NameCensus.

UK surname

Beddow

An English locational surname derived from Old English for a place name meaning bede (prayer) and hyll (hill).

In the 1881 census there were 828 people recorded with the Beddow surname, ranking it #4,543 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,213, ranked #4,903, down from #4,543 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Tipton otherwise Tibington and Broseley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, St. Helens and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beddow is 1,273 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.5%.

1881 census count

828

Ranked #4,543

Modern count

1,213

2016, ranked #4,903

Peak year

1998

1,273 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beddow had 828 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,543 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,213 in 2016, ranked #4,903.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,156 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Beddow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beddow surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Beddow 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 716 #3,652
1861 historical 621 #4,305
1881 historical 828 #4,543
1891 historical 890 #4,626
1901 historical 1,041 #4,597
1911 historical 1,156 #4,040
1997 modern 1,198 #4,717
1998 modern 1,273 #4,658
1999 modern 1,244 #4,767
2000 modern 1,236 #4,782
2001 modern 1,218 #4,743
2002 modern 1,263 #4,698
2003 modern 1,245 #4,653
2004 modern 1,238 #4,677
2005 modern 1,231 #4,661
2006 modern 1,220 #4,711
2007 modern 1,210 #4,780
2008 modern 1,206 #4,822
2009 modern 1,232 #4,841
2010 modern 1,260 #4,844
2011 modern 1,257 #4,795
2012 modern 1,245 #4,761
2013 modern 1,244 #4,838
2014 modern 1,261 #4,817
2015 modern 1,232 #4,858
2016 modern 1,213 #4,903

Geography

Back to top

Where Beddows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Broseley, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, St. Helens, Stafford and Cannock Chase. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
3 Broseley Shropshire
4 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
2 St. Helens 010 St. Helens
3 Stafford 008 Stafford
4 Shropshire 007 Shropshire
5 Cannock Chase 002 Cannock Chase

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Beddow

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Beddow

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

Beddow is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Beddow

The surname Beddow is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place name such as Beddow or Bedew, possibly referring to a meadow or a marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Bedeu" or "Bedewe." This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name such as "Bedou" and "Beddowe." These spelling variations were common during this period, as standardized spelling was not yet widely established.

An early bearer of the name was John Beddow, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. This historical document recorded individuals who were required to pay taxes, providing valuable insight into the distribution of surnames in England at that time.

Another notable figure was Richard Beddow, born around 1550, who served as a member of the British East India Company in the late 16th century. His exploits and travels during this era helped further spread the name across various regions.

In the 17th century, the Beddow surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire. One prominent individual from this period was William Beddow (1622-1696), a clergyman who served as the Rector of Whitchurch in Shropshire.

During the 18th century, the name continued to be found in various parts of England, with records indicating that some Beddows migrated to other parts of the British Isles, such as Scotland and Ireland.

A notable figure from this era was John Beddow (1730-1808), a renowned English engraver and cartographer who produced several detailed maps and charts of various regions.

As time progressed, the surname spread across the globe, with Beddows found in various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking countries.

One of the most famous bearers of the Beddow name was Sir William Beddow (1842-1917), a British industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the coal mining industry in South Wales.

Overall, the surname Beddow has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, with its origins likely rooted in locational names or place names related to meadows or marshy areas. Despite various spelling variations throughout the centuries, the name has endured and spread across the globe, with notable individuals bearing the Beddow surname contributing to various fields and endeavors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Beddow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beddow 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. Staffordshire leads with 316 Beddows recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.70x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 316 11.70x
Shropshire 131 18.96x
Lancashire 49 0.52x
Worcestershire 43 4.12x
Warwickshire 42 2.08x
Cheshire 33 1.87x
Middlesex 33 0.41x
Flintshire 26 12.09x
Glamorgan 22 1.58x
Montgomeryshire 22 12.00x
Surrey 20 0.51x
Yorkshire 15 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 12 4.72x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.65x
Carmarthenshire 6 1.78x
Gloucestershire 6 0.38x
Denbighshire 5 1.65x
Durham 5 0.21x
Monmouthshire 5 0.86x
Northumberland 5 0.42x
Derbyshire 4 0.32x
Kent 3 0.11x
Westmorland 3 1.71x
Oxfordshire 2 0.40x
Wiltshire 2 0.28x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolverhampton in Staffordshire leads with 61 Beddows recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.38x.

Place Total Index
Wolverhampton 61 29.38x
Bilston 46 87.90x
Walsall Foreign 45 32.27x
West Bromwich 41 26.52x
Oldbury 37 72.00x
Aston 22 3.96x
Tipton 21 25.40x
Cannock 18 38.21x
Wellington 18 46.34x
Birmingham 17 2.53x
Broseley 15 122.15x
Madeley 15 59.19x
Willenhall 15 29.66x
Aldridge 13 250.48x
Everton 11 3.64x
Overton 11 482.46x
Malpas Iscoyd 10 884.96x
Gorton 9 10.09x
Llanstadwell 9 108.30x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 3.14x
Carreghofa 8 571.43x
Droylsden 8 25.83x
Margam 8 51.51x
Wednesbury 8 11.86x
Ealing 7 9.79x
Edgmond 7 91.98x
Hackney London 7 1.56x
Lichfield St Michael 7 82.64x
Radcliffe 7 15.30x
Upton Magna 7 551.18x
Whitchurch Broughall 7 1029.41x
Withington 7 985.92x
Churton By Aldford 6 833.33x
Lambeth 6 0.86x
Leighton 6 566.04x
Llanelly 6 7.90x
Mile End New Town London 6 37.97x
Normanton 6 25.19x
Wednesfield 6 15.10x
Whitchurch Tilstock 6 350.88x
Buerton In Chester 5 2777.78x
Chester St Bridget 5 165.56x
Cowpen 5 18.24x
Houghton Le Spring 5 30.40x
Kings Bromley 5 322.58x
Much Wenlock 5 78.49x
Pool 5 36.18x
Wem 5 48.64x
Wolstanton Thursfield 5 152.44x
Bedwellty 4 3.92x
Croydon 4 1.85x
Dudley 4 3.15x
Kingston On Thames 4 4.27x
Kirkdale 4 2.51x
Liscard 4 12.57x
Litchurch 4 7.94x
Liverpool 4 0.69x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 2.99x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.43x
South Hamlet 4 41.19x
St Pancras London 4 0.62x
Swansea Town 4 3.50x
Ackton 3 154.64x
Aylesford 3 39.68x
Balterley 3 410.96x
Carew 3 118.11x
Chester St Olave 3 188.68x
Chester St Oswald 3 9.38x
Dawley 3 11.93x
Ellesmere 3 25.30x
Heston 3 11.29x
Kinnerley 3 91.19x
Llangyfelach 3 57.47x
Loppington 3 202.70x
Meole Brace 3 83.80x
Strickland Kettle 3 178.57x
Welsh Hampton 3 209.79x
Westbury 3 84.03x
Whitchurch 3 22.37x
Wistanstow Cheney 3 750.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 64
Elizabeth 38
Sarah 38
Emma 16
Martha 16
Ellen 14
Hannah 13
Ann 12
Emily 11
Jane 11
Eliza 10
Annie 9
Fanny 7
Alice 6
Lucy 6
Amelia 5
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Harriet 5
Maria 5
Ada 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Rebecca 4
Betsy 3
Catherine 3
Esther 3
Florence 3
Helen 3
Laura 3
Phoebe 3
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Harriett 2
Mabel 2
Matilda 2
Ammeliea 1
Betsey 1
Blanche 1
Carol 1
Clara 1
Deborah 1
Debra 1
Eleiza 1
Eliz. 1
Elizab. 1
Henrietta 1
Hope 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 60
William 50
Thomas 37
George 26
James 19
Joseph 18
Henry 16
Edward 15
Richard 13
Benjamin 12
Abraham 9
Alfred 9
Robert 9
David 8
Samuel 8
Charles 7
Thos. 6
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Francis 4
Josiah 4
Elijah 3
Jabez 3
Jacob 3
Walter 3
Edwin 2
Ephriam 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Oliver 2
W. 2
Ben 1
Benjaman 1
Edger 1
Edmond 1
Elisha 1
Emmanuel 1
Enoch 1
Fedek.C. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Geo.Robert 1
Jane 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Hy. 1
Job 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Beddow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beddow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 828 people were recorded with the Beddow surname. That placed it at #4,543 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beddow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,213 in 2016. That gives Beddow a modern rank of #4,903.

What does the Beddow surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from Old English for a place name meaning bede (prayer) and hyll (hill).

What does the Beddow map show?

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