UK surname
A toponymic surname derived from a place name, possibly in Yorkshire, England.
In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Beed surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #21,211 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Mary, Tormoham with Torquay and West Kirby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beed is 311 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.0%.
1881 census count
88
Ranked #21,211
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1861
311 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beed surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beed surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 82 | #19,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 311 | #8,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 88 | #21,211 |
| 1891 | historical | 199 | #14,977 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 143 | #18,401 |
| 1997 | modern | 87 | #28,749 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 88 | #29,287 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 85 | #29,396 |
| 2002 | modern | 90 | #29,314 |
| 2003 | modern | 83 | #30,088 |
| 2004 | modern | 80 | #30,679 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 84 | #30,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 74 | #32,190 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 67 | #33,713 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 66 | #33,901 |
| 2013 | modern | 66 | #34,003 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 64 | #34,112 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Mary, Tormoham with Torquay, West Kirby, Molland and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary | Pembrokeshire |
| 2 | Tormoham with Torquay | Devon |
| 3 | West Kirby | Cheshire |
| 4 | Molland | Devon |
| 5 | Swansea | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beed surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beed, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Beed surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beed household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Beed is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beed is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beed, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BEED has its origins traced back to the Middle English word "bede", which meant prayer or a request. This name is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, possibly around the 13th or 14th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the BEED surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, England, from the year 1327. This ancient document lists a person named Thomas Bede, which is likely an early spelling variation of the BEED name.
In the 16th century, the BEED surname appears to have been concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Some historical records from this period mention individuals with the name, such as John Beed, who was born in Yorkshire in 1542.
The BEED name may also have connections to certain place names or locations in England. For example, the village of Beadnell in Northumberland was once known as "Bede's Hill", potentially linking the surname to this area.
Among notable individuals with the BEED surname throughout history, one can mention Robert Beed, a prominent English merchant who lived in the late 16th century and was involved in trade with the Netherlands. Another individual was William Beed, a scholar and writer who was born in Yorkshire in 1687 and published several works on theology and philosophy.
In the 18th century, the BEED name spread to other parts of Britain, and some BEED families migrated to the American colonies. One such individual was Thomas Beed, who was born in Scotland in 1726 and later settled in Virginia, where he became a successful farmer and landowner.
Another significant figure was Mary Beed, an English novelist and poet who lived in the early 19th century. She was born in Lincolnshire in 1785 and published several works of fiction and poetry, including the novel "The Orphan of the Abbey" in 1818.
As the centuries passed, the BEED surname continued to be found across various regions of England, as well as in parts of Scotland and Wales, indicating the dispersal and migration of families bearing this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beed surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Pembrokeshire leads with 18 Beeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.52x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrokeshire | 18 | 64.52x |
| Monmouthshire | 12 | 18.91x |
| Devon | 10 | 5.47x |
| Hampshire | 9 | 5.00x |
| Kent | 9 | 3.00x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.68x |
| Sussex | 6 | 4.05x |
| Hertfordshire | 5 | 8.26x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 5 | 39.34x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 1.16x |
| Royal Navy | 2 | 19.12x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.47x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.23x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.58x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.77x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.29x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pembroke St Mary in Pembrokeshire leads with 16 Beeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 445.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Pembroke St Mary | 16 | 445.68x |
| Molland | 9 | 6000.00x |
| Bedwellty | 6 | 53.57x |
| Upper Llanvrechva | 6 | 606.06x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 5 | 158.23x |
| Sevenoaks | 5 | 205.76x |
| Stanstead Abbots | 5 | 1351.35x |
| Urr | 5 | 303.03x |
| Gillingham | 4 | 64.72x |
| Lymington | 4 | 303.03x |
| Portsea | 4 | 11.34x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 6.15x |
| Llanstadwell | 2 | 219.78x |
| Royal Navy | 2 | 22.37x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 1 | 6.57x |
| Battersea | 1 | 3.10x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 1 | 35.97x |
| Bristol St Michael | 1 | 67.57x |
| Donhead St Andrew | 1 | 416.67x |
| Earls Colne | 1 | 208.33x |
| Egham | 1 | 38.02x |
| Exminster | 1 | 151.52x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 7.86x |
| Knaresdale | 1 | 625.00x |
| Lewes All Sts | 1 | 169.49x |
| Northwood | 1 | 39.06x |
| St George Martyr London | 1 | 56.18x |
| Willesden | 1 | 12.08x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beed surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Beed surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Beed households.
FAQ
In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Beed surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Beed a modern rank of #33,948.
A toponymic surname derived from a place name, possibly in Yorkshire, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beed bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.