NameCensus.

UK surname

Beaney

A Norman surname likely derived from the Old French "beau né" meaning "well born".

In the 1881 census there were 495 people recorded with the Beaney surname, ranking it #6,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,196, ranked #4,981, up from #6,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Rochester and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashford, Fenland and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beaney is 1,261 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 141.6%.

1881 census count

495

Ranked #6,826

Modern count

1,196

2016, ranked #4,981

Peak year

1999

1,261 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beaney had 495 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,196 in 2016, ranked #4,981.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 952 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Beaney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beaney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beaney 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 305 #8,321
1881 historical 495 #6,826
1891 historical 591 #6,465
1901 historical 741 #5,997
1911 historical 952 #4,733
1997 modern 1,201 #4,703
1998 modern 1,249 #4,726
1999 modern 1,261 #4,723
2000 modern 1,249 #4,743
2001 modern 1,201 #4,795
2002 modern 1,233 #4,785
2003 modern 1,193 #4,829
2004 modern 1,201 #4,808
2005 modern 1,159 #4,906
2006 modern 1,170 #4,877
2007 modern 1,172 #4,913
2008 modern 1,196 #4,855
2009 modern 1,219 #4,875
2010 modern 1,259 #4,850
2011 modern 1,220 #4,907
2012 modern 1,168 #5,024
2013 modern 1,211 #4,948
2014 modern 1,215 #4,957
2015 modern 1,201 #4,969
2016 modern 1,196 #4,981

Geography

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Where Beaneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Rochester, London parishes and Chilham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashford, Fenland and Dover. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Rochester Kent
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Chilham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashford 012 Ashford
2 Fenland 011 Fenland
3 Ashford 005 Ashford
4 Dover 014 Dover
5 Ashford 013 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beaney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beaney

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Beaney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Beaney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Beaney is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beaney 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

Beaney falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Beaney

The surname BEANEY is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Kent, particularly in the southeastern part of the region.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the BEANEY surname can be found in the Feet of Fines, a collection of legal records from the 13th and 14th centuries. In these documents, the name appears as 'de Bene' or 'de Benne', suggesting a connection to a particular place or location.

The name BEANEY is thought to be derived from the Old English word 'bene', which means 'bean' or 'bean field'. It is likely that the surname was initially given as a descriptive name to individuals who lived near or worked in areas where beans were cultivated.

In the 16th century, the BEANEY surname is documented in various parish records and tax rolls from Kent. One notable example is John Beaney, born in 1564 in the village of Wingham, Kent. He was a landowner and farmer, and his descendants continued to carry the BEANEY name in the region for generations.

As the BEANEY family spread throughout England, the surname underwent slight variations in spelling, including Beeny, Beeney, and Beaney. This was common during the medieval and early modern periods when standardized spellings were not yet established.

One prominent figure in history who bore the BEANEY surname was Sir John Beaney (1628-1701), a successful merchant and Member of Parliament for the borough of Rochester, Kent, in the late 17th century. He played a significant role in the economic and political affairs of the region during his lifetime.

Another notable BEANEY was Mary Ann Beaney (1797-1885), a British artist and painter known for her watercolor landscapes and floral studies. Her works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries in London.

In the 19th century, the BEANEY surname gained recognition through the work of Samuel Beaney (1833-1912), a prominent architect who designed several notable buildings in Kent, including the Beaney Institute in Canterbury, which now houses a museum and library.

The BEANEY family continued to contribute to various fields throughout the 20th century, with individuals such as Sir Alfred Beaney (1901-1987), a distinguished civil engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Channel Tunnel project between England and France.

While the BEANEY surname has its origins in Kent, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond, with families bearing this name found in various parts of the world. However, the name's roots can be traced back to the medieval period in southeastern England, where it was likely derived from the Old English word 'bene', reflecting the agricultural heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beaney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beaney 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. Kent leads with 124 Beaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.53x.

County Total Index
Kent 124 7.53x
Sussex 109 13.39x
Durham 74 5.15x
Middlesex 67 1.39x
Surrey 51 2.17x
Northumberland 35 4.87x
Norfolk 9 1.21x
Staffordshire 9 0.55x
Essex 6 0.63x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Hampshire 2 0.20x
Wiltshire 2 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.33x
Devon 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 1.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chilham in Kent leads with 32 Beaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1361.70x.

Place Total Index
Chilham 32 1361.70x
Rochester St Margaret 26 149.68x
Hastings St Clement 25 326.37x
Camberwell 24 7.78x
Hastings St Mary 24 118.46x
Horton 20 563.38x
Tunstall 12 167.83x
Salehurst 11 311.61x
Kensington London 10 3.73x
Chester Le Street 9 81.60x
Croydon 9 6.89x
Fulham London 9 12.85x
Penshaw 9 208.33x
Ticehurst 9 180.72x
Willesborough 9 203.16x
Bromley London 8 7.53x
Chelsea London 8 5.50x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 8 35.89x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 4.63x
Teddington London 8 73.13x
Ewhurst 7 386.74x
Hastings St Mary In The 7 40.30x
Holmside 7 197.74x
Milton In Milton 7 100.00x
Northiam 7 350.00x
Seaton Delaval 7 110.94x
Battersea 6 3.38x
Chatham 6 13.24x
Dawdon 6 33.96x
St Marylebone London 6 2.33x
West Ham 6 2.85x
Wingate 6 60.91x
Witton Gilbert 6 105.82x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.38x
Canterbury St Mildred 5 127.88x
Chartham 5 121.65x
Icklesham 5 349.65x
Rotherhithe 5 8.38x
Dover St Mary Virgin 4 25.09x
Fairlight 4 500.00x
Hawkhurst 4 78.13x
Ryhope 4 40.12x
Ashford 3 18.70x
Backworth 3 157.89x
Coxhoe 3 73.53x
Great Chart 3 243.90x
Hastings St Leonards 3 25.06x
Pelton 3 43.92x
Tenterden 3 51.64x
Tonbridge 3 5.05x
Wandsworth 3 6.45x
Whitstable 3 37.13x
Aldershot 2 6.03x
Beckley 2 98.52x
Burwash 2 52.91x
Christian Malford 2 153.85x
Esh 2 19.14x
Faversham 2 12.73x
Gateshead 2 1.86x
Heaton 2 84.03x
Hetton Le Hole 2 10.99x
Hillingdon 2 13.00x
Islington London 2 0.43x
Limehouse London 2 3.77x
Moorsley 2 129.87x
North Bierley 2 7.74x
Boxley 1 39.53x
Chislehurst 1 11.33x
Dorking 1 6.33x
Folkestone 1 3.13x
Hastings All Sts 1 13.04x
Hernhill 1 80.65x
Lambeth 1 0.24x
Leverington 1 49.75x
Putney 1 4.54x
Royal Navy 1 2.03x
St Magnus Martyr London 1 666.67x
St Martin In Fields 1 3.46x
Stoke Newington London 1 2.66x
Tynemouth 1 2.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Jane 21
Sarah 18
Elizabeth 16
Emma 14
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Ann 6
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Harriett 5
Louisa 5
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Esther 4
Hannah 4
Margaret 4
Minnie 4
Edith 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Rose 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Catharine 2
Deborah 2
Dorothy 2
Fanny 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Ana 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Bessy 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Dorcas 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizabth. 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Ellanor 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Joanne 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
Thomas 29
John 24
James 22
George 19
Henry 15
Robert 12
Edward 11
Charles 8
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Alfred 6
Walter 6
Edgar 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Richard 3
Frank 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Joseph 2
Alexander 1
Alf 1
Allen 1
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Chrisr. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Erenest 1
Geo. 1
Hy 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Phillip 1
Priscilla 1
R.I.W. 1
Ralph 1
Richmond 1
Samuel 1
Spencer 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Willy 1

FAQ

Beaney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beaney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 495 people were recorded with the Beaney surname. That placed it at #6,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beaney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,196 in 2016. That gives Beaney a modern rank of #4,981.

What does the Beaney surname mean?

A Norman surname likely derived from the Old French "beau né" meaning "well born".

What does the Beaney map show?

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