NameCensus.

UK surname

Beagley

From a geographical location called Beagley or relating to a person from that place.

In the 1881 census there were 498 people recorded with the Beagley surname, ranking it #6,796 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 588, ranked #8,855, down from #6,796 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, Farringdon and Bentley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Muirhouse, South Hams and Hart.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beagley is 840 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.1%.

1881 census count

498

Ranked #6,796

Modern count

588

2016, ranked #8,855

Peak year

1911

840 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beagley had 498 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,796 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 588 in 2016, ranked #8,855.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 840 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Beagley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beagley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Beagley 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 391 #6,144
1861 historical 438 #5,884
1881 historical 498 #6,796
1891 historical 790 #5,085
1901 historical 774 #5,796
1911 historical 840 #5,273
1997 modern 673 #7,465
1998 modern 694 #7,523
1999 modern 687 #7,626
2000 modern 676 #7,695
2001 modern 657 #7,732
2002 modern 663 #7,826
2003 modern 626 #8,052
2004 modern 617 #8,178
2005 modern 595 #8,323
2006 modern 590 #8,387
2007 modern 593 #8,433
2008 modern 604 #8,367
2009 modern 620 #8,385
2010 modern 630 #8,466
2011 modern 611 #8,558
2012 modern 601 #8,595
2013 modern 605 #8,691
2014 modern 601 #8,792
2015 modern 594 #8,798
2016 modern 588 #8,855

Geography

Back to top

Where Beagleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, Farringdon, Bentley, London parishes and Alton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Muirhouse, South Hams, Hart and Tewkesbury. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 Farringdon Hampshire
3 Bentley Hampshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 Alton Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Muirhouse City of Edinburgh
2 South Hams 011 South Hams
3 Hart 008 Hart
4 South Hams 006 South Hams
5 Tewkesbury 005 Tewkesbury

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Beagley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Beagley

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Beagley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beagley is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beagley falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beagley 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 Beagley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Beagley

The surname Beagley is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the village of Bageleigh or Bagley near Plymouth in Devon, England. The name is derived from the Old English words "bagga" meaning "badger" and "leah" meaning "a clearing or meadow."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Beagley appears in the parish records of Hartfield, East Sussex, in 1593, where a William Beagley was listed as a resident. The name was also found in the records of Stratfield Mortimer in Berkshire, where a John Beagley was mentioned in 1610.

In the 17th century, the name Beagley was found in various parts of England, including Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Beagley, a merchant who lived in Bristol in the late 1600s.

The 18th century saw the name Beagley spread further across England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire. In 1745, a Richard Beagley was listed as a landowner in the parish of Longparish, Hampshire.

During the 19th century, the Beagley surname was well-established in various regions of England, with notable individuals including James Beagley (1792-1870), a farmer from Oxfordshire, and William Beagley (1815-1891), a shoemaker from Gloucestershire.

As the centuries progressed, the Beagley name also appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, such as parish registers, census records, and military rolls. While the name did not feature prominently in famous historical documents like the Domesday Book, its presence in local records across England highlights its longstanding history and evolution.

Over the years, the spelling of the name has remained relatively consistent, with variations such as Bagley, Bageley, and Baggaley occasionally appearing in records. However, the core form of Beagley has endured as the primary spelling for this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Beagley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beagley 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. Hampshire leads with 177 Beagleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.67x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 177 17.67x
Surrey 152 6.38x
Middlesex 108 2.21x
Kent 17 1.02x
Sussex 9 1.09x
Leicestershire 6 1.11x
Devon 5 0.49x
Berkshire 4 1.09x
West Lothian 4 5.43x
Ayrshire 3 0.82x
Cheshire 3 0.28x
Royal Navy 3 5.15x
Lanarkshire 2 0.13x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Argyllshire 1 0.74x
Bedfordshire 1 0.40x
Cornwall 1 0.18x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Sutherland 1 2.66x
Worcestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Farnham in Surrey leads with 39 Beagleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 210.58x.

Place Total Index
Farnham 39 210.58x
Alton 28 370.86x
Godalming 26 173.45x
Farringdon 23 2346.94x
Hartley Wintney 20 664.45x
Bramshott 17 688.26x
Hammersmith London 17 14.12x
Camberwell 16 5.13x
Hampstead London 16 21.02x
St Pancras London 13 3.30x
Islington London 11 2.32x
Farnborough 9 85.55x
Fulham London 9 12.70x
Lambeth 9 2.11x
Shalford 9 340.91x
Aldershot 8 23.84x
Bentley 8 677.97x
Chelsea London 8 5.43x
Cudham 8 467.84x
Poplar London 8 8.67x
West Tisted 8 2758.62x
Brighton 7 4.21x
Newton Valence 6 983.61x
Putney 6 26.94x
Compton 5 632.91x
St George Hanover Square 5 5.81x
Tiverton 5 28.54x
West Meon 5 373.13x
Woolwich 5 8.12x
Barnes 4 39.72x
Boness 4 39.41x
Chawton 4 506.33x
Leicester St Margaret 4 3.03x
New Alresford 4 153.85x
New Windsor 4 32.44x
Battersea 3 1.67x
Croydon 3 2.27x
Dalry 3 17.43x
East Meon 3 114.94x
Elstead 3 263.16x
Frensham 3 85.71x
Kensington London 3 1.10x
Oxton 3 49.18x
Paddington London 3 1.67x
Petersfield 3 108.70x
Richmond 3 8.99x
Royal Navy 3 6.03x
Selborne 3 147.06x
Southampton St Mary 3 4.76x
Southwark St Saviour 3 11.94x
St Sepulchre London 3 41.96x
Staines 3 38.76x
Walton On Hill 3 291.26x
Winchfield 3 491.80x
Worplesdon 3 104.53x
Beauworth 2 909.09x
Bentworth 2 212.77x
Binsted 2 52.36x
Cove 2 152.67x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 2.03x
Eling 2 19.70x
Govan 2 0.51x
Guildford St Mary 2 68.26x
Hackney London 2 0.73x
Hambledon 2 59.17x
Hastings St Mary 2 9.75x
Leicester All Sts 2 18.80x
St Marylebone London 2 0.77x
Tottenham 2 2.57x
Woking 2 13.94x
Wonersh 2 67.34x
Bedford St Mary 1 15.34x
Broughton In Salford 1 1.89x
Campbeltown 1 6.09x
Crondall 1 18.59x
Guildford Holy Trinity 1 22.03x
Havant 1 19.72x
Portsmouth 1 4.34x
Ryde 1 4.65x
Upchurch 1 53.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 20
Jane 19
Mary 19
Elizabeth 17
Ann 12
Ellen 10
Emily 8
Fanny 7
Eliza 6
Harriet 6
Laura 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Jessie 4
Louisa 4
Minnie 4
Edith 3
Emma 3
Georgina 3
Harriett 3
Maria 3
Rosa 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Anna 1
Carline 1
Carry 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Etty 1
Florance 1
Franceis 1
Katherine 1
Kathleen 1
Lauretta 1
Lettice 1
Lillian 1
Violette 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
George 26
Charles 20
John 19
James 17
Henry 13
Thomas 11
Alfred 10
Albert 8
Edwin 7
Frederick 6
Edward 5
Harry 4
Robert 4
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Jesse 3
Joseph 3
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Charlie 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Esaw 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Helek 2
J. 2
Jacob 2
Noah 2
Richard 2
Bertie 1
Betram 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jane 1
Julian 1
Leonard 1
Michael 1
Oliver 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Ramond 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Beagley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beagley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 498 people were recorded with the Beagley surname. That placed it at #6,796 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beagley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 588 in 2016. That gives Beagley a modern rank of #8,855.

What does the Beagley surname mean?

From a geographical location called Beagley or relating to a person from that place.

What does the Beagley map show?

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