UK surname
A surname possibly derived from the animal or physical characteristic.
In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Bears surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #27,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Sawley and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bears is 151 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.1%.
1881 census count
43
Ranked #27,575
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
151 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bears surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bears 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 151 | #15,209 |
| 1881 | historical | 43 | #27,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 14 | #32,506 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Sawley, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Lambeth and Fringford. 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 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Sawley | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory | Northamptonshire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Fringford | Oxfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bears 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 Bears, 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 Bears surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bears 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, Bears 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 Bears is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bears, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BEARS" is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to be an occupational surname, derived from the Old English word "bera," which means "bear-keeper" or "bear-ward." In medieval England, there were individuals whose occupation was to keep and care for bears for entertainment purposes, such as bear-baiting or bear-dancing.
The earliest recorded mention of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1195, where a person named William le Bere is listed. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.
Another early record of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Richard le Berewarde is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Berewarde," further reinforces the occupational origin of the name, as it literally means "bear-ward" or "bear-keeper."
In the 14th century, the surname is found in various spellings, such as "Bere," "Berre," and "Beere," reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.
One notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Bere, a English knight who lived during the late 14th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in 1388. He was also appointed as the Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1395.
Another prominent individual with the surname was Nicholas Bere, an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Bristol in the late 15th century. He was born around 1440 and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1480 and 1488.
In the 16th century, the surname appears in various records, including the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, where a person named Thomas Beares is listed as being baptized in 1567.
A notable bearer of the surname from the 17th century was Thomas Beere, an English clergyman and author who lived from 1608 to 1701. He served as the Rector of Honiton in Devon and wrote several religious works, including "The Mistery of Scripture" and "The Life and Works of the Rev. Thomas Beere."
In the 18th century, the name is found in various records, such as the baptismal records of St. Botolph's Church in Aldgate, London, where a person named John Bears is listed as being baptized in 1712.
Throughout history, the surname "BEARS" has been associated with various professions and occupations, reflecting its occupational origins. While it may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, it remains a distinctive surname with a rich historical background.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bears 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Bears' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 10 | 2.01x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.67x |
| Derbyshire | 6 | 9.14x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 8.02x |
| Somerset | 4 | 5.93x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 8.31x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.72x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 6.92x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.70x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.77x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 3.86x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bootle Cum Linacre in Lancashire leads with 6 Bears' recorded in 1881 and an index of 151.90x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 6 | 151.90x |
| Long Eaton | 6 | 689.66x |
| North Seaton | 5 | 1923.08x |
| Bow London | 4 | 74.91x |
| Manchester | 4 | 17.88x |
| Stoke Under Hambdon | 4 | 1818.18x |
| Rothwell | 3 | 357.14x |
| Dalston | 2 | 714.29x |
| Hemel Hempstead | 2 | 153.85x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 50.76x |
| Banbury | 1 | 192.31x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 1 | 67.11x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 6.84x |
| Penrith | 1 | 75.19x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 30.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bears 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 Bears 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 Bears households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| ((Labourer At Mill)) | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Beer Shop (Seller) | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Cordwainer | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| Genl Lab | 1 |
| Gunner Royl Arty | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Leather Passer (Currier) | 1 |
| Machinist (S) | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Ship Carpenter | 1 |
| Warehouseboy | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Bears surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Bears a modern rank of #37,385.
A surname possibly derived from the animal or physical characteristic.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bears 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.