NameCensus.

UK surname

Bedingfield

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the open field of a man named Beda."

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Bedingfield surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 374, ranked #12,490, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity and Mettingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Waveney and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bedingfield is 408 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.2%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

374

2016, ranked #12,490

Peak year

1999

408 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bedingfield had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 374 in 2016, ranked #12,490.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 392 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bedingfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bedingfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bedingfield 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 161 #12,288
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1891 historical 318 #10,583
1901 historical 354 #10,347
1911 historical 392 #9,421
1997 modern 360 #11,929
1998 modern 392 #11,512
1999 modern 408 #11,288
2000 modern 369 #12,106
2001 modern 366 #11,998
2002 modern 395 #11,542
2003 modern 364 #12,068
2004 modern 374 #11,843
2005 modern 364 #12,008
2006 modern 341 #12,684
2007 modern 339 #12,896
2008 modern 339 #13,022
2009 modern 339 #13,281
2010 modern 350 #13,251
2011 modern 358 #12,883
2012 modern 360 #12,673
2013 modern 368 #12,676
2014 modern 379 #12,483
2015 modern 380 #12,364
2016 modern 374 #12,490

Geography

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Where Bedingfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity, Mettingham, Ipswich St Mary Stoke and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Waveney, Gateshead, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Thanet. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity Suffolk
3 Mettingham Suffolk
4 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Waveney 013 Waveney
3 Gateshead 024 Gateshead
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 014 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Thanet 006 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bedingfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bedingfield

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bedingfield, 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 Bedingfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bedingfield 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bedingfield 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

Bedingfield is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bedingfield falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bedingfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bedingfield

The surname Bedingfield has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the villages of Bedingfield in Suffolk and Norfolk. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "bede," meaning prayer or petition, and "feld," meaning field, suggesting a connection to a field where religious services or prayers were held.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bedingefella." This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

The Bedingfield family held significant influence and land in Suffolk during the Middle Ages. One notable member was Sir Thomas Bedingfield (c. 1420-1492), who served as a knight and member of Parliament during the Wars of the Roses. He was a staunch supporter of the House of York and fought alongside Edward IV at the Battle of Towton in 1461.

Another prominent figure was Sir Henry Bedingfield (c. 1517-1583), who served as a courtier and jailer to Mary, Queen of Scots during her imprisonment. He was tasked with guarding the Scottish queen at various locations, including Tutbury Castle and Chartley Hall.

In the 17th century, Sir Thomas Bedingfield (c. 1620-1692) was a Catholic loyalist who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War. He was eventually captured and imprisoned for his allegiance to the royalist cause.

The name Bedingfield also has links to the village of Oxborough in Norfolk, where the Bedingfeld family constructed the impressive Oxburgh Hall in the 15th century. This moated manor house remains one of the finest examples of late medieval architecture in England.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Bedingfeld (c. 1600-1662), a Member of Parliament and ardent supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. He was a member of the High Court of Justice that tried and convicted King Charles I.

Throughout its history, the Bedingfield surname has been associated with various spellings, including Bedingfeld, Bedingfelde, and Bedingfild, reflecting regional variations and changes in orthography over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bedingfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bedingfield 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. Suffolk leads with 99 Bedingfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.33x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 99 33.33x
Kent 27 3.25x
Norfolk 27 7.20x
Middlesex 19 0.78x
Northumberland 18 4.96x
Essex 14 2.91x
Durham 10 1.38x
Wiltshire 8 3.71x
Hampshire 7 1.40x
Surrey 5 0.42x
Berkshire 4 2.19x
Yorkshire 4 0.17x
Royal Navy 2 6.88x
Warwickshire 2 0.33x
Derbyshire 1 0.26x
Devon 1 0.20x
Gloucestershire 1 0.21x
Sussex 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mettingham in Suffolk leads with 22 Bedingfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 7333.33x.

Place Total Index
Mettingham 22 7333.33x
Brandeston 12 3636.36x
Great Yarmouth 11 35.42x
Chelmsford 9 108.96x
St Nicholas At Wade 9 1836.73x
Burgh 8 3809.52x
Methwold 8 661.16x
Southwold 8 454.55x
Bungay Holy Trinity 7 460.53x
Chirton 7 85.26x
Aldeburgh 6 340.91x
Ash Next Sandwich 6 326.09x
Bildeston 6 923.08x
Byker 6 33.44x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 72.12x
Islington London 6 2.54x
Melksham 6 160.43x
Monkton 6 1935.48x
Westhall 5 1388.89x
Edmonton 4 20.36x
Elswick 4 13.81x
Freshwater 4 175.44x
Linthorpe 4 27.74x
Tanfield 4 46.35x
Heigham 3 14.91x
Huntingfield 3 1000.00x
Ipswich St Peter 3 75.00x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 21.19x
Penge 3 19.26x
Reedham 3 416.67x
St Pancras London 3 1.53x
Sunninghill 3 118.11x
Woodbridge 3 78.95x
Ardleigh 2 150.38x
Canterbury St Mildred 2 101.52x
Earl Soham 2 392.16x
Ipswich St Margaret 2 19.84x
Lymington 2 54.50x
Paddington London 2 2.23x
Stoke 2 165.29x
Trowbridge 2 20.99x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.61x
Canterbury St Peter 1 106.38x
Cheltenham 1 2.71x
Colchester All Sts 1 263.16x
Colchester Holy Trinity 1 93.46x
Deal 1 14.08x
East Ham 1 11.20x
Horham 1 357.14x
Hornsey 1 3.24x
Kirkley 1 40.32x
Leiston 1 49.02x
Lewes St John 1 217.39x
Minster In Thanet 1 57.80x
Moulton St Michael 1 333.33x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 5.32x
Newington 1 1.11x
Norton 1 31.75x
Odiham 1 45.66x
Old Windsor 1 47.17x
Royal Navy 1 4.03x
Rumburgh 1 333.33x
Sheringham 1 103.09x
Southwick 1 14.56x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.33x
St Marylebone London 1 0.77x
Stradbroke 1 100.00x
Streatham 1 5.53x
Sudbury St Gregory 1 42.02x
Thornham 1 185.19x
Tormoham 1 4.66x
Westminster St James 1 3.99x
Westoe 1 2.43x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 13
George 12
William 11
Charles 7
John 7
Henry 6
Robert 6
Arthur 4
Albert 3
Walter 3
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Howard 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Frances 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Joseph 1
Karul 1
Matthew 1
Norman 1
Ralph 1
Richd.King 1
S. 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Victor 1
W. 1
Willing 1

FAQ

Bedingfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bedingfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Bedingfield surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bedingfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 374 in 2016. That gives Bedingfield a modern rank of #12,490.

What does the Bedingfield surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the open field of a man named Beda."

What does the Bedingfield map show?

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