NameCensus.

UK surname

Beagle

A surname derived from the Old French word "begle," meaning "loudmouth" or "one who shouts."

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Beagle surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 188, ranked #20,417, down from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Wisbech St Peter. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Darlington, Medway and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beagle is 199 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.8%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

188

2016, ranked #20,417

Peak year

2010

199 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beagle had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016, ranked #20,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 177 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Beagle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beagle surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beagle 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 123 #20,939
1901 historical 167 #16,943
1911 historical 177 #16,129
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 179 #19,539
2000 modern 182 #19,300
2001 modern 185 #18,840
2002 modern 188 #19,012
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 178 #19,603
2005 modern 174 #19,783
2006 modern 175 #19,850
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 176 #20,224
2009 modern 188 #19,797
2010 modern 199 #19,515
2011 modern 188 #20,067
2012 modern 182 #20,440
2013 modern 194 #19,932
2014 modern 190 #20,374
2015 modern 187 #20,502
2016 modern 188 #20,417

Geography

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Where Beagles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Wisbech St Peter and Tynemouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Darlington, Medway, Eden and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Wisbech St Peter Cambridgeshire
5 Tynemouth Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Darlington 004 Darlington
2 Medway 015 Medway
3 Eden 007 Eden
4 Darlington 008 Darlington
5 Kensington and Chelsea 006 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beagle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beagle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beagle, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Beagle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Beagle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Beagle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beagle is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beagle falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beagle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Beagle

The surname Beagle can be traced back to the Middle English era, originating in England during the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "beagol," which referred to a small, scent-hunting dog breed. This breed was particularly prized for its keen sense of smell and ability to track quarry through dense vegetation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Beagle can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, where a certain William Beagel was mentioned. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to individuals who bred or trained these hounds.

Over the centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, including Beagill, Beaghell, and Beaghil. These variations reflect the regional dialects and phonetic shifts that occurred across different parts of England.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir John Beagle, a knight from Nottinghamshire who fought in the Barons' War against King Henry III. His legacy can be traced through historical accounts of the time, such as theChronicon Monastery de Bello.

During the Tudor period, the Beagle name gained prominence with the rise of Sir Thomas Beagle (1499-1567), a prominent politician and landowner in Warwickshire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his support of the Protestant Reformation.

Another influential figure was Robert Beagle (1602-1683), a prominent Puritan clergyman and author from Hertfordshire. His works, such as "A Treatise on Christian Piety," were widely read and influential in shaping religious thought during the 17th century.

In the realm of exploration, Lieutenant Matthew Beagle (1767-1841) left his mark as a naval officer and surveyor who participated in several voyages of discovery, including the circumnavigation of Australia under the command of Captain Philip Parker King.

The Beagle name has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Beagle's Green in Hertfordshire and Beagle's Farm in Oxfordshire, further cementing its historical roots in the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beagle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beagle 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. Surrey leads with 23 Beagles recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.99x.

County Total Index
Surrey 23 4.99x
Middlesex 14 1.48x
Cambridgeshire 11 18.36x
Northumberland 9 6.39x
Yorkshire 9 0.96x
Essex 8 4.28x
Kent 8 2.48x
Sussex 4 2.51x
Durham 3 1.07x
Lancashire 3 0.27x
Lincolnshire 2 1.32x
Channel Islands 1 3.57x
Monmouthshire 1 1.46x
Norfolk 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 12 Beagles recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.34x.

Place Total Index
Newington 12 34.34x
West Ham 8 19.40x
Sawston 7 1206.90x
Chelsea London 6 21.05x
Greenwich 6 39.84x
Sculcoates 5 33.65x
Battersea 4 11.49x
Brighton 4 12.43x
Camberwell 4 6.62x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 47.56x
Whitechapel London 4 42.92x
Wisbech St Peter 4 133.33x
Pendleton In Salford 3 22.44x
Witton Le Wear 3 375.00x
Holy Trinity 2 8.87x
Kensington London 2 3.80x
Tonbridge 2 17.18x
Tynemouth 2 26.53x
Belton 1 163.93x
Brightside Bierlow 1 5.44x
Byfleet 1 243.90x
Caterham 1 49.02x
Crowland 1 105.26x
Cullercoates 1 227.27x
Darfield 1 117.65x
Emneth 1 312.50x
Newport 1 30.67x
North Shields 1 35.59x
Preston In Tynemouth 1 181.82x
Spitalfields London 1 14.06x
St Helier 1 10.95x
St Marylebone London 1 1.98x
Stoke 1 46.08x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 7
William 7
George 4
John 4
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Augustus 1
Ben 1
Edmund 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Beagle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beagle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Beagle surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beagle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016. That gives Beagle a modern rank of #20,417.

What does the Beagle surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "begle," meaning "loudmouth" or "one who shouts."

What does the Beagle map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beagle 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.