Explore the Family Name Bailiff
The meaning of Bailiff
English: occupational name for an officer of a court of justice, from Middle English bailli, baillif ‘manager, administrator’ (Old French bailli(s), baillif). The term could denote the king’s officer in a county, hundred, town, castle, or forest, or an elected town officer, a magistrate, an officer of a court, serving warrants and enforcing judgments. In Middle English, a bailiff often denoted the agent of a lord in managing a manor, collecting rents, etc., but in the early modern period the term gradually because specialized as denoting an officer of justice under a sheriff, who executes writs and processes, distraints, and arrests. Compare the variant Bayliff, Bayliss, and also Bailey.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bailiff in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Bailiff has shown a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. The rank of this surname fell from 28,460 in 2000 to 29,366 in 2010, representing a change of -3.18%. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased by 2.03% from 789 in 2000 to 805 in 2010. However, when considering proportion per 100,000 people, Bailiff saw a decrease of 6.9%, moving from 0.29 in 2000 to 0.27 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,460 | #29,366 | -3.18% |
| Count | 789 | 805 | 2.03% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.29 | 0.27 | -6.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bailiff
When it comes to ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Bailiff identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, although there was a slight decrease of 0.91% over the decade. In contrast, the percentage of individuals identifying as Hispanic and Black saw increases of 38.82% and 21.11% respectively. Individuals identifying as two or more races decreased by 40.94%. There were no individuals with the surname Bailiff who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.02% | 91.18% | -0.91% |
| Black | 4.31% | 5.22% | 21.11% |
| Hispanic | 1.52% | 2.11% | 38.82% |
| Two or More Races | 1.27% | 0.75% | -40.94% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |