UK surname
A surname derived from a Dutch place name meaning "stream" or "brook".
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Beek surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 72, ranked #33,585, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beek is 817 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.1%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
72
2016, ranked #33,585
Peak year
1891
817 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beek surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beek 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 | 289 | #7,860 |
| 1861 | historical | 378 | #6,761 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 817 | #4,956 |
| 1901 | historical | 207 | #14,803 |
| 1911 | historical | 231 | #13,636 |
| 1997 | modern | 48 | #32,878 |
| 1998 | modern | 51 | #32,816 |
| 1999 | modern | 54 | #32,660 |
| 2000 | modern | 63 | #31,829 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 62 | #32,258 |
| 2004 | modern | 69 | #31,784 |
| 2005 | modern | 67 | #32,196 |
| 2006 | modern | 67 | #32,532 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 67 | #33,135 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 70 | #33,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 69 | #33,532 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 73 | #33,541 |
| 2016 | modern | 72 | #33,585 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell, Brighton and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | Brighton | Sussex |
| 5 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beek 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 Beek, 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 Beek surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beek 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, Beek 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 Beek is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beek, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BEEK" is of Dutch origin, deriving from the old Dutch word "beek" meaning a small stream or brook. This name first emerged in the Low Countries, particularly in the regions of modern-day Netherlands and Belgium, during the early medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Leiden Municipal Archives, where a certain "Willem van den Beek" is mentioned in a document dated 1337. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the 14th century.
During the 15th century, the name appeared in various records across the Low Countries, often associated with small villages or hamlets located near streams or brooks, reflecting the name's original geographic connotation. For example, the village of Beek in the province of Limburg was recorded as "Beke" in a charter from 1465.
In the 16th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Pieter Cornelisz van Beek (c. 1510 - c. 1586), a Dutch Renaissance painter known for his religious works and portraits. His artistic contributions helped solidify the name's legacy in the cultural annals of the Netherlands.
Another notable figure bearing the surname was Jacobus van Beek (1620-1677), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes. His works were highly sought after by collectors and patrons of his time, further elevating the name's prestige.
In the 18th century, the name appeared in various historical records across Europe, including the birth of Martinus van Beek (1742-1808), a Dutch military officer who served in the Patriot Revolution and later became a prominent politician in the Batavian Republic.
As the name spread beyond the Low Countries, it also gained recognition in other parts of Europe. One such individual was Carl Friedrich van Beek (1773-1838), a German painter and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural works.
Throughout its long history, the surname "BEEK" has been associated with various notable figures across various fields, from artists and military leaders to politicians and scholars. While its origins can be traced back to the humble brooks and streams of the Low Countries, the name has transcended its geographic roots, becoming a part of the rich tapestry of European surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beek 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. Kent leads with 12 Beeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 12 | 5.46x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.09x |
| Leicestershire | 6 | 8.41x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 2.76x |
| Cumberland | 5 | 9.02x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 4.96x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 4.04x |
| Devon | 3 | 2.24x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 3.57x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.78x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.26x |
| Somerset | 2 | 1.93x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 2.55x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.64x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.31x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 3.79x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.65x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.92x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gillingham in Kent leads with 8 Beeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 176.60x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gillingham | 8 | 176.60x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 5 | 98.43x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 5 | 85.91x |
| Hackney London | 5 | 13.86x |
| Lamplugh | 5 | 1785.71x |
| Leicester St Mary | 4 | 69.32x |
| South Walsham St Lawrence | 4 | 8000.00x |
| Wingham | 4 | 1600.00x |
| Combs | 2 | 769.23x |
| Kings Norton | 2 | 26.53x |
| Loughborough | 2 | 61.73x |
| Rotherhithe | 2 | 25.16x |
| Bath St Peter St Paul | 1 | 217.39x |
| Brighton | 1 | 4.57x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 16.21x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 5.16x |
| Crediton | 1 | 78.74x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 12.29x |
| Pannal | 1 | 163.93x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 10.99x |
| Peterborough | 1 | 22.83x |
| Skircoat | 1 | 39.84x |
| Stanford Bishop | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 10.66x |
| Weston Super Mare | 1 | 38.17x |
| Whiston | 1 | 166.67x |
| Willand | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 5.99x |
| Wolverley | 1 | 135.14x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 1 | 10.17x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beek 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 Beek 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 Beek households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Domestic Serv | 3 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| ... | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Bankers Cashier | 1 |
| Boot Finisher | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| China Dealer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant(D I S) | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Drapers Wife | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Labr | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoors) | 1 |
| File Maker App | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| JJoiner | 1 |
| Joiner Wife | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Parlour Maid (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Pauper | 1 |
| Professional | 1 |
| Rector Of Rotherhithe | 1 |
| Retired Shopkeeper | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Smith | 1 |
| Teacher (School) (National) | 1 |
| Trimmer Of Marino (Woolen Mfc) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Beek surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 72 in 2016. That gives Beek a modern rank of #33,585.
A surname derived from a Dutch place name meaning "stream" or "brook".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beek 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.