UK surname
A humorous surname derived from the legume plant, possibly once a nickname.
In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Beans surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 46, ranked #35,126, down from #18,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bryn-Eglwys and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beans is 219 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.8%.
1881 census count
109
Ranked #18,793
Modern count
46
2016, ranked #35,126
Peak year
1861
219 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beans surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beans surname density by area, 1881 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 | 133 | #14,106 |
| 1861 | historical | 219 | #11,124 |
| 1881 | historical | 109 | #18,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 148 | #18,506 |
| 1901 | historical | 79 | #25,363 |
| 1911 | historical | 94 | #23,391 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 40 | #35,422 |
| 2016 | modern | 46 | #35,126 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bryn-Eglwys, Manchester and St Marylebone. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Bryn-Eglwys | Merionethshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beans 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 Beans, 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 Beans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beans 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, Beans 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 Beans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beans, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BEANS is believed to have originated in England, possibly in the early 13th century. It may have derived from the Old English word "bean," referring to the legume or the plant itself. Some historical records suggest that the name could also be a variation of the French surname "Beanes," which was brought to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BEANS can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, an important historical document containing records of landholders in medieval England. This reference suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, the surname BEANS appeared in several tax rolls and court records, indicating that families bearing this name were present in various parts of England. For instance, a John Beans was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.
The surname BEANS may have originated as a descriptive name, referring to someone who cultivated or traded in beans. It could also have been a nickname given to someone with a particular physical characteristic or occupation related to beans.
One notable historical figure with the surname BEANS was Sir John Beans (1515-1583), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Woodstock and later as a Justice of the King's Bench.
Another important bearer of the name was Richard Beans (1655-1725), an English merchant and landowner who established a successful trading business in London. He was also involved in philanthropic endeavors, donating funds for the construction of a school in his hometown.
The surname BEANS is also associated with several place names in England, such as Beansleigh in Kent and Beansworth in Gloucestershire. These locations may have played a role in the spread and adoption of the surname in different regions.
Additionally, the BEANS surname has been linked to various historical figures, including Thomas Beans (1688-1756), a prominent British mathematician, and William Beans (1734-1809), an English clergyman and author.
While the origins of the surname BEANS can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, the historical records mentioned above provide valuable insights into the early history and significance of this surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beans 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. Kent leads with 14 Beans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 14 | 3.86x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.13x |
| Denbighshire | 11 | 27.39x |
| Essex | 10 | 4.77x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.79x |
| Norfolk | 8 | 4.89x |
| Aberdeenshire | 7 | 7.11x |
| Nottinghamshire | 7 | 4.89x |
| Durham | 6 | 1.90x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 2.16x |
| Merionethshire | 4 | 20.57x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.77x |
| Cambridgeshire | 3 | 4.46x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.28x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 2.18x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.46x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.63x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.77x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bryneglwys in Denbighshire leads with 8 Beans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6153.85x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bryneglwys | 8 | 6153.85x |
| Sutton In Ashfield | 7 | 225.08x |
| Waltham Holy Cross | 7 | 357.14x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 6 | 32.57x |
| Brenchley | 6 | 461.54x |
| Paddington London | 5 | 12.79x |
| Stockton On Tees | 5 | 32.79x |
| Gillingham | 4 | 53.48x |
| Hackney London | 4 | 6.71x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 5.22x |
| Salthouse | 4 | 5000.00x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 4 | 24.63x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 3 | 10.88x |
| Deptford St Nicholas | 3 | 104.17x |
| Great Bolton | 3 | 17.95x |
| Llangollen | 3 | 750.00x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 3 | 39.01x |
| Corwen Carrog | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Corwen Dolaberalwen | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Ford | 2 | 1428.57x |
| Saffron Walden | 2 | 90.09x |
| Windlesham | 2 | 206.19x |
| Barnsley | 1 | 9.20x |
| Battersea | 1 | 2.56x |
| Bradford On Avon | 1 | 33.22x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 4.28x |
| Castle Hedingham | 1 | 263.16x |
| Caterham | 1 | 43.67x |
| Dawdon | 1 | 25.71x |
| Drayton | 1 | 666.67x |
| Elswick | 1 | 7.92x |
| Hemlington | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Honingham | 1 | 833.33x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 6.51x |
| Kelsale | 1 | 277.78x |
| Little Plumstead | 1 | 833.33x |
| Newhills | 1 | 49.51x |
| Orpington | 1 | 90.09x |
| Romsey Extra | 1 | 76.92x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 12.50x |
| Swanton Morley | 1 | 400.00x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 1 | 19.49x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beans 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 Beans 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 Beans households.
FAQ
In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Beans surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 46 in 2016. That gives Beans a modern rank of #35,126.
A humorous surname derived from the legume plant, possibly once a nickname.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beans 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.