NameCensus.

UK surname

Beat

An occupational surname derived from the Old French word 'bateur', meaning one who beats or pounds.

In the 1881 census there were 192 people recorded with the Beat surname, ranking it #13,185 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 221, ranked #18,321, down from #13,185 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newcastle St Andrew, Kingsbarns and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tayport, West Lindsey and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beat is 379 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.1%.

1881 census count

192

Ranked #13,185

Modern count

221

2016, ranked #18,321

Peak year

1861

379 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beat had 192 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,185 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016, ranked #18,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 379 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Beat surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beat surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beat 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 201 #10,364
1861 historical 379 #6,739
1881 historical 192 #13,185
1891 historical 348 #9,873
1901 historical 185 #15,892
1911 historical 94 #23,391
1997 modern 178 #18,958
1998 modern 199 #18,177
1999 modern 206 #17,905
2000 modern 200 #18,209
2001 modern 196 #18,146
2002 modern 198 #18,410
2003 modern 192 #18,568
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 192 #18,640
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 183 #19,553
2008 modern 191 #19,195
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 206 #19,066
2011 modern 208 #18,783
2012 modern 209 #18,659
2013 modern 217 #18,493
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 221 #18,321

Geography

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Where Beats are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newcastle St Andrew, Kingsbarns, St Pancras, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Kinnoull. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tayport, West Lindsey, Gateshead, Maryhill East and Nottingham. 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 Newcastle St Andrew Northumberland
2 Kingsbarns Fife
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Kinnoull Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tayport Fife
2 West Lindsey 005 West Lindsey
3 Gateshead 012 Gateshead
4 Maryhill East Glasgow City
5 Nottingham 023 Nottingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beat

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beat

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beat, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Beat surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Beat household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Beat is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beat is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beat falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Beat

The surname BEAT originated in Scotland, first appearing in historical records around the late 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bæt," meaning a boat or small vessel. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with those who worked on or near the water, such as fishermen or boatmen.

One of the earliest known references to the BEAT surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1498, where a person named John Bate is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Bate," was common in the early days of the surname's usage.

In the 16th century, the BEAT name appeared in various Scottish records, including the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, where a William Bett was mentioned in 1548. The spelling "Bett" was another common variation during this time period.

The BEAT surname has been present in several notable historical figures throughout the centuries. One such individual was John Beat (1589-1661), a Scottish clergyman and Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1639 to 1661. Another was Robert Beat (1602-1661), a Scottish minister and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 17th century, the BEAT surname spread beyond Scotland, with individuals bearing the name appearing in England and Ireland. One notable figure from this era was William Beat (1625-1699), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of logarithms.

As the centuries progressed, the BEAT surname continued to be found across various regions, with several individuals achieving prominence. For example, James Beat (1785-1853) was a Scottish-born American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, from 1835 to 1837.

Another notable individual with the BEAT surname was John Loughborough Pearson (1817-1897), an English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Pearson's middle name, Loughborough, is believed to be derived from the BEAT surname, as his mother's maiden name was Beat.

While the BEAT surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread across the globe, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beat families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beat 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. Angus leads with 74 Beats recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.65x.

County Total Index
Angus 74 42.65x
Fife 27 24.35x
Northumberland 16 5.74x
Yorkshire 12 0.65x
Middlesex 10 0.53x
Perthshire 10 11.90x
Cumberland 8 4.96x
Worcestershire 8 3.27x
Dorset 6 4.88x
Lanarkshire 4 0.66x
Norfolk 4 1.39x
Aberdeenshire 3 1.73x
Dunbartonshire 2 3.97x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Midlothian 2 0.80x
Devon 1 0.26x
Durham 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.69x
Royal Navy 1 4.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 44 Beats recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.93x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 44 67.93x
Ferry Port On Craig 15 824.18x
Jesmond 10 255.10x
Monifieth 9 146.82x
Kinnoull 8 361.99x
Lochee 8 516.13x
Stanwix 8 610.69x
Liff Benvie 7 26.58x
Oldbury 7 58.19x
Abroath St Vigeans 6 845.07x
Leuchars 6 428.57x
Steeple 6 3157.89x
Tickhill 6 508.47x
Byker 5 36.28x
Drighlington 5 185.19x
Hackney London 5 4.76x
St Luke London 5 16.64x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 4 46.24x
Kingsbarns 4 784.31x
Old Monkland 4 16.64x
Aberdeen Old Machar 3 8.29x
Kirkdale 2 5.35x
Roseneath 2 206.19x
Collessie 1 78.13x
Dewsbury 1 5.25x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 16.84x
Elswick 1 4.50x
Forgan 1 47.17x
Great Malvern 1 19.61x
Inveresk 1 14.73x
Lecropt 1 256.41x
Paisley Middle Church 1 11.83x
Perth Middle Church 1 31.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.33x
Tanfield 1 15.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 4
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Emelei 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Maude 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 4
James 3
John 3
Thomas 3
Daniel 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alex 1
Arnold 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederich 1
George 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Walter 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Beat households.

FAQ

Beat surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beat surname in 1881?

In 1881, 192 people were recorded with the Beat surname. That placed it at #13,185 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beat surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016. That gives Beat a modern rank of #18,321.

What does the Beat surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old French word 'bateur', meaning one who beats or pounds.

What does the Beat map show?

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