NameCensus.

UK surname

Beavers

An occupational surname referring to someone who hunted, traded, or worked with beaver pelts.

In the 1881 census there were 200 people recorded with the Beavers surname, ranking it #12,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 484, ranked #10,218, up from #12,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gressenhall, Longham, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre, Northumberland and York.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beavers is 518 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 142.0%.

1881 census count

200

Ranked #12,836

Modern count

484

2016, ranked #10,218

Peak year

2002

518 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beavers had 200 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 484 in 2016, ranked #10,218.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 265 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Beavers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beavers surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Beavers 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 144 #13,277
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 200 #12,836
1891 historical 239 #13,173
1901 historical 265 #12,652
1911 historical 256 #12,688
1997 modern 483 #9,549
1998 modern 495 #9,678
1999 modern 517 #9,427
2000 modern 509 #9,504
2001 modern 503 #9,428
2002 modern 518 #9,400
2003 modern 495 #9,557
2004 modern 508 #9,404
2005 modern 488 #9,607
2006 modern 479 #9,788
2007 modern 492 #9,677
2008 modern 496 #9,694
2009 modern 504 #9,788
2010 modern 495 #10,127
2011 modern 483 #10,215
2012 modern 483 #10,116
2013 modern 489 #10,195
2014 modern 486 #10,309
2015 modern 488 #10,182
2016 modern 484 #10,218

Geography

Back to top

Where Beavers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gressenhall, Longham, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Gorleston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre, Northumberland and York. 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 Gressenhall, Longham Norfolk
2 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Gorleston Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 001 Wyre
2 Wyre 002 Wyre
3 Wyre 005 Wyre
4 Northumberland 035 Northumberland
5 York 006 York

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Beavers

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Beavers

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beavers, 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 Beavers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Beavers 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Beavers 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

Beavers 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

Beavers 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 Beavers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Beavers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Beavers

The surname BEAVERS is of English origin, deriving from an occupational name for someone who looked after beavers or traded in beaver skins. It is believed to have emerged in the 13th century, during the time when beaver pelts were a valuable commodity in England.

The name is thought to have originated in areas where beavers were found, such as the county of Worcestershire, which was known for its beaver population along the River Severn. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to 1273, when a William le Bevere is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire.

In the 14th century, the surname BEAVERS appeared in various forms, including Bever, Bevere, and Beavre, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. One notable bearer was John Bever, a merchant from Bristol who is documented in the city's records in 1349.

During the 16th century, the name BEAVERS began to spread across England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One of the earliest known examples is Robert Beavers, born in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, in 1542.

In the 17th century, the name BEAVERS gained prominence with the rise of the beaver trade in North America. William BEAVERS (1602-1680), an English explorer and trader, is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to establish trade relations with the Native American tribes in the Hudson Bay area, exchanging goods for beaver pelts.

Another notable figure from this period is John BEAVERS (1624-1701), a Puritan settler who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638 and later became a prominent landowner and member of the colonial militia.

As the centuries progressed, the name BEAVERS continued to be associated with various professions and trades, including furriers, hatters, and tanners, all of which relied on beaver pelts. One such example is Thomas BEAVERS (1763-1828), a successful hatter from Nottinghamshire, England, who supplied hats to the British military during the Napoleonic Wars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Beavers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beavers 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. Yorkshire leads with 97 Beavers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.97x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 97 4.97x
Suffolk 17 7.08x
Norfolk 16 5.28x
Essex 9 2.31x
Surrey 9 0.94x
Durham 8 1.36x
Middlesex 7 0.36x
Northumberland 7 2.39x
Lancashire 6 0.26x
Warwickshire 6 1.21x
Lincolnshire 5 1.59x
Hampshire 4 0.99x
East Lothian 3 11.49x
Gloucestershire 3 0.78x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Derbyshire 1 0.32x
Leicestershire 1 0.46x
Renfrewshire 1 0.65x
Royal Navy 1 4.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sykehouse in Yorkshire leads with 13 Beavers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4642.86x.

Place Total Index
Sykehouse 13 4642.86x
Gressenhall 10 1785.71x
Lowestoft 10 88.18x
Nether Hallam 9 34.07x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 31.51x
Worsbrough 8 139.86x
Golcar 7 135.66x
Hexham 7 154.19x
Sheffield 7 11.26x
Aston 6 4.38x
Holbeck 6 46.37x
Bocking 5 213.68x
Elland Cum Greetland 5 56.82x
Rawcliffe In Goole 5 450.45x
Althorpe 4 555.56x
Barking 4 35.15x
Battersea 4 5.52x
Great Yarmouth 4 15.94x
Huddersfield 4 14.06x
York St Saviour 4 215.05x
Bradford 3 6.35x
Clifton 3 15.35x
Dunbar 3 81.97x
Emley 3 344.83x
Gorleston 3 49.18x
Mirfield 3 27.99x
Newington 3 4.12x
Oulton 3 370.37x
Portsea 3 3.79x
Wakefield 3 20.01x
Batley 2 10.78x
Halifax 2 6.98x
Kensington London 2 1.83x
Liversedge 2 23.02x
Manningham 2 8.31x
Sowerby In Thirsk 2 169.49x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 2 22.05x
Westminster St John 2 8.33x
Ardwick 1 4.74x
Belgrave 1 20.28x
Burnley 1 5.08x
Camberwell 1 0.79x
Chesterfield 1 8.65x
Crumpsall 1 18.15x
Elloughton Cum Brough 1 166.67x
Farnborough 1 23.58x
Great Grimsby 1 5.00x
Higher Booths 1 23.75x
Hornsey 1 4.01x
Hulme 1 2.05x
Hyde 1 7.79x
Idle 1 11.05x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 10.99x
Lambeth 1 0.58x
Leeds 1 0.91x
Lockwood 1 14.25x
Openshaw 1 9.13x
Paddington London 1 1.38x
Parham 1 333.33x
Renfrew 1 19.84x
Rotherham 1 9.08x
Royal Navy 1 4.98x
Scarning 1 222.22x
Spitalfields London 1 6.75x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 12
James 9
George 7
Thomas 6
Richard 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Joseph 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Jos. 1
Rob. 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Beavers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beavers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 200 people were recorded with the Beavers surname. That placed it at #12,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beavers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 484 in 2016. That gives Beavers a modern rank of #10,218.

What does the Beavers surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who hunted, traded, or worked with beaver pelts.

What does the Beavers map show?

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