NameCensus.

UK surname

Beales

An old English surname derived from the French word "beau", meaning handsome or beautiful.

In the 1881 census there were 1,281 people recorded with the Beales surname, ranking it #3,191 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,034, ranked #3,167, up from #3,191 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Nottingham St Mary and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Breckland and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beales is 2,267 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.8%.

1881 census count

1,281

Ranked #3,191

Modern count

2,034

2016, ranked #3,167

Peak year

2002

2,267 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beales had 1,281 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,191 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,034 in 2016, ranked #3,167.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,993 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Beales surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beales surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beales 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 625 #4,145
1861 historical 592 #4,473
1881 historical 1,281 #3,191
1891 historical 1,485 #2,961
1901 historical 1,738 #2,983
1911 historical 1,993 #2,493
1997 modern 2,176 #2,845
1998 modern 2,221 #2,895
1999 modern 2,247 #2,882
2000 modern 2,243 #2,873
2001 modern 2,211 #2,856
2002 modern 2,267 #2,851
2003 modern 2,191 #2,872
2004 modern 2,202 #2,862
2005 modern 2,173 #2,867
2006 modern 2,155 #2,883
2007 modern 2,134 #2,934
2008 modern 2,139 #2,959
2009 modern 2,172 #2,988
2010 modern 2,211 #2,999
2011 modern 2,168 #3,015
2012 modern 2,090 #3,063
2013 modern 2,128 #3,063
2014 modern 2,114 #3,109
2015 modern 2,075 #3,136
2016 modern 2,034 #3,167

Geography

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Where Beales' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Nottingham St Mary, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Breckland and Waveney. 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 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 014 North Norfolk
2 Breckland 011 Breckland
3 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
4 Waveney 015 Waveney
5 Breckland 013 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beales

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beales

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beales, 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 Beales surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Beales 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Beales 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

Beales is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beales falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Beales

The surname Beales is an English name that originated in the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a locational name derived from one of the several places called Beal or Bele in England. These place names are thought to come from the Old English word "beal," meaning a curved ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Bele." This entry suggests that the name was already established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Bele, Beale, and Beales. These variations were likely due to differences in local dialects and spelling conventions at the time.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Beales, who lived in the 16th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Coventry from 1558 to 1559. He was also a respected lawyer and Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

In the 17th century, Richard Beales (1592-1675) was an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Yealmpton in Devon. He wrote several religious works, including "A Key to Divinity" and "The Church of England's Plea for Their Rights and Liberties."

Another prominent figure was Edmund Beales (1803-1881), a British reformer and journalist who advocated for universal suffrage and the abolition of the monarchy. He was a founding member of the Reform League and played a significant role in the campaign for the Reform Act of 1867.

In the field of literature, Jessie Beales (1857-1935) was an English writer and educator. She wrote several books on educational theory and was a pioneer in the movement for women's higher education.

Hubert Beales (1883-1962) was a British architect and designer who worked in the Arts and Crafts style. He is known for his contributions to the Garden City movement and his designs for residential communities in the early 20th century.

While the surname Beales has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and emigration. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above provide insights into the origins and evolution of this surname over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beales families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beales 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. Norfolk leads with 436 Beales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.80x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 436 22.80x
Middlesex 179 1.44x
Suffolk 151 9.97x
Essex 80 3.26x
Surrey 77 1.27x
Yorkshire 62 0.50x
Cambridgeshire 59 7.49x
Nottinghamshire 41 2.45x
Lincolnshire 37 1.86x
Kent 28 0.66x
Lancashire 22 0.15x
Huntingdonshire 18 7.29x
Buckinghamshire 14 1.86x
Berkshire 13 1.39x
Hampshire 7 0.27x
Northamptonshire 7 0.60x
Worcestershire 7 0.43x
Hertfordshire 6 0.70x
Gloucestershire 5 0.21x
Staffordshire 5 0.12x
Durham 4 0.11x
Monmouthshire 4 0.44x
Sussex 3 0.14x
Devon 2 0.08x
Leicestershire 2 0.15x
Warwickshire 2 0.06x
Bedfordshire 1 0.16x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 51 Beales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.19x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 51 32.19x
Nottingham St Mary 41 9.46x
Eye 34 347.29x
Islington London 29 2.41x
Kensington London 28 4.05x
St Osyth 28 469.01x
Old Buckenham 27 551.02x
Heigham 22 21.43x
Lambeth 22 2.03x
St Pancras London 22 2.20x
Hickling 21 594.90x
Milton In Gravesend 20 31.43x
Beccles 19 77.93x
Attleborough 18 186.34x
North Lopham 17 570.47x
Fulham London 16 8.87x
Upwell 16 179.78x
Hackney London 15 2.15x
Aylesbury 14 42.02x
Hunslet 14 7.28x
Bermondsey 13 3.51x
East Dereham 13 53.81x
Epping 13 130.26x
Spalding 12 30.40x
Camberwell 11 1.38x
All Saints Cambridge 10 180.83x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 10 35.17x
Diss 10 61.01x
Great Grimsby 10 7.92x
Great Massingham 10 265.25x
Little Ellingham 10 740.74x
Bardwell 9 278.64x
Lakenham 9 33.12x
Moss Side 9 11.59x
Normanby In 9 27.31x
Norwich St Julian 9 111.66x
Ringland 9 647.48x
St Andrewthe Less 9 10.00x
Bawsey 8 2666.67x
Eccles 8 888.89x
Fletton 8 101.39x
Irstead 8 1269.84x
Long Melford 8 56.82x
New Buckenham 8 336.13x
St Clement Cambridge 8 245.40x
Colchester St Giles 7 28.85x
Dewsbury 7 5.54x
Holy Trinity 7 2.36x
Newington 7 1.52x
North Frodingham 7 241.38x
Roudham 7 985.92x
Wendens Ambo 7 443.04x
Wentworth 7 91.74x
West Woodhay 7 1428.57x
Banham 6 123.20x
Barking 6 76.53x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.11x
Brome 6 540.54x
Chevington 6 253.16x
Cropthorne 6 199.34x
Denham 6 317.46x
East Harling 6 132.16x
Great Ellingham 6 212.77x
Great Wilbraham 6 257.51x
Hemingford Grey 6 158.73x
Maidstone 6 4.75x
Needham 6 441.18x
Norwich St Paul 6 52.40x
Ratcliffe London 6 8.74x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 2.40x
Sprowston 6 71.09x
Tilehurst 6 31.81x
Tilney St Lawrence 6 194.81x
Walthamstow 6 6.79x
Wymondham 6 30.69x
Bromley London 5 1.83x
Great Henny 5 390.63x
Manchester 5 0.75x
Norwich St Simon St Jude 5 335.57x
Southampton All Sts 5 11.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 73
George 59
John 52
James 42
Charles 32
Henry 31
Robert 29
Arthur 22
Alfred 19
Edward 18
Walter 17
Frederick 15
Thomas 15
Harry 14
Herbert 11
Joseph 11
Samuel 11
Richard 7
Elijah 6
Isaac 6
Albert 5
Benjamin 5
Francis 5
Philip 5
Adam 4
David 4
Edwin 4
Fredk. 4
Wm. 4
Daniel 3
Horace 3
Leonard 3
Noah 3
Barnet 2
Bertram 2
Earnest 2
Ellis 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Alexr. 1
Baston 1
Batson 1
Dennis 1
Dick 1
Earnst 1

FAQ

Beales surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beales surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,281 people were recorded with the Beales surname. That placed it at #3,191 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beales surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,034 in 2016. That gives Beales a modern rank of #3,167.

What does the Beales surname mean?

An old English surname derived from the French word "beau", meaning handsome or beautiful.

What does the Beales map show?

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