UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the brook or stream".
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Becknell surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2011, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,015, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Anne Soho, Mitcham and Southampton St John. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Becknell is 126 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 96.8%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
1
2011, ranked #39,015
Peak year
1861
126 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Becknell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Becknell surname density by area, 1861 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 | 20 | #29,743 |
| 1861 | historical | 126 | #17,569 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 40 | #28,913 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Anne Soho, Mitcham, Southampton St John, Wingfield, North and Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard. 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 | St Anne Soho | London (Central Districts) |
| 2 | Mitcham | Surrey |
| 3 | Southampton St John | Hampshire |
| 4 | Wingfield, North | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Becknell 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 Becknell, 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 Becknell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Becknell 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, Becknell 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 Becknell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Becknell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BECKNELL 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 "bæcc" meaning "stream" or "brook" and "feld" meaning "field" or "open area." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a stream or brook in an open field.
The earliest recorded instances of the BECKNELL surname can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest known mentions is in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a person named Richard de Beckenhull. The name also appears in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1347, where it is spelled as Beckenhall.
In the 15th century, the BECKNELL surname appeared in various forms, such as Beckenhall, Beckenhull, and Beckenhill. These variations likely reflect the different dialects and regional spellings of the time. One notable individual from this period was John Beckenhall, who was born in Warwickshire in the late 15th century and served as a member of the Parliament of England.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BECKNELL surname continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the Midlands and northern regions. One notable bearer of the name was Robert Becknell, who was born in Leicestershire in the early 17th century and became a prominent merchant and landowner.
In the 18th century, the BECKNELL surname began to spread more widely across England and into other parts of the British Isles. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Becknell, who was born in Staffordshire in 1754 and served as a captain in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.
As the BECKNELL surname continued to evolve and spread, it also began to appear in various forms, such as Becknel, Beknell, and Beknall. These variations likely reflect the different regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the BECKNELL surname. These include William Becknell (1787-1856), an American trader and explorer who is credited with establishing the Santa Fe Trail in the early 19th century; George Becknell (1800-1865), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London; and John Becknell (1813-1892), a prominent American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Becknell 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. Derbyshire leads with 8 Becknells recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.90x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 8 | 16.90x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.98x |
| Surrey | 5 | 3.39x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 5.06x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 4.84x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.94x |
| Somerset | 2 | 4.11x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.68x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.96x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Wingfield in Derbyshire leads with 8 Becknells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3809.52x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| North Wingfield | 8 | 3809.52x |
| Wandsworth | 5 | 171.82x |
| Paddington London | 4 | 35.97x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 3 | 53.76x |
| Southampton St Mary | 3 | 76.92x |
| Hougham | 2 | 327.87x |
| Taunton St Mary | 2 | 224.72x |
| Brentwood | 1 | 277.78x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 42.55x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 18.76x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 6.20x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Becknell 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 Becknell 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 Becknell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Infant | 2 |
| Baker Master Employing 1 Man | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Domestic Serv Out Of Employ | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engineer Artzins | 1 |
| Formerly Cook Dome Servt | 1 |
| Licenced Victualler | 1 |
| Railway Signalman | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Waistcoat Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Becknell surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2011. That gives Becknell a modern rank of #39,015.
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the brook or stream".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Becknell 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.