NameCensus.

UK surname

Beels

An English habitational surname derived from the place name "Beels" in Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 120 people recorded with the Beels surname, ranking it #17,756 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #17,756 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Strubby with Woodthorp, Clee and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southend-on-Sea, Leeds and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beels is 174 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.5%.

1881 census count

120

Ranked #17,756

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1911

174 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beels had 120 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,756 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 174 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Beels surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beels surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beels 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 120 #17,756
1891 historical 146 #18,664
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 174 #16,311
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 115 #25,222
2002 modern 114 #25,886
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 102 #29,930
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Beels' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Strubby with Woodthorp, Clee, London parishes, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Grimsby, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southend-on-Sea, Leeds, Bromley, Thurrock and Barnet. 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 Strubby with Woodthorp Lincolnshire
2 Clee Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Grimsby, Great Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southend-on-Sea 005 Southend-on-Sea
2 Leeds 044 Leeds
3 Bromley 013 Bromley
4 Thurrock 008 Thurrock
5 Barnet 006 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beels

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beels

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Beels is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beels is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beels falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beels is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Beels

The surname Beels is believed to have originated in the Germanic regions of central Europe during the Middle Ages. It is thought to derive from the Old Saxon word "bele," meaning "industrious" or "diligent." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone known for their hardworking nature or craftsmanship.

Early records show variations of the name, such as Bele, Beel, and Belen, appearing in various regions of what is now Germany and the Netherlands. Some historians have also linked the name to the Old English word "bel," meaning "bell," potentially indicating a connection to bell-making or bell-ringing professions.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Nürnberger Bürgerbuch, a citizen registry from the city of Nuremberg, dated around 1400. Here, the name "Bele" is listed, suggesting the presence of the family in this region during that period.

In the 16th century, records show a Pieter Beels living in the city of Antwerp, in modern-day Belgium. He was a prominent merchant and trader, playing a significant role in the city's economic life during the Renaissance era.

Another notable figure bearing this surname was Johannes Beels, a Dutch artist and engraver born in 1639. He was renowned for his intricate landscape etchings and his work influenced the development of Dutch Golden Age printmaking.

In the 18th century, a Prussian military officer named Friedrich von Beels served under Frederick the Great during the Seven Years' War. His bravery and leadership earned him recognition and promotion within the Prussian army.

Moving to the 19th century, a Johannes Beels was a respected academic and linguist based in Germany. He authored several influential works on the study of Germanic languages and their historical development.

Across these examples spanning multiple centuries, the surname Beels can be traced to various regions of central and western Europe, highlighting its enduring presence and diverse historical roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beels families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beels 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 54 Beels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.62x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 54 28.62x
Middlesex 16 1.36x
Northamptonshire 12 10.81x
Warwickshire 11 3.70x
Lancashire 5 0.36x
Staffordshire 5 1.26x
Surrey 5 0.87x
Yorkshire 5 0.43x
Nottinghamshire 4 2.51x
Derbyshire 1 0.54x
Kent 1 0.25x
Norfolk 1 0.55x
Royal Navy 1 7.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 28 Beels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 233.72x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 28 233.72x
Aston 10 12.20x
Peterborough 9 111.94x
Strubby 9 7500.00x
St Clement Danes London 8 327.87x
Oldham 5 11.06x
Southwark St Saviour 5 82.37x
Burton Upon Trent 4 42.92x
Clarborough 4 336.13x
Withern 4 2222.22x
East Ravendale 3 7500.00x
Huddersfield 3 17.61x
Northampton All Sts 3 79.58x
St Marylebone London 3 4.76x
Tealby 3 1153.85x
Frodingham 2 298.51x
Market Rasen 2 190.48x
Paddington London 2 4.61x
St Pancras London 2 2.11x
Bradford 1 3.53x
Clee With Weelsby 1 24.21x
Doveridge 1 357.14x
Ecclesfield 1 11.66x
Edgbaston 1 10.83x
Glanford Brigg 1 149.25x
Great Yarmouth 1 6.65x
Hackney London 1 1.51x
Horninglow 1 53.19x
Lewisham 1 4.66x
Royal Navy 1 8.32x
Scawby 1 161.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 6
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Fanny 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Appalina 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Daisy 1
Eliza 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Helen 1
Jessie 1
Lavinia 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Selena 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
Henry 8
Thomas 7
George 6
James 4
Alfred 3
William 3
Albert 2
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Christian 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Isaac 1
Joe 1
Richd 1
Richd.Heny. 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Beels surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beels surname in 1881?

In 1881, 120 people were recorded with the Beels surname. That placed it at #17,756 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beels surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Beels a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Beels surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from the place name "Beels" in Yorkshire.

What does the Beels map show?

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