UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire.
In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Beatley surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #24,711 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Willesden and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beatley is 288 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.8%.
1881 census count
63
Ranked #24,711
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1891
288 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beatley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beatley surname density by area, 1901 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 | 36 | #26,838 |
| 1861 | historical | 254 | #9,741 |
| 1881 | historical | 63 | #24,711 |
| 1891 | historical | 288 | #11,450 |
| 1901 | historical | 134 | #19,288 |
| 1911 | historical | 91 | #23,684 |
| 1997 | modern | 22 | #35,584 |
| 1998 | modern | 23 | #35,603 |
| 1999 | modern | 22 | #35,725 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 19 | #36,247 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 19 | #36,740 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Willesden, St Pancras, Bradford and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beatley 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 Beatley, 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 Beatley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beatley 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, Beatley 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 Beatley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beatley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Beatley is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from a combination of the Old English words "bea" meaning "stream" and "ley" meaning "a clearing or meadow." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a stream in a clearing or meadow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Beatley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and estates commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The entry mentions a landowner named Beatley in the county of Essex.
During the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Beatleigh" and "Beetley" appeared in historical documents and parish records across various counties in England, particularly in the regions of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex.
In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Beatley was Sir John Beatley, a knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War against France. He was born around 1320 and played a significant role in several battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
Another prominent individual with the Beatley surname was William Beatley, born in 1578 in Norfolk. He was a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on theological and philosophical subjects during the Elizabethan era.
In the 17th century, the surname Beatley was also found in various records and documents, including the writings of the English poet and clergyman George Herbert, who mentioned a "Beatley Manor" in his work.
During the 18th century, a notable Beatley was Robert Beatley, born in 1712 in Suffolk. He was a successful merchant and landowner who played a significant role in local affairs and served as a magistrate in his county.
Another individual of note was Elizabeth Beatley, born in 1783 in Essex. She was a prominent figure in the early women's rights movement and campaigned for equal educational opportunities for women during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
While the surname Beatley may have originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references to the name remain rooted in the counties of England where it first emerged.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beatley 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 15 Beatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.44x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 2.44x |
| Norfolk | 14 | 14.82x |
| Surrey | 9 | 3.01x |
| Wiltshire | 8 | 14.72x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 1.15x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.45x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.55x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.82x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 3.97x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.36x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.14x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.09x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 13.66x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 15 Beatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Pancras London | 15 | 30.33x |
| Heigham | 8 | 157.79x |
| South Newton | 8 | 5714.29x |
| Camberwell | 7 | 17.84x |
| Yaxham | 5 | 5000.00x |
| Halifax | 4 | 44.74x |
| Sproxton | 3 | 10000.00x |
| Wednesbury | 3 | 57.92x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 3.73x |
| Brentwood | 1 | 135.14x |
| Castleton | 1 | 13.74x |
| Colwall | 1 | 322.58x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 15.97x |
| Watford | 1 | 30.49x |
| Westgate | 1 | 17.67x |
| Whickham | 1 | 59.52x |
| Witton In Blofield | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beatley 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 Beatley 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 Beatley households.
FAQ
In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Beatley surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Beatley a modern rank of #36,760.
An English surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beatley 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.