UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a beekeeper or someone who kept beehives.
In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Beeman surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #18,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Trowbridge, London parishes and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beeman is 107 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.7%.
1881 census count
107
Ranked #18,982
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
107 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beeman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beeman surname density by area, 1881 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 | 62 | #22,232 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 107 | #18,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 81 | #26,632 |
| 1901 | historical | 74 | #25,958 |
| 1911 | historical | 66 | #26,249 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Trowbridge, London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and St John Hackney. 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 | Trowbridge | Wiltshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beeman 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 Beeman, 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 Beeman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beeman 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, Beeman 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 Beeman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beeman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Beeman is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "beo" and "mann," which translate to "bee" and "man," respectively. This occupational surname was initially given to individuals who kept bees and produced honey.
The earliest recorded instances of the Beeman surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, such as Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire. Some early spellings of the name include Beman, Beaman, and Beemon.
One of the earliest documented references to the Beeman surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1275, where a person named Robert Beman is mentioned. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a Thomas Beman.
The Beeman surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was John Beeman (c. 1550-1628), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, from 1616 until his death.
Another prominent figure was Edward Beeman (1638-1713), a colonial American who was one of the founders of Marshfield, Massachusetts, and served as a selectman for the town.
In the 18th century, Richard Beeman (1744-1824) was a notable American silversmith and engraver who lived and worked in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War era.
The 19th century saw the rise of Charles Beeman (1843-1914), an American businessman and inventor who founded the Beeman Chemical Company and patented several products, including a widely used insecticide.
One of the more recent notable individuals with the Beeman surname was Norman J. Beeman (1912-2001), an American physicist and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II.
While the Beeman surname is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, colonists, artisans, businessmen, and scientists.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beeman 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 34 Beemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 34 | 9.46x |
| Middlesex | 19 | 1.80x |
| Staffordshire | 16 | 4.50x |
| Warwickshire | 14 | 5.27x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.56x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 2.43x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 2.20x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.45x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 1.83x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.26x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.46x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.86x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.59x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.54x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.59x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.78x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 26 Beemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 200.62x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge | 26 | 200.62x |
| Birmingham | 9 | 10.16x |
| Kensington London | 7 | 11.95x |
| Rowley Regis | 7 | 70.64x |
| Gillingham | 6 | 80.97x |
| Hackney London | 6 | 10.16x |
| Wolstanton | 5 | 46.30x |
| Litchurch | 3 | 45.18x |
| Dudley | 2 | 11.96x |
| Edgbaston | 2 | 24.27x |
| Hornsey | 2 | 15.02x |
| Leamington Priors | 2 | 30.58x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 2.63x |
| New Brentford | 2 | 363.64x |
| Spotland | 2 | 14.39x |
| Wolverhampton | 2 | 7.32x |
| Beckenham | 1 | 21.28x |
| Bridgnorth St Mary | 1 | 112.36x |
| Brixham | 1 | 39.37x |
| Chatham | 1 | 10.11x |
| Claverley | 1 | 163.93x |
| Cookham | 1 | 40.49x |
| Halliwell | 1 | 21.98x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 1 | 38.31x |
| Hendon | 1 | 26.39x |
| Hertford All Saints | 1 | 243.90x |
| Leamington | 1 | 56.82x |
| Long Melford | 1 | 84.03x |
| Luton | 1 | 10.59x |
| Mark Eaton | 1 | 400.00x |
| Oxford St Giles | 1 | 32.26x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.58x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 2.65x |
| Stretford | 1 | 14.53x |
| Sutton St Mary | 1 | 62.89x |
| Swepstone | 1 | 526.32x |
| Walcot | 1 | 11.07x |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 4.91x |
| Whittingham | 1 | 181.82x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beeman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 10 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Emma | 5 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Gertrude | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Christian | 1 |
| Christina | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Constance | 1 |
| Daisy | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Hamer | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Jemima | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Kathleen | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Millicent | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Beeman 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 Beeman households.
FAQ
In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Beeman surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Beeman a modern rank of #37,599.
An occupational surname referring to a beekeeper or someone who kept beehives.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beeman 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.