NameCensus.

UK surname

Beckley

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places named Beckley in England.

In the 1881 census there were 780 people recorded with the Beckley surname, ranking it #4,753 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,165, ranked #5,070, down from #4,753 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Rickmansworth and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cherwell, Windsor and Maidenhead and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beckley is 1,228 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.4%.

1881 census count

780

Ranked #4,753

Modern count

1,165

2016, ranked #5,070

Peak year

2010

1,228 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beckley had 780 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,753 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,165 in 2016, ranked #5,070.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,154 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Beckley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beckley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beckley 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 519 #4,826
1861 historical 489 #5,336
1881 historical 780 #4,753
1891 historical 880 #4,681
1901 historical 1,046 #4,578
1911 historical 1,154 #4,047
1997 modern 1,128 #4,965
1998 modern 1,198 #4,885
1999 modern 1,207 #4,908
2000 modern 1,202 #4,898
2001 modern 1,147 #5,000
2002 modern 1,184 #4,958
2003 modern 1,120 #5,104
2004 modern 1,119 #5,110
2005 modern 1,124 #5,044
2006 modern 1,108 #5,110
2007 modern 1,116 #5,122
2008 modern 1,137 #5,075
2009 modern 1,207 #4,918
2010 modern 1,228 #4,947
2011 modern 1,214 #4,921
2012 modern 1,184 #4,966
2013 modern 1,197 #4,990
2014 modern 1,198 #5,027
2015 modern 1,166 #5,094
2016 modern 1,165 #5,070

Geography

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Where Beckleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Rickmansworth, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cherwell, Windsor and Maidenhead, Redcar and Cleveland and Purbeck. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Rickmansworth Hertfordshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cherwell 016 Cherwell
2 Windsor and Maidenhead 003 Windsor and Maidenhead
3 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 005 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 Purbeck 006 Purbeck

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beckley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beckley

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Beckley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beckley is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Beckley

The surname Beckley is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a place name, with the earliest known records dating back to the 11th century.

One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Beccelei" in Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name originated from a locality or settlement bearing a similar name, possibly derived from the Old English words "becca" meaning brook or stream, and "leah" meaning woodland or clearing.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, including "Beckele," "Beckeleg," and "Beckelegh," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

Historically, the Beckley surname has been associated with several notable individuals, such as Sir John Beckley (1536-1612), an English merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another noteworthy figure was William Beckley (1759-1828), an American politician who served as the first Librarian of Congress and as the second Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.

The name also appeared in various records and documents throughout the centuries, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1310, which mentions a "William de Beckele," and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, listing a "John de Beckeley."

In the 16th century, the surname was found in various parts of England, with records indicating families bearing the name in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Sussex, among other regions.

Among other notable individuals with the Beckley surname were Robert Beckley (1685-1743), an English clergyman and author, and John Beckley (1757-1807), an American politician who served as the first Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and as the second Librarian of Congress.

Throughout its history, the Beckley surname has maintained its connection to its English origins, reflecting the rich tapestry of place names and local settlements that contributed to the development of surnames in the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beckley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beckley 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. Middlesex leads with 162 Beckleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 162 2.13x
Staffordshire 100 3.90x
Surrey 68 1.84x
Oxfordshire 65 13.85x
Gloucestershire 48 3.22x
Hertfordshire 46 8.78x
Buckinghamshire 42 9.14x
Berkshire 39 6.84x
Devon 31 1.96x
Wiltshire 27 4.02x
Kent 25 0.96x
Lancashire 24 0.27x
Warwickshire 17 0.89x
Worcestershire 14 1.41x
Northamptonshire 13 1.82x
Derbyshire 10 0.84x
Essex 10 0.67x
Somerset 9 0.74x
Bedfordshire 5 1.27x
Cornwall 5 0.58x
Hampshire 5 0.32x
Yorkshire 4 0.05x
Leicestershire 3 0.36x
Sussex 2 0.16x
Channel Islands 1 0.44x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 71 Beckleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.24x.

Place Total Index
Kingswinford 71 76.24x
Lambeth 32 4.83x
Hemel Hempstead 28 118.64x
Durnford 23 1965.81x
Islington London 21 2.85x
St Pancras London 21 3.43x
Tipton 15 19.10x
Chalfont St Giles 14 425.53x
Rickmansworth 14 97.09x
Chesham 13 76.79x
Kensington London 12 2.84x
St Marylebone London 12 2.96x
Mitcham 11 47.01x
Burford 10 245.70x
Hammersmith London 10 5.34x
Oxford St Giles 10 44.66x
Randwick 10 340.14x
Tubney 10 2325.58x
Bromley London 9 5.38x
Eckington 9 31.14x
Farnborough 9 238.10x
Heston 9 35.66x
Islip 9 573.25x
Mile End Old Town London 9 5.56x
Atherstone 8 81.72x
Bensington 8 267.56x
Clerkenwell London 8 4.46x
Oxford St Clement 8 67.57x
Woolfardisworthy 8 349.35x
Clapham 7 7.37x
Crayford 7 61.84x
Didsbury 7 58.48x
Dudley 7 5.80x
Wallingford St Mary Le 7 216.72x
Warrington 7 6.55x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.82x
Gloucester St John Baptist 6 62.37x
Harrow 6 51.68x
Hockley 6 368.10x
Milton Damerel 6 483.87x
Northampton St Sepulchre 6 16.50x
Paddington London 6 2.15x
West Bromwich 6 4.09x
Westminster St John 6 6.48x
Aston Blank 5 641.03x
Chesham Bois 5 549.45x
Coventry St Michael 5 8.12x
Luton 5 7.34x
Manchester 5 1.23x
Northampton St Giles 5 18.36x
Oxenton 5 1428.57x
Shrivenham 5 177.31x
St George Hanover Square 5 3.73x
St Luke London 5 4.10x
Stoke Damerel 5 4.52x
Worcester St Martin 5 37.34x
Clifton 4 5.31x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 4 14.67x
Godstone 4 60.33x
Great Marlow 4 32.26x
Hale 4 1025.64x
Ormesby 4 19.76x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 4 71.94x
Walcot 4 6.14x
Wantage 4 44.00x
West Ham 4 1.21x
Wolborough 4 20.00x
Wotton Ville 4 283.69x
Abingdon St Helen 3 17.99x
Cookham 3 16.87x
Croydon 3 1.46x
Dorking 3 12.07x
Long Ditton 3 49.59x
Oxford St Thomas 3 13.70x
St Kew 3 104.53x
Upper Arley 3 157.89x
Watford 3 7.39x
Weston Super Mare 3 9.71x
Marlborough St Peter St 2 57.80x
Tormoham 2 2.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Sarah 24
Elizabeth 18
Emily 18
Emma 18
Ann 16
Alice 13
Harriet 13
Jane 13
Martha 13
Eliza 11
Annie 10
Ellen 9
Louisa 9
Edith 8
Maria 7
Fanny 6
Florence 6
Frances 6
Ada 5
Agnes 5
Caroline 5
Clara 5
Rosa 5
Esther 4
Matilda 4
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Anne 3
Charlotte 3
Eleanor 3
Hester 3
Kate 3
Lilly 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
May 3
Minnie 3
Phoebe 3
Anna 2
Elizth. 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Helena 2
Homielt 2
Laura 2
Rachel 2
Teresa 2
Carolina 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
William 41
James 26
George 22
Joseph 20
Thomas 20
Charles 17
Henry 14
Edwin 12
Alfred 10
Albert 9
Arthur 8
Frederick 7
Francis 6
Richard 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Daniel 5
Fredk. 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Andrew 3
Horace 3
Edward 2
Elijah 2
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Fredk.W. 2
Herbert 2
Isacc 2
Josiah 2
Norman 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Willm. 2
Benj. 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmnd 1
Fredk.A. 1
Gabriel 1
Moses 1
Nor. 1
Owen 1
Paul 1
Philip 1
Raymond 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Beckley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beckley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 780 people were recorded with the Beckley surname. That placed it at #4,753 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beckley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,165 in 2016. That gives Beckley a modern rank of #5,070.

What does the Beckley surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the various places named Beckley in England.

What does the Beckley map show?

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