NameCensus.

UK surname

Bealey

A habitational surname derived from any of several places, such as Beeley in Derbyshire.

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Bealey surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 249, ranked #16,847, down from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Yardley and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, South Somerset and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bealey is 313 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 5.0%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

249

2016, ranked #16,847

Peak year

1911

313 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bealey had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016, ranked #16,847.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 313 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bealey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bealey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bealey 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 303 #7,590
1861 historical 310 #8,175
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 288 #11,450
1901 historical 307 #11,472
1911 historical 313 #11,108
1997 modern 269 #14,543
1998 modern 260 #15,291
1999 modern 252 #15,707
2000 modern 242 #16,101
2001 modern 233 #16,260
2002 modern 232 #16,637
2003 modern 224 #16,859
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 220 #17,204
2007 modern 226 #17,103
2008 modern 232 #16,931
2009 modern 245 #16,646
2010 modern 244 #17,056
2011 modern 240 #17,093
2012 modern 247 #16,661
2013 modern 250 #16,778
2014 modern 253 #16,774
2015 modern 252 #16,705
2016 modern 249 #16,847

Geography

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Where Bealeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Yardley, Manchester, St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone and Roborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, South Somerset, Bradford, Exeter and Croydon. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 Yardley Warwickshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone Devon
5 Roborough Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 006 Torridge
2 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
3 Bradford 004 Bradford
4 Exeter 012 Exeter
5 Croydon 034 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bealey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bealey

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bealey is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bealey is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bealey falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bealey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bealey

The surname Bealey originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. This surname is believed to be locational, deriving from various places named with the Old English elements "beo," meaning "bee," and "leah," indicating a "wood" or "clearing." The name could therefore denote someone who lived near or hailed from a ‘bee clearing’ or a place frequented by bees. Such topographical surnames were quite common in medieval England, arising as populations grew and distinguishing between individuals became necessary.

One of the earliest recorded spellings of the surname appears in the 14th century. Historical records reveal a Simon de Beleigh, who is noted in the Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire in 1327. The version "de Beleigh" suggests Simon might have been associated with a specific place named Beleigh, confirming the locational origin of the surname. This appearance in tax records indicates individuals bearing this surname were of enough status to warrant official documentation.

Another notable reference can be found in the 16th century when a Thomas Bealey is recorded in the Wills at Chester in 1595. Such documents provide insight into the socio-economic status of the family, suggesting they were landowners or engaged in trades that required formal wills and testaments.

Moving forward to the Industrial Revolution, one of the most famous individuals bearing this surname was Richard Bealey, an influential mill owner and key figure in the textile industry in Lancashire. Born in 1809 and passing in 1883, Richard Bealey made significant contributions to the industrial growth of the region, symbolizing the shift from rural to industrial England.

In the realm of politics, Benjamin Bealey, born in 1824 and known as the Mayor of Salford in the 19th century, represents another significant historical figure with this surname. His involvement in local governance and development further perpetuated the Bealey name in public records and emphasized the family's prominence in northern England.

Literary circles also recognize Albert Bealey, an author and historian born in 1852, who contributed extensively to the documentation of local history. His works provide a valuable resource for understanding the social and economic contexts of his time, making him a notable figure in the preservation of historical knowledge.

Throughout the centuries, the Bealey surname has appeared in varied forms, including "Belegh" and "Beleaigh," reflecting the linguistic shifts and orthographic conventions of different periods. With roots embedded in the English landscape and history, the Bealey surname encapsulates a lineage marked by contributions to industry, politics, and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bealey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bealey 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. Devon leads with 82 Bealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.01x.

County Total Index
Devon 82 15.01x
Lancashire 36 1.16x
Norfolk 19 4.71x
Somerset 16 3.79x
Yorkshire 15 0.58x
Middlesex 14 0.53x
Surrey 11 0.86x
Nottinghamshire 10 2.83x
Warwickshire 9 1.36x
Channel Islands 7 9.00x
Essex 6 1.16x
Staffordshire 6 0.68x
Cheshire 5 0.86x
Derbyshire 5 1.22x
Shropshire 5 2.21x
Buckinghamshire 4 2.52x
Leicestershire 4 1.37x
Denbighshire 2 2.02x
Herefordshire 2 1.86x
Renfrewshire 2 0.98x
Sussex 2 0.45x
Durham 1 0.13x
Flintshire 1 1.42x
Glamorgan 1 0.22x
Gloucestershire 1 0.19x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.92x
Lincolnshire 1 0.24x
Suffolk 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Roborough in Devon leads with 18 Bealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Roborough 18 5000.00x
Shepton Beauchamp 15 2631.58x
Dolton 14 2089.55x
Heigham 13 60.05x
Exeter Allhallows On The 9 1000.00x
Exeter St Olave 9 1267.61x
Arnold 8 155.04x
Bury 8 22.49x
Exeter St Leonard 7 469.80x
St Peter Port 7 48.68x
Ardwick 6 21.37x
Bolehall Glascote 6 214.29x
Middlesbrough 6 17.72x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 56.24x
Hollingworth 5 209.21x
Lilleshall 5 144.09x
Norwich St Benedict 5 277.78x
Salford 5 5.46x
Wolverhampton 5 7.34x
Burnham 4 198.02x
Exeter Holy Trinity 4 186.92x
Exeter St Mary Major 4 121.58x
Haydock 4 74.63x
Heanor 4 65.15x
Walthamstow 4 21.46x
Buckland Brewer 3 454.55x
Croydon 3 4.23x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 23.98x
Heap 3 18.17x
Moreton Hampstead 3 212.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 5.68x
St George Hanover Square 3 6.49x
Whitherley 3 638.30x
Aston 2 1.10x
Chelsea London 2 2.53x
Holy Trinity 2 173.91x
Islington London 2 0.79x
Llanynys 2 317.46x
Merton 2 384.62x
Much Dewchurch 2 392.16x
Old Artillery Ground 2 88.50x
Pendleton In Salford 2 5.39x
Pilkington 2 16.91x
Radcliffe 2 13.32x
Radford Lenton 2 227.27x
St Marylebone London 2 1.43x
West Greenock 2 5.48x
Wigan 2 4.60x
Ashtead 1 120.48x
Barking 1 6.60x
Battersea 1 1.04x
Birmingham 1 0.45x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.49x
Braintree 1 21.51x
Brighton 1 1.12x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.96x
Brimington 1 32.05x
Camberwell 1 0.60x
Cheltenham 1 2.52x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.02x
Corfe 1 285.71x
Dartmouth St Savior 1 153.85x
Denaby 1 68.03x
Exeter St David 1 21.41x
Godalming 1 12.42x
Heaton Norris 1 5.64x
Hoxne 1 109.89x
Huntingdon St John 1 66.23x
Lambeth 1 0.44x
Leicester All Sts 1 17.51x
Llantwit Vairdre 1 19.46x
Sidbury 1 85.47x
Thurgoland 1 57.14x
Walsall Borough 1 14.53x
Westminster St James 1 3.71x
Westminster St John 1 3.13x
Whitford 1 27.32x
Willesden 1 4.04x
Yarnscombe 1 416.67x
Yaxham 1 227.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Ann 12
Elizabeth 10
Eliza 5
Catherine 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Alice 3
Annie 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Frances 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Anne 2
Barbra 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Martha 2
Selina 2
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Clarissa 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Emeline 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Evangaline 1
Eve 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Flory 1
Francis 1
Frederica 1
Grace 1
Hettie 1
James 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 20
James 11
Richard 7
Thomas 7
George 6
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Adam 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Robert 3
Edward 2
Harold 2
Samuel 2
Wlm.H. 2
Andrew 1
Archie 1
Bertie 1
Edmond 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Thos. 1
Walston 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Bealey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bealey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Bealey surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bealey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016. That gives Bealey a modern rank of #16,847.

What does the Bealey surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from any of several places, such as Beeley in Derbyshire.

What does the Bealey map show?

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