NameCensus.

UK surname

Beedie

An English surname derived from a nickname for someone who made beehives or worked with bees.

In the 1881 census there were 196 people recorded with the Beedie surname, ranking it #13,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 562, ranked #9,130, up from #13,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Deer, Old Deer and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rosehearty and Strathbeg, Montrose North and Hillside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beedie is 562 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 186.7%.

1881 census count

196

Ranked #13,006

Modern count

562

2016, ranked #9,130

Peak year

2016

562 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beedie had 196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 562 in 2016, ranked #9,130.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Beedie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beedie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beedie 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 47 #24,810
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 196 #13,006
1891 historical 205 #14,649
1901 historical 280 #12,193
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 501 #9,288
1998 modern 550 #8,937
1999 modern 551 #8,974
2000 modern 545 #9,017
2001 modern 544 #8,875
2002 modern 547 #9,017
2003 modern 556 #8,770
2004 modern 546 #8,906
2005 modern 536 #8,968
2006 modern 528 #9,097
2007 modern 539 #9,025
2008 modern 545 #9,029
2009 modern 550 #9,169
2010 modern 555 #9,305
2011 modern 555 #9,200
2012 modern 537 #9,348
2013 modern 542 #9,446
2014 modern 553 #9,343
2015 modern 554 #9,252
2016 modern 562 #9,130

Geography

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Where Beedies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Deer, Old Deer, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Pitsligo and Aberdeen and Old Machar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rosehearty and Strathbeg, Montrose North, Hillside, Ellon East and Montrose South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Deer Aberdeen
2 Old Deer Aberdeen
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Pitsligo Aberdeen
5 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rosehearty and Strathbeg Aberdeenshire
2 Montrose North Angus
3 Hillside Angus
4 Ellon East Aberdeenshire
5 Montrose South Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beedie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beedie

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Beedie 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

Beedie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beedie 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 Beedie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Beedie

The surname Beedie has its origins in Scotland, particularly in the northeastern regions of Aberdeenshire. The name likely emerged in the late middle ages, around the 14th or 15th century. The Scottish landscape is dotted with small, historically meaningful communities, and the surname Beedie is thought to have local origins, possibly derived from the Gaelic word beath meaning life, indicating a familial connection to concepts of vitality or livelihood.

The earliest known variant spellings of the name include Beadie and Beedey, which appear in parish registers and local records dating back to the 1600s. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is Alexander Beedie, who appears in the 1672 parish records of Aberdeen. The name also appears in land records and tax rolls of the same period, suggesting established families with land holdings or professional statuses.

Throughout the 18th century, the surname Beedie continued to be associated with rural and semi-urban communities in Aberdeenshire. One notable individual from this period was James Beedie (1745-1795), a tenant farmer and smallholder known for his efforts in agricultural reform and local community leadership.

In the 19th century, several members of the Beedie family emigrated to North America, Australia, and New Zealand due to economic pressures in Scotland. Among the emigrants was Robert Beedie (1803-1879), who settled in Canada and became a respected businessman and civic leader in the town of Stratford, Ontario.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname is Helen Beedie (1821-1901), who was known for her contributions to education and social welfare in the city of Aberdeen. Her work with orphaned children and destitute families left a lasting impact on the community and highlighted the philanthropic tendencies of the Beedie name.

In New Zealand, one influential member of the Beedie family was William Beedie (1852-1923), a farmer and local politician in the Canterbury region. His efforts in local politics and community development exemplified the continued prominence and respect attributed to the name across different parts of the world.

The surname Beedie, although not exceedingly common, carries with it a rich history of resilience, community involvement, and local significance, particularly in its Scottish origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beedie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beedie 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. Angus leads with 84 Beedies recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.43x.

County Total Index
Angus 84 47.43x
Aberdeenshire 58 32.76x
Kincardineshire 30 128.87x
Banffshire 10 25.21x
Lancashire 9 0.40x
Kent 2 0.31x
Middlesex 1 0.05x
Midlothian 1 0.39x
Perthshire 1 1.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Montrose in Angus leads with 42 Beedies recorded in 1881 and an index of 391.43x.

Place Total Index
Montrose 42 391.43x
Dundee 17 25.71x
Bervie 16 1159.42x
Pitsligo 13 769.23x
Craig 10 584.80x
Gamrie 10 225.73x
Fordoun 9 692.31x
Brechin 8 114.94x
Pendleton In Salford 8 29.60x
Cruden 7 307.02x
Liff Benvie 7 26.03x
Longside 7 331.75x
Peterhead 6 64.10x
Methlick 5 352.11x
New Deer 5 155.76x
St Cyrus 4 412.37x
Old Deer 3 89.29x
Tyrie 3 135.14x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 6.04x
Dover Castle 2 425.53x
Strichen 2 129.87x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 2.70x
Benholm 1 100.00x
Bromley London 1 2.38x
Clatt 1 333.33x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.97x
Ellon 1 40.98x
King Edward 1 49.02x
Moneydie 1 625.00x
Monquhitter 1 54.64x
Toxteth Park 1 1.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Edith 1
Georgina 1
Ida 1
Lilian 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 1
George 1
Godfrey 1
Robert 1
Thomas 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 Beedie households.

FAQ

Beedie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beedie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 196 people were recorded with the Beedie surname. That placed it at #13,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beedie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 562 in 2016. That gives Beedie a modern rank of #9,130.

What does the Beedie surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname for someone who made beehives or worked with bees.

What does the Beedie map show?

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