NameCensus.

UK surname

Beacher

A locative surname derived from dwellers living near a beach or coastline.

In the 1881 census there were 220 people recorded with the Beacher surname, ranking it #12,087 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 232, ranked #17,694, down from #12,087 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stedham, Iping, Trotton, Chithurst, Drypool and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Havant and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beacher is 271 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.5%.

1881 census count

220

Ranked #12,087

Modern count

232

2016, ranked #17,694

Peak year

1999

271 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beacher had 220 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,087 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016, ranked #17,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 243 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Beacher surname distribution map

The map shows where the Beacher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Beacher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beacher over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 148 #13,028
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 220 #12,087
1891 historical 210 #14,412
1901 historical 181 #16,107
1911 historical 210 #14,515
1997 modern 263 #14,769
1998 modern 266 #15,053
1999 modern 271 #14,954
2000 modern 267 #15,055
2001 modern 258 #15,194
2002 modern 263 #15,277
2003 modern 250 #15,605
2004 modern 259 #15,348
2005 modern 243 #15,943
2006 modern 247 #15,860
2007 modern 246 #16,086
2008 modern 251 #16,026
2009 modern 252 #16,323
2010 modern 258 #16,432
2011 modern 251 #16,589
2012 modern 245 #16,745
2013 modern 245 #17,025
2014 modern 239 #17,429
2015 modern 235 #17,530
2016 modern 232 #17,694

Geography

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Where Beachers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stedham, Iping, Trotton, Chithurst, Drypool, Wakefield, Bosham and Wisbech St Peter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Havant and Horsham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Stedham, Iping, Trotton, Chithurst Sussex
2 Drypool Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bosham Sussex
5 Wisbech St Peter Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 008 Chichester
2 Chichester 011 Chichester
3 Chichester 010 Chichester
4 Havant 019 Havant
5 Horsham 013 Horsham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beacher

These lists show first names that appear often with the Beacher surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beacher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beacher, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Beacher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Beacher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Beacher is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beacher is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beacher falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beacher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Beacher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Beacher

The surname "Beacher" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bæcere," which means "baker." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely involved in the baking trade or lived near a bakery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Beacher" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1221, where a person named Richard le Bechur is listed. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 13th century, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire mention a Walter le Bakere, which may be an early variant of the "Beacher" surname. This record provides insight into the occupation-based origins of the name and its connection to the baking profession.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1332, which listed a William le Bachere. The presence of the name in these records demonstrates its widespread use across different regions of England.

Notable individuals with the surname "Beacher" throughout history include John Beacher, a prominent merchant from London who lived in the late 16th century. Another significant figure was William Beacher, a renowned English playwright and poet, born in 1635 and known for his contributions to the Restoration era theatre.

In the 18th century, Samuel Beacher, a respected theologian and author, was born in 1712. His influential work, "The Principles of Natural Religion," published in 1755, was widely acclaimed during that period.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Emily Beacher (1858-1924) gained recognition as a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first schools for girls in her hometown and played a crucial role in advancing educational opportunities for women.

It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as "Beechur," "Beachor," and "Beecher," were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions in earlier times. Additionally, the name may have been influenced by placenames or locations where the family resided, further contributing to its evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beacher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beacher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 73 Beachers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 73 3.43x
Sussex 46 12.71x
Middlesex 15 0.70x
Kent 12 1.64x
Hampshire 11 2.50x
Surrey 9 0.86x
Lancashire 7 0.27x
Somerset 7 2.03x
Berkshire 6 3.72x
Wiltshire 5 2.63x
Aberdeenshire 4 2.01x
Angus 4 2.01x
Hertfordshire 4 2.70x
Lincolnshire 4 1.17x
Norfolk 4 1.21x
Essex 3 0.71x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.47x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.77x
Cornwall 1 0.41x
Devon 1 0.22x
Gloucestershire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe in Yorkshire leads with 19 Beachers recorded in 1881 and an index of 192.31x.

Place Total Index
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 19 192.31x
Kimberworth 11 93.22x
Bethnal Green London 9 9.65x
Egdean 8 13333.33x
Iping 8 2051.28x
Drypool 7 214.72x
Funtington 7 864.20x
Slindon 7 1891.89x
Wincanton 7 393.26x
Barnsley 6 27.35x
Cookham 6 119.52x
Kirkdale 6 14.01x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 5 64.77x
Donnington 5 2000.00x
Plumstead 5 20.48x
Southwark St Saviour 5 45.33x
Aberdeen Old Machar 4 9.64x
Brampton Bierlow 4 147.06x
Dundee 4 5.39x
East Ardsley 4 217.39x
Great Yarmouth 4 14.64x
Salisbury St Edmund 4 131.15x
Sidlesham 4 571.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 9.26x
Tonbridge 4 15.15x
Ecclesfield 3 19.24x
Great Grimsby 3 13.77x
Havant 3 134.53x
Holy Trinity 3 5.87x
Kensington London 3 2.51x
New Alresford 3 263.16x
Barking 2 16.14x
Bosham 2 217.39x
Essendon 2 444.44x
Hammersmith London 2 3.78x
Little Berkhampstead 2 645.16x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 2 77.22x
Portsea 2 2.32x
Sculcoates 2 5.93x
Southampton St Mary 2 7.23x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 32.89x
Wisbech St Peter 2 29.33x
Bristol St Peter 1 66.23x
Cheriton 1 33.56x
Chichester St Pancras 1 92.59x
Chichester St Peter 1 344.83x
Claxby In Caistor 1 416.67x
Dartford 1 13.35x
Dawlish 1 30.03x
East Dean 1 400.00x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.31x
Egloshayle 1 87.72x
Eling 1 22.42x
Howden 1 69.44x
Leeds 1 0.83x
Lillingstone Dayrell 1 500.00x
Littlehampton 1 34.60x
Ludgershall 1 277.78x
Maidstone 1 4.59x
Salford 1 1.34x
Shermanbury 1 370.37x
St Marylebone London 1 0.87x
Swinton In Rotherham 1 17.79x
Wakefield 1 6.12x
West Ham 1 1.07x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beacher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 6
Eliza 5
Jane 4
Martha 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Bethia 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Mackencie 1
Matha 1
Minnie 1
Phoebe 1
Polly 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Thirsa 1
Zilpha 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Beacher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 14
William 10
James 8
George 7
Charles 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Thomas 4
Henry 3
Alfred 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Sam 2
W. 2
Allan 1
Arthur 1
Chales 1
Charley 1
David 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isreal 1
Josh. 1
Lindley 1
Michael 1
Ralph 1
Randolfe 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
Ted 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Fredk. 1

FAQ

Beacher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beacher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 220 people were recorded with the Beacher surname. That placed it at #12,087 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beacher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016. That gives Beacher a modern rank of #17,694.

What does the Beacher surname mean?

A locative surname derived from dwellers living near a beach or coastline.

What does the Beacher map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beacher bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.