NameCensus.

UK surname

Bear

An English surname derived from a nickname or emblem, referring to the animal or someone with a bearlike quality.

In the 1881 census there were 790 people recorded with the Bear surname, ranking it #4,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 705, ranked #7,661, down from #4,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Egloshayle, Kirton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Hackney and Epping Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bear is 890 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.8%.

1881 census count

790

Ranked #4,709

Modern count

705

2016, ranked #7,661

Peak year

1891

890 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bear had 790 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 705 in 2016, ranked #7,661.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 890 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bear surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bear 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 739 #3,566
1861 historical 779 #3,531
1881 historical 790 #4,709
1891 historical 890 #4,626
1901 historical 870 #5,262
1911 historical 835 #5,291
1997 modern 580 #8,342
1998 modern 587 #8,518
1999 modern 602 #8,425
2000 modern 580 #8,597
2001 modern 549 #8,811
2002 modern 562 #8,835
2003 modern 579 #8,530
2004 modern 582 #8,530
2005 modern 557 #8,714
2006 modern 570 #8,606
2007 modern 566 #8,713
2008 modern 557 #8,876
2009 modern 583 #8,773
2010 modern 596 #8,831
2011 modern 614 #8,526
2012 modern 613 #8,463
2013 modern 645 #8,264
2014 modern 674 #8,018
2015 modern 683 #7,869
2016 modern 705 #7,661

Geography

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Where Bears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Egloshayle, Kirton, London parishes, Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew and Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Hackney, Epping Forest, Liverpool and Torridge. 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 Egloshayle Cornwall
2 Kirton Suffolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew Suffolk
5 Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 009 North Norfolk
2 Hackney 022 Hackney
3 Epping Forest 007 Epping Forest
4 Liverpool 040 Liverpool
5 Torridge 004 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bear

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bear is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bear is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bear falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bear

The surname "Bear" is of English origin and has its roots in the Old English word "bera," which means "bear" – the powerful and formidable forest-dwelling animal. This name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive name given to someone who exhibited bear-like characteristics, such as strength, fierceness, or a burly appearance. Alternatively, it may have been derived from a place name associated with bears.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Bear" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bere" – an Old English spelling variant. This suggests that the name had been in use among the Anglo-Saxon population before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the surname "Bear" spread across various regions of England, with its spelling evolving to include variations like "Beare," "Beere," and "Beere." The name was particularly prevalent in counties like Berkshire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire, where place names like "Bear Wood" and "Bearley" were derived from the same root.

Notable individuals who bore the surname "Bear" throughout history include John Bear (c. 1350-1415), a wealthy landowner and merchant from Somerset, England; William Bear (1574-1642), an English clergyman and author of religious texts; and Thomas Bear (1663-1733), a British Member of Parliament for the borough of Huntingdon.

Across the Atlantic, the surname "Bear" also took root in the American colonies. One prominent figure was James Bear (1762-1838), a Revolutionary War soldier from Pennsylvania who later became a Baptist minister. Additionally, Robert Bear (1811-1879), a prosperous farmer and businessman from Ohio, played a significant role in the early development of the state's agricultural industry.

As time passed, the surname "Bear" continued to gain prominence, with individuals from various backgrounds and professions bearing this name. Examples include John Bear (1825-1899), a British architect and designer of several notable buildings in London; Mary Bear (1885-1972), an American artist and educator known for her landscape paintings; and Edward Bear (1895-1963), a Canadian politician who served as a Member of Parliament for over two decades.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bear 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. Middlesex leads with 159 Bears recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.05x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 159 2.05x
Kent 81 3.07x
Surrey 76 2.01x
Cornwall 70 7.98x
Essex 64 4.19x
Suffolk 63 6.68x
Hampshire 41 2.58x
Devon 28 1.74x
Lancashire 25 0.27x
Norfolk 22 1.85x
Somerset 16 1.28x
Lincolnshire 15 1.21x
Derbyshire 14 1.15x
Nottinghamshire 13 1.25x
Durham 11 0.48x
Oxfordshire 11 2.30x
Yorkshire 11 0.14x
Channel Islands 9 3.92x
Northamptonshire 9 1.24x
Sussex 9 0.69x
Glamorgan 8 0.59x
Lanarkshire 7 0.28x
Monmouthshire 6 1.07x
Worcestershire 6 0.59x
Warwickshire 5 0.26x
Bedfordshire 4 1.00x
Gloucestershire 4 0.26x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 1.78x
Royal Navy 2 2.17x
Northumberland 1 0.09x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x
Westmorland 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chatham in Kent leads with 37 Bears recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.89x.

Place Total Index
Chatham 37 50.89x
Lambeth 30 4.44x
Hackney London 24 5.53x
Kirton 21 1257.49x
Shoreditch London 19 5.66x
Egloshayle 18 437.96x
Chelsea London 17 7.28x
Germoe 15 961.54x
West Ham 14 4.15x
Breage 12 150.00x
St Marylebone London 12 2.90x
Great Warley 11 317.92x
Padiham 11 49.55x
Westoe 11 8.42x
Bishopstoke 10 245.70x
Clerkenwell London 10 5.47x
Chard 9 59.60x
Gwennap 9 54.41x
Harrow On The Hill 9 58.18x
Millbrook 9 22.51x
Peterborough 9 17.06x
St Peter Port 9 21.20x
Bermondsey 8 3.47x
Grays Thurrock 8 56.30x
Ilkeston 8 23.53x
St Lawrence 8 44.03x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 8 45.92x
Acton 7 454.55x
Deptford St Paul 7 3.43x
Instow 7 402.30x
Landrake 7 358.97x
Lound 7 598.29x
Ramsgate 7 16.23x
Southwark St Saviour 7 17.58x
Stoke Newington London 7 11.60x
Sudbury St Peter 7 135.40x
Barony 6 0.95x
Castle Hedingham 6 217.39x
Fulham London 6 5.34x
Gillingham 6 11.01x
Kingston On Thames 6 6.62x
Nutley 6 1764.71x
Oxford St Clement 6 49.71x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 4.83x
St Botolph Aldgate London 6 37.62x
Yeovil 6 23.69x
Birmingham 5 0.77x
Blundeston 5 264.55x
Bow London 5 5.07x
Bulwell 5 22.03x
Camberwell 5 1.01x
Canterbury St George 5 157.73x
Forest Gate 5 235.85x
Islington London 5 0.67x
Kensington London 5 1.16x
Lexden 5 81.43x
Northam 5 42.55x
Ryde 5 14.66x
Wandsworth 5 6.71x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.19x
Clapham 4 4.13x
Cowley 4 26.79x
Gestingthorpe 4 235.29x
Havercroft Cum Cold 4 303.03x
Horsford 4 216.22x
Luton 4 5.76x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.43x
Overton 4 105.26x
Pancrasweek 4 465.12x
Saundby 4 1333.33x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.57x
Tottenham 4 3.24x
Upper Beeding 4 246.91x
Walton Le Dale 4 16.19x
Hammersmith London 3 1.57x
Ludgvan 3 42.92x
Skelton In Guisbrough 3 14.45x
St Dunstan In West London 3 123.97x
Staveley 3 13.93x
Twyford 3 2000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 29
Eliza 16
Emily 15
Sarah 15
Annie 14
Jane 13
Emma 12
Alice 11
Florence 10
Ellen 9
Kate 9
Martha 9
Caroline 8
Margaret 8
Fanny 6
Rebecca 6
Susan 6
Agnes 5
Amelia 5
Edith 5
Hannah 5
Laura 5
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Beatrice 4
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Harriett 4
Amy 3
Ann 3
Clara 3
Harriet 3
Jessie 3
Lilian 3
Minnie 3
Rosa 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Annette 2
C.C. 2
Elizth. 2
Florance 2
Henrietta 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Eliz.Annie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 49
John 34
Thomas 28
James 26
Henry 25
Robert 18
George 16
Charles 14
Edward 12
Alfred 11
Frederick 8
Richard 8
Arthur 7
Herbert 7
Albert 6
Jonathan 6
Joseph 6
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Frank 4
Fred 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Wm. 3
Abel 2
Bassett 2
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Frederic 2
Jas. 2
Josiah 2
Silas 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Thos.W. 2
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Bertrend 1
Calvin 1
Ed. 1
Emile 1
Emilie 1
Ezekiel 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Hy. 1
Wm.Samual 1

FAQ

Bear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 790 people were recorded with the Bear surname. That placed it at #4,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 705 in 2016. That gives Bear a modern rank of #7,661.

What does the Bear surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname or emblem, referring to the animal or someone with a bearlike quality.

What does the Bear map show?

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