NameCensus.

UK surname

Beecham

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead by a stream" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 816 people recorded with the Beecham surname, ranking it #4,586 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,399, ranked #4,346, up from #4,586 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Boston (incl. Boston allotments). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beecham is 1,502 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.4%.

1881 census count

816

Ranked #4,586

Modern count

1,399

2016, ranked #4,346

Peak year

1999

1,502 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beecham had 816 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,586 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,399 in 2016, ranked #4,346.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,167 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Beecham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beecham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beecham 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 482 #5,171
1861 historical 336 #7,589
1881 historical 816 #4,586
1891 historical 801 #5,022
1901 historical 1,066 #4,528
1911 historical 1,167 #4,003
1997 modern 1,426 #4,077
1998 modern 1,474 #4,113
1999 modern 1,502 #4,081
2000 modern 1,461 #4,148
2001 modern 1,426 #4,155
2002 modern 1,471 #4,132
2003 modern 1,427 #4,155
2004 modern 1,420 #4,176
2005 modern 1,380 #4,238
2006 modern 1,391 #4,217
2007 modern 1,401 #4,229
2008 modern 1,415 #4,221
2009 modern 1,460 #4,200
2010 modern 1,456 #4,282
2011 modern 1,458 #4,231
2012 modern 1,389 #4,330
2013 modern 1,430 #4,302
2014 modern 1,415 #4,357
2015 modern 1,402 #4,349
2016 modern 1,399 #4,346

Geography

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Where Beechams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and Kirton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Carmarthenshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
5 Kirton Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 015 Caerphilly
2 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
3 Caerphilly 010 Caerphilly
4 Caerphilly 011 Caerphilly
5 Carmarthenshire 025 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beecham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beecham

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Beecham is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beecham 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

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

Meaning and origin of Beecham

The surname Beecham has its origins in England, tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bēce" and "hām," meaning "stream" and "homestead" or "village," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a stream or a village situated by a stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dated 1296, which mention a John de Becham. The surname's spelling has evolved over time, with variations such as Becham, Bechame, and Beacham appearing in historical records.

In the 15th century, the Beecham name appeared in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1464, documenting a land transaction involving a John Beecham. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in that region during that time period.

Notable individuals with the surname Beecham include Sir Joseph Beecham (1588-1661), an English politician who served as Sheriff of London in 1640. Another prominent figure was Thomas Beecham (1770-1838), a successful merchant and industrialist from Wigan, Lancashire, known for his involvement in the textile industry.

In the world of music, Sir Thomas Beecham (1879-1961), a renowned English conductor and impresario, left a lasting legacy. He founded the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and was knighted for his contributions to British cultural life.

Another individual of note was Joseph Beecham (1851-1927), an English businessman and philanthropist from Wigan. He established the Beecham Group, a successful pharmaceutical company, and was actively involved in various charitable endeavors.

The Beecham name has also been associated with specific locations, such as Beecham Well in Hertfordshire, which was mentioned in a charter from the 13th century, suggesting a connection between the surname and a place name.

Over the centuries, the Beecham surname has maintained a presence in various parts of England, with concentrations in areas like Lancashire, Sussex, and Essex, reflecting its historical roots and evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beecham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beecham 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. Lincolnshire leads with 193 Beechams recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.41x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 193 15.41x
Middlesex 148 1.89x
Yorkshire 50 0.64x
Lancashire 48 0.52x
Kent 38 1.42x
Monmouthshire 34 6.00x
Essex 32 2.07x
Gloucestershire 32 2.08x
Warwickshire 26 1.32x
Glamorgan 24 1.76x
Hampshire 21 1.31x
Nottinghamshire 16 1.52x
Cheshire 13 0.75x
Surrey 13 0.34x
Oxfordshire 12 2.48x
Durham 10 0.43x
Somerset 9 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.69x
Huntingdonshire 8 5.14x
Leicestershire 8 0.92x
Northamptonshire 8 1.09x
Dorset 7 1.36x
Worcestershire 7 0.68x
Hertfordshire 6 1.11x
Shropshire 5 0.74x
Anglesey 4 2.88x
Suffolk 4 0.42x
Westmorland 4 2.32x
Berkshire 2 0.34x
Channel Islands 2 0.86x
Derbyshire 2 0.16x
Devon 2 0.12x
Staffordshire 2 0.08x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.20x
Flintshire 1 0.47x
Norfolk 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. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 34 Beechams recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.99x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 34 9.99x
Kensington London 31 7.12x
Boston 21 55.26x
Aston 16 2.94x
Llanwonno 16 32.65x
Shoreditch London 15 4.42x
Leeds 14 3.19x
Coningsby 12 333.33x
Frampton 12 506.33x
Islington London 12 1.58x
Lower Machen 12 430.11x
St Pancras London 12 1.90x
Kirby Le Soken 11 495.50x
Great Coggeshall 10 124.38x
Hammersmith London 10 5.18x
Hough On Hill 10 961.54x
Wildmore 10 609.76x
Cirencester 9 43.27x
Kirton Simon Weir 9 703.13x
Barkstone 8 597.01x
Carlton Scroop 8 1311.48x
Crewe In Nantwich 8 707.96x
Liverpool 8 1.42x
Lutterworth 8 151.23x
Mynyddyslwyn 8 35.81x
Spalding 8 32.18x
Thornton Le Fen 8 860.22x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 4.84x
Charlton 7 39.44x
Horncastle 7 54.14x
Huntingdon St Benedict 7 358.97x
Lewisham 7 4.91x
Northampton St Peter 7 156.25x
Poole St James 7 36.23x
Sittingbourne 7 33.18x
St Swithin Lincoln 7 35.55x
Swineshead 7 169.90x
Tollesbury 7 180.88x
Coventry St Michael 6 9.45x
Doncaster 6 10.58x
Framwellgate 6 43.45x
Great Grimsby 6 7.55x
Hertford St Andrew 6 89.96x
Lyndhurst 6 136.36x
Prescot 6 35.69x
Sanford On Thames 6 705.88x
West Derby 6 2.21x
Ystradyfodwg 6 5.02x
Bedwellty 5 5.00x
Bow London 5 5.01x
Broadwell 5 476.19x
Claverley 5 109.41x
Croft 5 347.22x
Gosberton 5 89.93x
Great Brand End Plot 5 1851.85x
Hackney London 5 1.14x
Hogshaw With Fulbrook 5 2941.18x
Little Ponton 5 819.67x
Llanover 5 25.85x
St Luke London 5 3.98x
St Michael Lincoln 5 147.49x
Windle 5 9.56x
Woolwich 5 5.06x
Wyberton 5 289.02x
Basford 4 8.22x
Battersea 4 1.39x
Bristol St Paul In 4 9.77x
Brothertoft 4 588.24x
Cradley 4 43.24x
Gomersal 4 11.04x
Holyhead 4 15.46x
Kendal 4 12.69x
Manthorpe Cum Little 4 41.80x
Marksbury 4 645.16x
Pilkington 4 11.33x
Portsea 4 1.27x
St Maryle Wigford 4 41.11x
West Ham 4 1.17x
Grantham 3 18.38x
Stockport 3 3.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 48
George 24
Henry 21
Thomas 21
James 19
Joseph 15
Richard 14
Charles 12
Samuel 12
Alfred 10
David 9
Edward 8
Arthur 6
Herbert 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Isaac 5
Jonathan 5
Albert 4
Enoch 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Edwin 3
Elijah 3
Frederick 3
Geo. 3
Moses 3
Andrew 2
Edwd. 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Herman 2
Mark 2
Morris 2
Robt. 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Aquilla 1
Bethel 1
Carter 1
Chas. 1
F. 1
Frederic 1
Jacob 1
Joe 1
Joel 1
Joeth 1

FAQ

Beecham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beecham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 816 people were recorded with the Beecham surname. That placed it at #4,586 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beecham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,399 in 2016. That gives Beecham a modern rank of #4,346.

What does the Beecham surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead by a stream" in Old English.

What does the Beecham map show?

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