NameCensus.

UK surname

Beeby

A place surname derived from an English village or location named Beeby.

In the 1881 census there were 1,014 people recorded with the Beeby surname, ranking it #3,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,296, ranked #4,621, down from #3,862 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellingborough, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beeby is 1,406 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.8%.

1881 census count

1,014

Ranked #3,862

Modern count

1,296

2016, ranked #4,621

Peak year

1911

1,406 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beeby had 1,014 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,862 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,296 in 2016, ranked #4,621.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,406 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Beeby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beeby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beeby 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 695 #3,753
1861 historical 649 #4,140
1881 historical 1,014 #3,862
1891 historical 1,041 #4,017
1901 historical 1,382 #3,639
1911 historical 1,406 #3,430
1997 modern 1,344 #4,279
1998 modern 1,374 #4,338
1999 modern 1,365 #4,403
2000 modern 1,376 #4,356
2001 modern 1,332 #4,393
2002 modern 1,358 #4,406
2003 modern 1,314 #4,442
2004 modern 1,317 #4,434
2005 modern 1,304 #4,419
2006 modern 1,307 #4,425
2007 modern 1,331 #4,401
2008 modern 1,359 #4,352
2009 modern 1,366 #4,409
2010 modern 1,387 #4,435
2011 modern 1,381 #4,407
2012 modern 1,295 #4,589
2013 modern 1,320 #4,592
2014 modern 1,321 #4,613
2015 modern 1,317 #4,577
2016 modern 1,296 #4,621

Geography

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Where Beebys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellingborough, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire), Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars 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 Kettering, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Fenland and Huntingdonshire. 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 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
2 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
3 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 005 Kettering
2 Kettering 011 Kettering
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 015 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Fenland 011 Fenland
5 Huntingdonshire 001 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beeby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beeby

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

Beeby 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

Beeby falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beeby 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 Beeby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Beeby

The surname Beeby is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "by" meaning a farmstead or a village. It is believed to have originated in the county of Lincolnshire, where several small hamlets and villages bear the name Beeby.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Beeby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Bebi." This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

During the medieval period, the name Beeby was often associated with individuals who hailed from or resided in the villages bearing that name. For instance, William de Beeby, a landowner from the village of Beeby in Leicestershire, is mentioned in records from the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the name Beeby appeared in various spellings, such as Beebie, Bebie, and Beby, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling conventions of the time. One notable figure from this period was John Beeby, a Catholic martyr who was executed in 1598 for his religious beliefs.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals bearing the surname Beeby. Sir William Beeby (1616-1677) was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire. Another prominent figure was Reverend Robert Beeby (1622-1687), a Church of England clergyman and academic.

In the 18th century, the Beeby family continued to play a role in English society. Sir Nathaniel Beeby (1725-1789) was a prominent lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. Meanwhile, Edward Beeby (1753-1838) was a renowned architect and surveyor responsible for designing several notable buildings in London.

The 19th century saw the Beeby name spread across the British Empire. One notable individual was Sir William Beeby (1789-1868), a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire.

Throughout history, the surname Beeby has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, clergymen, lawyers, architects, and military officers. While the name originated in the rural villages of England, it has since spread and become established in other parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beeby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beeby 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. Northamptonshire leads with 255 Beebys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.38x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 255 27.38x
Leicestershire 135 12.30x
Cumberland 105 12.32x
Warwickshire 86 3.44x
Middlesex 77 0.78x
Huntingdonshire 62 31.54x
Yorkshire 40 0.41x
Nottinghamshire 38 2.85x
Cambridgeshire 32 5.10x
Bedfordshire 30 5.85x
Lancashire 30 0.26x
Essex 20 1.02x
Surrey 20 0.41x
Derbyshire 15 0.97x
Northumberland 14 0.95x
Kent 11 0.33x
Lincolnshire 8 0.51x
Durham 5 0.17x
Norfolk 5 0.33x
Stirlingshire 5 1.37x
Lanarkshire 4 0.12x
Staffordshire 4 0.12x
Dorset 2 0.31x
Gloucestershire 2 0.10x
Shropshire 2 0.23x
Westmorland 2 0.92x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.15x
Rutland 1 1.38x
Sussex 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wellingborough in Northamptonshire leads with 63 Beebys recorded in 1881 and an index of 134.53x.

Place Total Index
Wellingborough 63 134.53x
Caldewgate 23 49.24x
Loughborough 23 46.18x
Islington London 21 2.19x
Tichmarsh 21 668.79x
Leicester St Margaret 20 7.47x
Raunds 20 210.97x
Woodford 19 366.80x
Castle Donnington 18 197.80x
March 17 80.95x
Whetstone 17 422.89x
Selston 16 107.31x
St Cuthbert W O 16 38.51x
Farcett 15 619.83x
Great Addington 15 1401.87x
Nuneaton 15 51.85x
Peterborough 14 20.77x
Whittlesey St Mary St 14 63.93x
Keysoe 13 539.42x
Coventry St Michael 12 14.96x
Ramsey 12 76.24x
Rothwell 12 128.34x
Birmingham 11 1.32x
Kettering 11 29.20x
Newborough 11 462.18x
West Ham 11 2.55x
Kingstone On Soar 10 1492.54x
Cheetham 9 10.27x
Leamington Priors 9 14.65x
Monks Kirby 9 163.93x
Northampton St Sepulchre 9 19.00x
Quorndon 9 146.10x
Great Weldon 8 792.08x
Hardingstone 8 89.99x
Hinckley 8 30.72x
Shoreditch London 8 1.86x
Wigton 8 62.60x
Acton 7 12.06x
Brigstock 7 198.30x
Burbage 7 122.16x
Middlesbrough 7 5.48x
Oulton 7 555.56x
Rickergate 7 38.80x
Wentworth 7 115.32x
Battersea 6 1.65x
Bedford St Paul 6 17.06x
Bermondsey 6 2.04x
Castle Gresley 6 225.56x
Leighton 6 530.97x
Lofthouse 6 40.96x
Orton Longville 6 681.82x
St Cuthbert Within 6 60.73x
St Marylebone London 6 1.14x
Warboys 6 105.63x
Yaxley 6 130.43x
Aston 5 0.73x
Bagworth 5 243.90x
Bedworth 5 27.44x
Castle Carrock 5 495.05x
Castor 5 126.26x
Falkirk 5 5.85x
Great Salkeld 5 294.12x
Hampstead London 5 3.24x
Hethersett 5 129.87x
Kirk Deighton 5 416.67x
Liversedge 5 11.45x
Marholm 5 892.86x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 6.55x
Newchurch 5 5.20x
Northampton Priory St 5 8.95x
Northampton St Giles 5 14.10x
Prittlewell 5 18.46x
Ratcliffe London 5 9.14x
St Sepulchre London 5 34.48x
Tottington Lower End 5 8.96x
Toxteth Park 5 1.26x
Bedford St Peter 4 30.03x
Finedon 4 49.02x
Leicester St Mary 4 4.51x
Tattershall 4 245.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 67
Sarah 53
Elizabeth 41
Jane 24
Ann 21
Emma 20
Eliza 18
Ellen 17
Emily 17
Annie 12
Hannah 12
Margaret 11
Charlotte 10
Fanny 10
Alice 9
Lucy 9
Martha 9
Isabella 7
Amy 6
Clara 6
Ada 5
Catherine 5
Harriet 5
Julia 5
Kate 5
Louisa 5
Rebecca 5
Anne 4
Caroline 4
Eleanor 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Sophia 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Elizh. 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Helen 2
Katherine 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
May 2
Millicent 2
Selina 2
Bertha 1
Elen 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 66
William 60
George 42
Thomas 40
James 30
Joseph 23
Charles 18
Henry 17
Walter 14
Frederick 11
Robert 11
Arthur 10
Alfred 8
Harry 8
Edward 7
Benjamin 6
Samuel 6
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Alexander 4
Daniel 4
Wm. 4
Chas. 3
Ernest 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Jacob 3
Michael 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Bengiman 2
Danuel 2
David 2
Lawrence 2
Reuben 2
Alexr. 1
Atkins 1
Bertie 1
C. 1
F.J.L. 1
Francis 1
G.W. 1
Jas. 1
Jonas 1
Josiah 1
Laurence 1
Lawrance 1
Major 1
Martin 1
Wm.Warms 1

FAQ

Beeby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beeby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,014 people were recorded with the Beeby surname. That placed it at #3,862 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beeby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,296 in 2016. That gives Beeby a modern rank of #4,621.

What does the Beeby surname mean?

A place surname derived from an English village or location named Beeby.

What does the Beeby map show?

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