Surname Baildon - Meaning and Origin
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Baildon: What does the surname Baildon mean?
The surname Baildon is of English origin. It is a habitational name derived from a place in West Yorkshire named Baildon. This place name is made up of two Old English words - 'bal' which means 'bail' or 'palisade', and 'dun' which means ‘hill’. Therefore, the name Baildon can be interpreted as 'enclosed or fortified hill'. The name suggests that the family may have held or managed property on a fortified hill in ancient times. It first appeared in written records in the early 12th century and numerous individuals bearing this surname can still be traced back to this area. Like many surnames, over time and with generations moving to various locations, the name has dispersed to different regions and countries. However, its roots and meaning remain a tangible link to the ancestors who first bore the name Baildon.
Order DNA origin analysisBaildon: Where does the name Baildon come from?
The surname Baildon originates from England. It is originally a locational name derived from a place called Baildon in West Yorkshire. The place name Baildon is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin and is supposed to mean "Balda's hill", derived from an Old English personal name 'Balda' coupled with 'dun', meaning hill. During the Middle Ages, as families moved to other regions, it was commonplace to assume the name of the place from where they had come.
As of the late 20th Century, the surname Baildon is more concentrated in England, especially in regions such as West Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Greater London. There is also a moderate presence of the surname in Australia and the United States. However, it's worth mentioning that the surname Baildon is quite scarce overall, ranking 235,988 globally in terms of frequency. Therefore, while it may be most common in England, it is not widespread.
Variations of the surname Baildon
The surname Baildon originates from a place by the same name in the county of West Yorkshire, England. It is associated with Old English element meaning "hill" hence likely evolved from people living near or on a hill. Over the centuries, the surname has seen many variations in spelling, which can largely be attributed to the lack of standards in spelling and language apart from changes in local dialects.
Some variations of the surname Baildon are Boldon, Balldon, Ballden, Balldin, Bailldon, and Baildonn. Other variants include Bayldon, Baylden, Bayldin, and Beldon. These spellings often changed even within the same branch of the family due to illiteracy, leading to registries recording names as they were verbally spelled.
Variations sometimes also arise from the use of Latin or Norman versions of names in official documents. The surname can also be hyphenated, such as Bail-Don, Baild-On, etc. The name has even been shortened or altered entirely over generations, leading to potential offshoot surnames like Balley, Bally, or even Hill. It's also possible that evolving surnames have created subtypes of the Baildon name that are unrecognizable today.
Famous people with the name Baildon
- Richard Baildon: An English musician, composer and conductor.
- William Baildon: An English footballer who played for Leeds United and Bradford Park Avenue in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Jim Baildon: An English footballer who was part of the FA Amateur Cup winning team of 1958.
- Scott Baildon: An English former professional footballer who played for the likes of AFC Bournemouth and Cambridge United.
- Dave Baildon: An English former professional footballer who played for a variety of teams, most prominently Blackburn Rovers.
- Primrose Baildon: A British actress known for her many film roles, most notably in the horror classic, The Curse of the Werewolf (1961).
- William Dyson Baildon: An engineer who specialised in the design and construction of blast furnaces in the iron industry.
- Thomas Percival Baildon: A minister and hymnologist who wrote over 600 English hymns, most notably, “O Perfect Love All Human Thought Transcending” and “Angels from the Realms of Glory”.
- Robert Baildon: An English industrialist and banker who took it upon himself to rebuild a Yorkshire town in the 19th century.
- Montague Baildon: A British foreign service diplomat who served in India, Syria, Baghdad, and Egypt amongst other places.