NameCensus.

UK surname

Beardsley

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Beornred's clearing" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 955 people recorded with the Beardsley surname, ranking it #4,053 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,647, ranked #3,782, up from #4,053 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duffield, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Erewash.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beardsley is 1,776 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.5%.

1881 census count

955

Ranked #4,053

Modern count

1,647

2016, ranked #3,782

Peak year

2002

1,776 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beardsley had 955 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,053 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,647 in 2016, ranked #3,782.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,605 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Beardsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beardsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beardsley 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 530 #4,736
1861 historical 653 #4,109
1881 historical 955 #4,053
1891 historical 1,183 #3,622
1901 historical 1,365 #3,682
1911 historical 1,605 #3,028
1997 modern 1,722 #3,459
1998 modern 1,769 #3,506
1999 modern 1,775 #3,521
2000 modern 1,741 #3,570
2001 modern 1,726 #3,527
2002 modern 1,776 #3,511
2003 modern 1,704 #3,574
2004 modern 1,703 #3,581
2005 modern 1,661 #3,611
2006 modern 1,650 #3,639
2007 modern 1,667 #3,637
2008 modern 1,668 #3,652
2009 modern 1,716 #3,640
2010 modern 1,747 #3,654
2011 modern 1,706 #3,691
2012 modern 1,684 #3,674
2013 modern 1,693 #3,721
2014 modern 1,692 #3,734
2015 modern 1,677 #3,732
2016 modern 1,647 #3,782

Geography

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Where Beardsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duffield, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary, Ilkeston and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Erewash. 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 Duffield Derbyshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Erewash 003 Erewash
2 Erewash 006 Erewash
3 Erewash 001 Erewash
4 Erewash 007 Erewash
5 Erewash 016 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beardsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beardsley

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Beardsley 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

Beardsley is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beardsley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beardsley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Beardsley

The surname Beardsley is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "bearde" meaning beard and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in a meadow or clearing where bearded individuals gathered.

The name Beardsley can be traced back to the 13th century, with early records showing variations such as Berdesleye and Berdesleia. It is believed to have originated in the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire, where several places were named Beardsley or Beardsall.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which mentions a Richard de Berdesleye from Derbyshire. The Domesday Book of 1086 also contains references to places that may have given rise to the surname, such as Berdeslau and Berdeshille.

In the 14th century, the name Beardsley appeared in various historical records, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332, which listed a John de Berdesleye from Staffordshire. The Pipe Rolls of 1379 also mentioned a Thomas Berdesley from Derbyshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Beardsley throughout history include:

1. Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898), an English illustrator and author, known for his distinctive black and white illustrations. 2. Samuel Beardsley (1787-1860), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 26th Attorney General of New York. 3. Wilfred Beardsley (1891-1961), an American tennis player who won the Wimbledon Championships in 1910 and 1912. 4. Josephine Beardsley (1859-1950), an American philanthropist and social reformer, known for her efforts in establishing the Beardsley Rural Teacher Training Department at the University of Kansas. 5. Harry Beardsley (1893-1968), an American baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox in the early 20th century.

In terms of place names, the village of Beardsley in Derbyshire and the hamlet of Beardsall in Nottinghamshire are believed to be derived from the same Old English roots as the surname. These place names may have influenced the development and spread of the surname Beardsley throughout England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beardsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beardsley 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. Derbyshire leads with 543 Beardsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.19x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 543 37.19x
Nottinghamshire 225 17.90x
Yorkshire 60 0.65x
Staffordshire 39 1.24x
Lancashire 24 0.22x
Leicestershire 18 1.74x
Middlesex 15 0.16x
Cheshire 10 0.49x
Lincolnshire 5 0.34x
Warwickshire 5 0.21x
Sussex 3 0.19x
Devon 2 0.10x
Surrey 2 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Kent 1 0.03x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.90x
Suffolk 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilkeston in Derbyshire leads with 329 Beardsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 803.81x.

Place Total Index
Ilkeston 329 803.81x
Nottingham St Mary 69 21.22x
Radford 36 56.37x
Derby St Werburgh 22 26.10x
Stafford St Mary 21 47.13x
Basford 20 34.52x
Ripley 20 110.80x
Sheffield 17 5.78x
Snenton 16 32.40x
Carlton 14 97.63x
Duffield 14 121.63x
Heanor 14 64.13x
Melbourne 13 130.26x
Shottle Postern 13 1566.27x
Stanley 13 481.48x
Codnor Loscoe 11 95.16x
Heage 11 142.30x
Claylane 10 49.26x
Denaby 10 191.20x
Newstead 10 323.62x
Leeds 9 1.72x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 2.70x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 9.29x
Newton 8 250.78x
Salford 8 2.46x
Swinton In Rotherham 8 32.73x
Ashleyhay 7 1000.00x
Chilwell 7 209.58x
Loughborough 7 14.92x
Mansfield Woodhouse 7 83.73x
Ashborne 6 60.42x
Bulwell 6 21.95x
Derby St Alkmund 6 13.71x
Eastwood 6 53.38x
Gorton 6 5.77x
Pinxton 6 80.86x
Birmingham 5 0.64x
Great Grimsby 5 5.28x
Horsley 5 56.95x
Litchurch 5 8.51x
Smalley 5 192.31x
Wirksworth 5 37.68x
Leicester All Sts 4 19.69x
Lenton 4 13.51x
Mansfield 4 9.20x
Nuthall 4 84.93x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.43x
Beeston 3 20.78x
Brackenfield 3 291.26x
Denby 3 67.26x
East Broughton 3 95.24x
Greasley 3 10.58x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.19x
Newbold Dunston 3 21.61x
Nottingham St Peter 3 21.41x
Paddington London 3 0.87x
Shipley 3 129.87x
Walsall Foreign 3 1.85x
West Bridgford 3 240.00x
West Hallam 3 158.73x
Wetton 3 288.46x
Alfreton 2 4.51x
Ashby De La Zouch 2 8.34x
Breadsall 2 118.34x
Brighton 2 0.63x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 1.06x
Egham 2 7.17x
Elton 2 5.23x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 10.11x
North Meols 2 1.85x
Scarborough 2 2.38x
Shoreditch London 2 0.49x
St Pancras London 2 0.27x
Sturston 2 82.99x
Westminster St John 2 1.76x
Whittington 2 9.90x
Barony 1 0.13x
Bredbury 1 8.40x
Chelsea London 1 0.36x
Liverpool 1 0.15x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 69
John 64
Joseph 31
James 23
Thomas 23
Samuel 20
George 18
Alfred 12
Isaac 12
Edward 11
Henry 11
Albert 9
Amos 9
Solomon 9
Arthur 8
Richard 8
Walter 8
Charles 6
Enoch 6
Francis 6
Herbert 6
Christopher 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Elijah 4
Ezekiel 4
Godfrey 4
Mark 4
Robert 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Thos. 3
Anthony 2
Cyrus 2
Fredk. 2
Luke 2
Moses 2
Cornelius 1
Cyril 1
Elisha 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Jno.H. 1
Jon 1
Zadock 1

FAQ

Beardsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beardsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 955 people were recorded with the Beardsley surname. That placed it at #4,053 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beardsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,647 in 2016. That gives Beardsley a modern rank of #3,782.

What does the Beardsley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Beornred's clearing" in Old English.

What does the Beardsley map show?

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