NameCensus.

UK surname

Bedeau

A surname of French origin meaning from a small house or humble dwelling.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Bedeau surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 217, ranked #18,535, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bedeau is 217 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21600.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

217

2016, ranked #18,535

Peak year

2010

217 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bedeau had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016, ranked #18,535.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Bedeau surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bedeau surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bedeau 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
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1997 modern 171 #19,438
1998 modern 174 #19,729
1999 modern 175 #19,798
2000 modern 188 #18,916
2001 modern 178 #19,288
2002 modern 196 #18,535
2003 modern 173 #19,834
2004 modern 178 #19,603
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 186 #19,337
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 217 #18,443
2011 modern 207 #18,841
2012 modern 202 #19,084
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 215 #18,764
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 217 #18,535

Geography

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Where Bedeaus are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Bedford and Ealing. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 004 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Lambeth 005 Lambeth
3 Bedford 013 Bedford
4 Bedford 015 Bedford
5 Ealing 028 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bedeau

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bedeau

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Bedeau surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bedeau 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bedeau is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bedeau 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

Bedeau falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bedeau is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Bedeau

The surname Bedeau is of French origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the region of Normandy, France. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "bedeau," which referred to a church bailiff or a minor church official.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bedeau can be found in the "Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de la Sainte-Trinité de Caen," a medieval manuscript dating back to the 12th century. This document mentions a certain "Robertus Bedeau," who was likely a church official associated with the abbey.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records from the Normandy region, such as the "Rôles Normands" and the "Trésor des Chartes de Normandie." These records suggest that the Bedeau family held land and properties in the area, indicating their status as minor nobility or landed gentry.

During the 14th century, the name Bedeau gained prominence in the city of Rouen, where several individuals bearing this surname were mentioned in the municipal records. One notable figure was Jean Bedeau, a merchant and alderman who lived in Rouen around 1380.

In the 16th century, the Bedeau family spread beyond Normandy, with members appearing in records from other regions of France. One prominent individual was Nicolas Bedeau, a lawyer and judge who served in the Parlement de Paris during the reign of King Henry IV (1553-1610).

Throughout the centuries, the surname Bedeau has been associated with several notable figures, including:

1. Jacques Bedeau (1751-1834), a French military officer who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. 2. Marie-Alphonse Bedeau (1804-1863), a French general who participated in the Crimean War and the Second Italian War of Independence. 3. Émile Bedeau (1838-1917), a French lawyer and politician who served as a member of the National Assembly. 4. Fernand Bedeau (1886-1958), a French journalist and writer known for his works on Normandy and its history. 5. Gérard Bedeau (born 1935), a French actor and filmmaker who has appeared in numerous films and television series.

While the name Bedeau has undergone some variations in spelling over the centuries, such as Bedau, Bedault, and Bedeaux, it has maintained its distinct French roots and connection to the ecclesiastical and administrative roles held by its early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bedeau families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bedeau 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 1 Bedeaus recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George Hanover Square in Middlesex leads with 1 Bedeaus recorded in 1881 and an index of 588.24x.

Place Total Index
St George Hanover Square 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Maria 1

Top occupations

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 Bedeau households.

Occupation Count
Confectioners Assistant 1

FAQ

Bedeau surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bedeau surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Bedeau surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bedeau surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016. That gives Bedeau a modern rank of #18,535.

What does the Bedeau surname mean?

A surname of French origin meaning from a small house or humble dwelling.

What does the Bedeau map show?

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