UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a builder or a worker in wood or stone.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Beam surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 30, ranked #35,997, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Peter, Rochdale and Tormoham with Torquay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beam is 185 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 63.0%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
30
2016, ranked #35,997
Peak year
1861
185 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beam surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beam surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 185 | #12,799 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 52 | #27,620 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 9 | #37,302 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 24 | #36,288 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 30 | #35,997 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Peter, Rochdale, Tormoham with Torquay, Youlgrave and Brechin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Peter | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 3 | Tormoham with Torquay | Devon |
| 4 | Youlgrave | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Brechin | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beam surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beam, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Beam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Beam is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BEAM has its origins in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "beam," which referred to a tree trunk or a beam of wood used for construction purposes. This connection suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname given to those who worked with beams, such as carpenters or builders.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BEAM can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where it is listed as "William Beam." This document provides evidence of the surname's existence in medieval England. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a John Beam in the county of Oxfordshire.
The surname BEAM has also been associated with various place names across England. For example, there are villages called Beam in Worcestershire and Beam Hills in Somerset, both of which may have influenced the formation of the surname. Furthermore, variations in spelling, such as Beame, Beame, and Beams, were common during the Middle Ages.
Several notable individuals have borne the surname BEAM throughout history. One of the earliest recorded persons with this name was William Beam (c. 1500-1567), an English clergyman who served as Archdeacon of Berkshire in the 16th century. Another prominent figure was Joseph Beam (1654-1717), a Quaker minister and author from Pennsylvania who played a significant role in the early history of the state.
During the 18th century, Jacob Beam (1734-1808) was a prominent American farmer and distiller who founded the Beam family's bourbon whiskey business in Kentucky. His grandson, David Beam (1802-1873), continued the family legacy and established the David Beam Bourbon brand.
In more recent times, notable individuals with the surname BEAM include Walter Beam (1913-2006), an American baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox in the 1930s, and C. Clifford Beam (1923-2010), a United States Air Force general who served during the Vietnam War.
These examples demonstrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the surname BEAM, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life over the centuries, spanning various professions, locations, and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beam surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 12 Beams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 12 | 1.51x |
| Devon | 11 | 6.61x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 0.95x |
| Kent | 7 | 2.56x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.88x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.80x |
| Norfolk | 6 | 4.88x |
| Angus | 5 | 6.75x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 2.27x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 2.40x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 1.91x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 2.35x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 2.66x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 4.22x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.42x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 5.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kippax in Yorkshire leads with 9 Beams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1285.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kippax | 9 | 1285.71x |
| Exeter Holy Trinity | 7 | 1076.92x |
| Great Yarmouth | 5 | 49.07x |
| Brechin | 4 | 137.46x |
| Stonehouse East | 4 | 476.19x |
| Tranmere | 4 | 61.63x |
| Wardleworth | 4 | 73.80x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 3 | 41.49x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 6.75x |
| Manchester | 3 | 7.03x |
| Ramsgate | 3 | 67.42x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 2 | 38.24x |
| Ewell | 2 | 243.90x |
| Penge | 2 | 39.14x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 4.68x |
| Sutton In Marsh | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Wellingborough | 2 | 52.91x |
| Alberbury Bauseley | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Battersea | 1 | 3.40x |
| Clapham | 1 | 10.00x |
| Diss | 1 | 95.24x |
| Eston | 1 | 57.80x |
| Gateshead | 1 | 5.61x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 7.86x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.23x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 5.25x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.73x |
| Montrose | 1 | 22.27x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 10.99x |
| Preston | 1 | 3.94x |
| Southcoates | 1 | 22.73x |
| St Botolph Lincoln | 1 | 108.70x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 1 | 25.51x |
| St Helier | 1 | 12.95x |
| Stapleton | 1 | 33.56x |
| Sturry | 1 | 312.50x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 10.16x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 22.83x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Beam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Beam households.
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Beam surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 30 in 2016. That gives Beam a modern rank of #35,997.
An occupational surname referring to a builder or a worker in wood or stone.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beam bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.