns of the era.

In the 18th century, a renowned clockmaker named Samuel Baylis made significant contributions to the art of watchmaking in London. His intricate and innovative designs were highly sought after by the aristocracy and wealthy merchants of the time.

Another notable individual was Mary Baylis, a philanthropist and social reformer who lived in the 19th century. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and establishing schools and orphanages in the East End of London.

Throughout history, the surname Baylis has been associated with various professions and trades, including agriculture, craftsmanship, and military service. While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the occupational roots of carrying or loading bags in medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Baylis

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

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 Baylis 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 Baylis 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 Baylis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!