NameCensus.

UK surname

Bebb

A surname likely derived from a Norman French place name or nickname.

In the 1881 census there were 582 people recorded with the Bebb surname, ranking it #5,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,033, ranked #5,649, up from #5,992 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Guilsfield and Welshpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Shropshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bebb is 1,076 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.5%.

1881 census count

582

Ranked #5,992

Modern count

1,033

2016, ranked #5,649

Peak year

2010

1,076 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bebb had 582 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,992 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,033 in 2016, ranked #5,649.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 921 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bebb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bebb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bebb 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 459 #5,397
1861 historical 458 #5,668
1881 historical 582 #5,992
1891 historical 645 #6,016
1901 historical 849 #5,366
1911 historical 921 #4,863
1997 modern 951 #5,715
1998 modern 1,032 #5,536
1999 modern 1,044 #5,514
2000 modern 1,040 #5,506
2001 modern 1,023 #5,485
2002 modern 1,019 #5,611
2003 modern 1,044 #5,402
2004 modern 1,027 #5,489
2005 modern 1,032 #5,404
2006 modern 1,025 #5,450
2007 modern 1,035 #5,456
2008 modern 1,040 #5,466
2009 modern 1,056 #5,521
2010 modern 1,076 #5,534
2011 modern 1,057 #5,554
2012 modern 1,043 #5,527
2013 modern 1,046 #5,629
2014 modern 1,038 #5,684
2015 modern 1,038 #5,632
2016 modern 1,033 #5,649

Geography

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Where Bebbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Guilsfield, Welshpool, Llanfair-Caereinion and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Shropshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Guilsfield Montgomeryshire
3 Welshpool Montgomeryshire
4 Llanfair-Caereinion Montgomeryshire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 002 Powys
2 Powys 006 Powys
3 Powys 010 Powys
4 Shropshire 026 Shropshire
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 018 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bebb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bebb

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Bebb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bebb household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bebb 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

Bebb is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bebb 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 Bebb 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 Bebb, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bebb

The surname BEBB is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. The name is thought to be a variant of the Old English word "beb," which means "bee." This connection to the industrious insect suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who kept bees or was associated with beekeeping.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BEBB can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a certain William Bebb is mentioned. This ancient record provides evidence of the name's existence during the medieval period in England.

In the 13th century, the name BEBB appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a record of landholders and their holdings. This document references a John Bebb, further solidifying the presence of the surname in various parts of England during that era.

The BEBB surname has also been linked to certain place names, particularly in the county of Worcestershire. The village of Bebington, for instance, is believed to have derived its name from the Old English words "beb" and "ing," meaning "the people of the bees." This connection suggests that some bearers of the BEBB surname may have originated from or been associated with this area.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the BEBB surname. One such figure was John Bebb (c. 1610-1661), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Newington Butts in London. Another prominent BEBB was Llewellyn Bebb (1772-1832), a Welsh architect and engineer known for his work on various churches and public buildings in Wales.

Additionally, the name BEBB has been carried by figures such as William Bebb (1802-1869), an English-born American lawyer and politician who served as the 14th Governor of Ohio, and Gwilym Bebb (1892-1916), a Welsh international rugby union player who tragically lost his life during World War I.

The surname BEBB, with its connections to beekeeping and its presence in historical records spanning centuries, has left an indelible mark on the rich tapestry of English and Welsh genealogy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bebb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bebb 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. Montgomeryshire leads with 232 Bebbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 178.34x.

County Total Index
Montgomeryshire 232 178.34x
Shropshire 91 18.55x
Lancashire 50 0.74x
Staffordshire 40 2.09x
Glamorgan 35 3.54x
Herefordshire 20 8.59x
Middlesex 15 0.26x
Brecknockshire 13 11.45x
Worcestershire 12 1.62x
Denbighshire 11 5.13x
Monmouthshire 11 2.68x
Yorkshire 11 0.20x
Cardiganshire 7 5.05x
Flintshire 5 3.28x
Pembrokeshire 5 2.77x
Gloucestershire 4 0.36x
Kent 4 0.21x
Merionethshire 4 3.85x
Cheshire 2 0.16x
Hampshire 2 0.17x
Warwickshire 2 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.29x
Hertfordshire 1 0.26x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x
Radnorshire 1 2.18x
Royal Navy 1 1.48x
Surrey 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ystradyfodwg in Glamorgan leads with 30 Bebbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.60x.

Place Total Index
Ystradyfodwg 30 34.60x
Pool 29 295.62x
Guilsfield 27 570.82x
Berriew 26 724.23x
Castle Caereinion 23 1965.81x
Llanfair Caereinion 15 337.84x
Liverpool 12 2.93x
Madeley 12 66.74x
Oswestry Town 12 76.38x
Worthen 12 5000.00x
Bettws 11 990.99x
Carno 11 647.06x
Meifod 11 355.99x
Wolverhampton 11 7.47x
Bedwellty 10 13.80x
Kerry 10 255.75x
Lindridge 10 531.91x
Walsall Borough 10 67.20x
Toxteth Park 9 3.95x
Whittington 9 218.98x
Heap 8 22.39x
Llanbrynmair 8 260.59x
Much Wenlock 8 176.99x
Tong 8 808.08x
Tref Eglwys 8 225.35x
Walsall Foreign 8 8.08x
West Derby 8 4.06x
Kington 7 121.53x
Lledrod Upper 7 752.69x
Manafon 7 573.77x
West Bromwich 7 6.38x
Cardeston 6 1111.11x
Newtown 6 72.12x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 25.99x
Elton 5 21.49x
Holywell 5 26.10x
Llansaintffraid 5 320.51x
Llanwnda 5 256.41x
Bingley 4 11.16x
Builth 4 141.34x
Chirk 4 94.79x
Garthbeibio 4 714.29x
Gresford Gwersyllt 4 60.15x
Llanwnog 4 147.06x
Llanwrtyd 4 242.42x
Shoreditch London 4 1.63x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.97x
Yazor 4 952.38x
Alberbury 3 260.87x
Baschurch 3 89.29x
Blakemere 3 909.09x
Clunbury 3 156.25x
Credenhill 3 638.30x
Hope 3 1200.00x
Hornsey 3 4.18x
Islington London 3 0.55x
Lilleshall 3 40.00x
Llanrwst Capel Garmon 3 174.42x
Preston 3 1.66x
Shrewsbury St Mary 3 15.50x
Stapleton 3 14.20x
Westbury 3 118.58x
Bishops Castle In 2 69.93x
Burford 2 238.10x
Edgmond 2 37.04x
Ellesmere 2 23.75x
Hodnet 2 52.22x
Latchford 2 24.01x
Llanafan Fawr 2 158.73x
Llandinam 2 66.45x
Llanfabon 2 38.68x
Llangunider 2 28.29x
Llanwyddelan 2 266.67x
Mainstone 2 555.56x
Mallwyd 2 79.05x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 2.11x
Penstrowed 2 800.00x
Shrewsbury St Julian 2 16.49x
St Marylebone London 2 0.66x
Stoke Bliss 2 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Sarah 28
Elizabeth 21
Jane 18
Ann 17
Hannah 10
Margaret 9
Alice 8
Catherine 8
Emma 8
Martha 8
Anne 6
Ellen 6
Annie 5
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Clara 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Harriett 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Elzbth. 2
Fannie 2
Kate 2
Liza 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Rachel 2
Aggie 1
Anny 1
Cath 1
Eleanor 1
Elinor 1
Elizb. 1
Elizbeth 1
Emah 1
Emmer 1
Harriet 1
Horatia 1
Jamima 1
Jessie 1
Louise 1
Lousia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 53
Thomas 31
William 31
David 19
Richard 18
Evan 16
Joseph 9
Edward 8
Maurice 8
Charles 6
Nathaniel 6
Alfred 5
George 5
Robert 5
Arthur 4
James 4
Henry 3
Hugh 3
Jeremiah 3
Morris 3
Pryce 3
Richd. 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Rees 2
Thos. 2
Alfd. 1
Edwd. 1
Evelyn 1
Griffiths 1
Herbert 1
Humphry 1
Ivor 1
J.A. 1
J.M. 1
Jack 1
Jerimiah 1
Josiah 1
Lawrence 1
Llewellyn 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Pryc 1
Robt.Edwd. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bebb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bebb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 582 people were recorded with the Bebb surname. That placed it at #5,992 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bebb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,033 in 2016. That gives Bebb a modern rank of #5,649.

What does the Bebb surname mean?

A surname likely derived from a Norman French place name or nickname.

What does the Bebb map show?

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