UK surname
A surname likely derived from the Old English word "bere" meaning barley, describing someone associated with that crop.
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Beary surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Manchester and Doddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beary is 167 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 480.0%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
87
2016, ranked #32,476
Peak year
1861
167 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beary surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beary 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 | 52 | #23,915 |
| 1861 | historical | 167 | #13,956 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 65 | #28,660 |
| 1901 | historical | 19 | #31,911 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 79 | #30,080 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 80 | #29,945 |
| 2002 | modern | 83 | #30,070 |
| 2003 | modern | 85 | #29,877 |
| 2004 | modern | 72 | #31,488 |
| 2005 | modern | 72 | #31,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 79 | #31,957 |
| 2009 | modern | 78 | #32,471 |
| 2010 | modern | 75 | #33,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 80 | #32,652 |
| 2012 | modern | 79 | #32,966 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 86 | #32,604 |
| 2016 | modern | 87 | #32,476 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Manchester, Doddington, Almondbury and West Derby. 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 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Doddington | Cambridgeshire |
| 4 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beary 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 Beary, 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 Beary surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beary 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, Beary 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 Beary is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beary, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BEARY is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "bera", meaning "bear". It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, primarily in the southern counties of England.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BEARY can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, dating back to 1273, where it appears as "William le Bere". This variation suggests that the name was originally an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked with bears or had some association with these animals.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname BEARY appeared in various spellings, such as Bery, Berye, and Beare, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spelling in that era. It is also possible that the name had ties to certain place names, like Berry Pomeroy in Devon or Berry Hill in Worcestershire.
Notable historical figures bearing the BEARY surname include Sir John Beary (c. 1545-1625), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset. Another prominent individual was Richard Beary (1607-1670), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works.
In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662, where a John Beary is listed as a resident of Gloucestershire. The parish registers of St. Dunstan's in Stepney, London, also mention a marriage between William Beary and Elizabeth Harwood in 1692.
During the 18th century, the BEARY surname continued to be present across various regions of England. One noteworthy individual from this period was Thomas Beary (1732-1800), an English painter and engraver known for his landscape paintings and prints.
In the 19th century, the BEARY surname gained further prominence with individuals like Admiral Sir Michael Beary (1836-1901), a highly decorated British naval officer who served in the Crimean War and the Second Opium War. Another notable figure was James Beary (1845-1920), an Irish-born American politician who served as the Mayor of Boston from 1898 to 1900.
While the surname BEARY may have evolved from its original occupational roots, it has since become a well-established surname in various parts of the English-speaking world, with a rich history and notable bearers throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beary 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. Middlesex leads with 6 Bearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.11x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 6 | 4.11x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.15x |
| Sussex | 2 | 8.12x |
| Devon | 1 | 3.29x |
| Fife | 1 | 11.56x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 15.24x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.41x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 5.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hornsey in Middlesex leads with 4 Bearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 216.22x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hornsey | 4 | 216.22x |
| Ore | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Bow London | 1 | 53.76x |
| Dysart | 1 | 172.41x |
| Exminster | 1 | 909.09x |
| Kinfauns | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Mitcham | 1 | 222.22x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 12.82x |
| Stourbridge | 1 | 204.08x |
| Wavertree | 1 | 181.82x |
| Wigan | 1 | 41.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beary 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 Beary 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 Beary households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cooper | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engraver Employing Man & Boy (Artizan) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Millers Loader | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Beary surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Beary a modern rank of #32,476.
A surname likely derived from the Old English word "bere" meaning barley, describing someone associated with that crop.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beary 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.