The Baird surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 34,721 people carried this name — #1,010 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,500 people counted. That is up 1% from 34,233 in 2000.

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In Scotland, 1880s

Baird was 23 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 435. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Glasgow district.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 586 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Baird was recorded 142 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 164th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 218. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

70 families named Baird, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 394 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 6 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 30
North Carolina 11
Virginia 10
New York 7
Maryland 7
South Carolina 4
Maine 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 228 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Baird in American newspapers,
1893–1914.

Newspaper page from The Cheyenne Daily Leader carrying the name Baird
The Cheyenne Daily Leader 1893-05-02
Newspaper page from Ottumwa Semi-Weekly Courier carrying the name Baird
Ottumwa Semi-Weekly Courier 1903-09-24
Newspaper page from Roanoke Rapids Herald carrying the name Baird
Roanoke Rapids Herald 1914-08-21

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 302,818 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Baird in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2010s.

73,873 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Baird. The most, 11,902, date from the 1910s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 27,101
New South Wales 18,221
Queensland 9,555
Western Australia 7,869
South Australia 6,923
Tasmania 3,093
ACT (Canberra) 853
Northern Territory 115

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Baird.

Who carried it

People named Baird,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet
    Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet 1757–1829 · military personnel
  • George Husband Baird
    George Husband Baird 1761–1840 · linguist
  • Charles Baird
    Charles Baird 1766–1843 · businessperson
  • Jane Moffat
    Jane Moffat 1768–1851
  • John Baird
    John Baird 1790–1820 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — George Husband Baird: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); John Baird: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 250 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Baird,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States3,832 records

3,832 records of the Baird name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,354
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 593
  • Other U.S. records 1,885
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Ronald Eugene Baird

    Born 1945; from Pittsburg, California. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1968 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. Buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Albert K. Baird

    Born 1920 in Colorado. Enlisted 1943 at Denver; stock clerk from Denver County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Colorado.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Baird

    Arrived at New York in 1837 aboard the Syllerie from Liverpool, aged 33; merchant. From Dublin, Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 3,832 records for Baird in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia2,304 records

2,304 records of the Baird name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,365
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 494
  • Other Australian records 445
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Sarah Baird

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Kinnear, sailing from Dublin in 1848. Native of Belfast, Antrim. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1856.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Gunning Baird

    Born 1863 in Launceston, Tasmania. Married 1896 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 33.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Agnes Baird

    Arrived in Victoria in 1859 aboard the Monica, aged 1; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,304 records for Baird in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada628 records

628 records of the Baird name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 435
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 57
  • Other Canadian records 136
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Martha Baird

    Buried in 1982 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 92.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Frank T. Baird

    Buried in 1961 at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, aged 26.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Charles Wesley Baird

    Died 1927 in Windsor, Hants, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 628 records for Baird in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom157 records

157 records of the Baird name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 89
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 50
  • Other British records 18
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Percy Thomas Charles Baird

    Born 1872 at Bombay. Died 1915. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Baird

    Buried in 1887 at Mar Place Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 30.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record James Baird

    Will proved in 1932; of Connahs Quay, Flint.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 157 records for Baird in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand40 records

40 records of the Baird name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 30
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 5
  • Other New Zealand records 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Robert James Baird

    Died 1988, aged 82; buried at Belfast Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Muir Baird

    Died 1997, aged 76; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record F. Baird

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 40 records for Baird in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Netherlands8 records

8 records of the Baird name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 5
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Wilfred Baird

    Married in 1945 in Eindhoven.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Elisabeth Baird

    Married in 1697 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 8 records for Baird in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Germany1 record

1 record of the Baird name in Germany German emigration and citizenship files
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Sophie Baird

    Emigrated to England in 1869.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)

Counts: Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Baird.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Baird is.
A volume says what happened to it.

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