NameCensus.

UK surname

Beattie

Derived from a diminutive form of the medieval Scottish name Bartholomew, meaning "son of Beatrice."

In the 1881 census there were 6,437 people recorded with the Beattie surname, ranking it #659 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11,251, ranked #572, up from #659 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hawick and Wilton, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arbroath Harbour, Arbroath Keptie and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beattie is 11,549 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.8%.

1881 census count

6,437

Ranked #659

Modern count

11,251

2016, ranked #572

Peak year

2010

11,549 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beattie had 6,437 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #659 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 11,251 in 2016, ranked #572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,654 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Beattie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beattie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beattie 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 3,596 #792
1861 historical 3,947 #707
1881 historical 6,437 #659
1891 historical 7,327 #610
1901 historical 8,654 #608
1911 historical 3,540 #1,475
1997 modern 10,515 #587
1998 modern 10,990 #585
1999 modern 11,115 #582
2000 modern 11,133 #577
2001 modern 10,843 #578
2002 modern 11,158 #573
2003 modern 10,896 #575
2004 modern 10,887 #579
2005 modern 10,962 #559
2006 modern 10,997 #559
2007 modern 11,006 #566
2008 modern 11,127 #566
2009 modern 11,330 #568
2010 modern 11,549 #572
2011 modern 11,369 #571
2012 modern 11,123 #570
2013 modern 11,233 #576
2014 modern 11,272 #576
2015 modern 11,247 #573
2016 modern 11,251 #572

Geography

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Where Beatties are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hawick and Wilton, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Annan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arbroath Harbour, Arbroath Keptie, Carlisle and Arbroath Kirkton. 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 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Annan Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arbroath Harbour Angus
2 Arbroath Keptie Angus
3 Carlisle 001 Carlisle
4 Carlisle 011 Carlisle
5 Arbroath Kirkton Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beattie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beattie

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Beattie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Beattie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Beattie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Beattie 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

Beattie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Beattie

The surname Beattie is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Bèathaidh" or "Bèataidh," which means "life" or "lively." This name can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Ayrshire, Scotland.

The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after the Scottish Wars of Independence. This record lists a person named "Johannes de Bety."

Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, including Bety, Batie, and Beattie. The latter spelling became the most common variation and is believed to have emerged in the 15th century.

One notable historical figure with this surname was John Beattie (1616-1653), a Scottish minister and theologian who was a member of the Westminster Assembly, a influential body that shaped the doctrine and practices of the Church of Scotland.

In the 17th century, the Beattie family held lands in the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire. A prominent member from this time was Robert Beattie (1642-1708), a Scottish minister and writer who authored several theological works.

During the 18th century, the Beatties were well-established landowners in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. James Beattie (1735-1803), a renowned Scottish poet and philosopher, was born in Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire. His works, such as "The Minstrel," gained him widespread recognition.

Another notable figure with this surname was William Beattie (1793-1875), a Scottish physician and writer who served as the personal physician to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. He wrote several medical treatises and was appointed the Queen's Household Physician.

In the 19th century, James Beattie (1810-1890) was a renowned Scottish architect responsible for designing numerous churches, schools, and public buildings throughout Scotland, including the United Presbyterian Church in Edinburgh.

The Beattie surname has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. Over time, it has been associated with various notable individuals, including ministers, writers, philosophers, physicians, and architects, reflecting the diverse contributions of those bearing this name to Scottish society and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beattie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beattie 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 689 Beatties recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.90x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 689 11.90x
Lanarkshire 660 3.26x
Dumfriesshire 617 44.67x
Lancashire 556 0.75x
Angus 520 8.98x
Cumberland 346 6.43x
Roxburghshire 303 26.75x
Midlothian 294 3.51x
Northumberland 268 2.88x
Middlesex 206 0.33x
Durham 200 1.08x
Ayrshire 153 3.27x
Kincardineshire 150 19.70x
Renfrewshire 131 2.70x
Kirkcudbrightshire 129 14.25x
Fife 115 3.11x
Selkirkshire 101 17.85x
Yorkshire 92 0.15x
Surrey 70 0.23x
Perthshire 64 2.28x
Cheshire 63 0.46x
Dunbartonshire 45 2.68x
Kent 45 0.21x
Stirlingshire 41 1.78x
Argyllshire 35 2.01x
Staffordshire 35 0.17x
Hampshire 34 0.27x
Warwickshire 34 0.22x
Inverness-shire 33 1.77x
Banffshire 32 2.47x
West Lothian 31 3.29x
Berwickshire 23 3.04x
Peeblesshire 20 6.80x
Sutherland 17 3.54x
Wigtownshire 17 2.05x
Buteshire 14 3.70x
Essex 14 0.11x
Devon 13 0.10x
East Lothian 13 1.57x
Sussex 12 0.11x
Denbighshire 11 0.47x
Derbyshire 11 0.11x
Caithness 10 1.17x
Gloucestershire 9 0.07x
Morayshire 9 0.93x
Shetland 9 1.41x
Berkshire 8 0.17x
Cornwall 8 0.11x
Northamptonshire 8 0.14x
Ross-shire 8 0.47x
Royal Navy 8 1.07x
Lincolnshire 7 0.07x
Leicestershire 6 0.09x
Westmorland 6 0.44x
Bedfordshire 5 0.15x
Clackmannanshire 5 0.97x
Hertfordshire 5 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.10x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.08x
Flintshire 3 0.18x
Glamorgan 3 0.03x
Monmouthshire 3 0.07x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.21x
Isle of Man 2 0.17x
Kinross-shire 2 1.27x
Norfolk 2 0.02x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.02x
Oxfordshire 2 0.05x
Suffolk 2 0.03x
Wiltshire 2 0.04x
Worcestershire 2 0.02x
Anglesey 1 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.05x
Somerset 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 190 Beatties recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.71x.

Place Total Index
Barony 190 3.71x
Aberdeen Old Machar 163 13.48x
Govan 157 3.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 133 3.95x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 130 12.00x
Glasgow 129 3.59x
Annan 125 105.36x
Hawick 119 46.94x
Montrose 107 30.48x
Dundee 94 4.35x
Canonbie 91 155.05x
Liverpool 80 1.78x
Langholm 77 77.57x
Arbroath 60 31.25x
Castleton 60 123.33x
West Derby 59 2.72x
St Vigeans 55 17.59x
Toxteth Park 54 2.15x
Insch 47 142.68x
Wilton 46 37.02x
St Cuthbert W O 40 15.24x
Kirkdale 38 3.04x
Old Monkland 38 4.74x
Liff Benvie 37 4.21x
Workington 36 11.68x
Birkenhead 35 3.18x
Elswick 35 4.71x
Everton 35 1.48x
Troqueer 34 28.63x
West Greenock 34 3.91x
Forfar 30 9.56x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 30 95.09x
Middlebie 30 72.39x
Shotts 30 12.40x
Bedlington 28 9.01x
Eastwood 28 9.38x
Cummertrees 26 111.02x
Islington London 26 0.43x
Banchory Devenick 25 35.15x
Caldewgate 25 8.48x
Kilmarnock 25 4.49x
New Monkland 25 4.18x
Selkirk 25 15.69x
Kirkcaldy 24 13.07x
Manchester 24 0.72x
Monkwearmouth Shore 23 6.33x
South Leith 23 2.44x
Dryfesdale 22 34.56x
Glenbucket 22 203.14x
Gretna 22 84.68x
Westgate 22 3.82x
Barrow In Furness 21 2.08x
Tynemouth 21 4.21x
Eskdalemuir 20 168.63x
Fordoun 20 46.88x
Jedburgh 20 18.02x
Kirkhope 20 170.50x
Lochmaben 20 33.04x
Salford 20 0.92x
Bishopwearmouth 19 1.19x
Cavers 19 67.09x
Culsalmond 19 106.68x
Heworth 19 5.18x
Cardross 18 8.92x
Edinburgh St Georges 18 10.35x
Ellon 17 21.35x
Hutton 17 97.59x
St Mungo 17 119.63x
Kirriemuir 16 11.19x
Logie Pert 16 74.84x
Rayne 16 58.18x
Strathdon 16 56.84x
Aldershot 15 3.49x
Benholm 15 45.86x
Fetteresso 15 12.57x
Great Whittington 15 319.83x
New Deer 15 14.31x
Towie 15 92.31x
Urr 15 12.74x
West Calder 15 9.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 160
Jane 90
Margaret 85
Elizabeth 84
Sarah 64
Annie 38
Ann 33
Ellen 29
Isabella 29
Eliza 27
Janet 19
Martha 18
Agnes 17
Alice 17
Eleanor 14
Jessie 14
Catherine 11
Emma 11
Florence 11
Hannah 11
Anne 7
Barbara 7
Edith 7
Esther 7
Emily 6
Fanny 6
Grace 6
Louisa 6
Betsy 5
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Ethel 5
Harriet 5
Harriett 5
Helen 5
Julia 5
Kate 5
Minnie 5
Frances 4
Lizzie 4
Maria 4
Rebecca 4
Amy 3
Eliz. 3
Elizth. 3
Joan 3
Laura 3
Lucy 3
Maggie 3
Miriam 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 162
William 141
James 111
George 78
Thomas 72
Robert 70
Joseph 34
Henry 26
David 25
Alexander 21
Charles 20
Andrew 17
Walter 16
Richard 14
Arthur 12
Alfred 11
Frederick 11
Francis 10
Edward 9
Hugh 8
Ernest 7
Samuel 7
Michael 6
Wm. 6
Albert 5
Christopher 4
Daniel 4
Frank 4
Isaac 4
Jas. 4
Matthew 4
Simon 4
Tom 4
Edwin 3
Jno. 3
Jonathan 3
Martin 3
Robinson 3
Alphonso 2
Benjamin 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Lewis 2
Oliver 2
Patrick 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
W. 2

FAQ

Beattie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beattie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,437 people were recorded with the Beattie surname. That placed it at #659 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beattie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 11,251 in 2016. That gives Beattie a modern rank of #572.

What does the Beattie surname mean?

Derived from a diminutive form of the medieval Scottish name Bartholomew, meaning "son of Beatrice."

What does the Beattie map show?

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