NameCensus.

UK surname

Beeney

A variant spelling of the English surname meaning "the keeper of bees".

In the 1881 census there were 172 people recorded with the Beeney surname, ranking it #14,163 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 479, ranked #10,308, up from #14,163 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Ticehurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Wealden and Tunbridge Wells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beeney is 507 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 178.5%.

1881 census count

172

Ranked #14,163

Modern count

479

2016, ranked #10,308

Peak year

1998

507 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beeney had 172 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,163 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 479 in 2016, ranked #10,308.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 377 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Beeney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beeney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beeney 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 37 #26,673
1861 historical 80 #23,566
1881 historical 172 #14,163
1891 historical 204 #14,702
1901 historical 279 #12,225
1911 historical 377 #9,719
1997 modern 482 #9,567
1998 modern 507 #9,486
1999 modern 502 #9,634
2000 modern 504 #9,575
2001 modern 483 #9,709
2002 modern 503 #9,591
2003 modern 482 #9,755
2004 modern 463 #10,074
2005 modern 445 #10,295
2006 modern 439 #10,454
2007 modern 436 #10,597
2008 modern 450 #10,416
2009 modern 471 #10,304
2010 modern 486 #10,264
2011 modern 484 #10,194
2012 modern 489 #10,039
2013 modern 491 #10,158
2014 modern 487 #10,289
2015 modern 478 #10,343
2016 modern 479 #10,308

Geography

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Where Beeneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Ticehurst, London parishes and Ashburnham, Dallington, Brightling, Ninfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Wealden, Tunbridge Wells and Plymouth. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 Ticehurst Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Ashburnham, Dallington, Brightling, Ninfield Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 007 Isle of Wight
2 Wealden 010 Wealden
3 Isle of Wight 006 Isle of Wight
4 Tunbridge Wells 004 Tunbridge Wells
5 Plymouth 020 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beeney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beeney

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Beeney is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Beeney is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beeney falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beeney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Beeney

The surname Beeney has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bene," meaning "a request or petition," suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who performed tasks or services upon request.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a Richard Bene, who may have been an ancestor of the Beeney family.

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Beny, Benie, and Beney, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that time. Some records from this period include Thomas Beny, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Borough of Colchester in 1444, and John Benie, whose name appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Essex in 1671.

The Beeney surname has also been associated with certain place names in England. For instance, the village of Beeny in Hertfordshire may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in that region.

Notable individuals with the surname Beeney include:

1. Sir Thomas Beeney (1635-1701), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in the late 17th century.

2. William Beeney (1790-1855), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a successful merchant in Liverpool.

3. Elizabeth Beeney (1825-1892), a pioneering educator and women's rights activist in the United States, who founded the Beeney Institute for Young Ladies in New York City.

4. John Beeney (1860-1928), a British trade unionist and labor leader who played a significant role in the formation of the Transport and General Workers' Union in the early 20th century.

5. Robert Beeney (1905-1981), an American writer and journalist who covered World War II for various publications and later authored several books on military history.

While the Beeney surname may not be among the most common surnames in the world, it has left an indelible mark on various aspects of history, from politics and military service to education and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beeney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beeney 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. Sussex leads with 82 Beeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.99x.

County Total Index
Sussex 82 28.99x
Surrey 25 3.06x
Middlesex 22 1.31x
Kent 21 3.67x
Durham 10 2.00x
Warwickshire 6 1.42x
Yorkshire 4 0.24x
Berkshire 1 0.79x
Hampshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reigate Foreign in Surrey leads with 18 Beeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 203.39x.

Place Total Index
Reigate Foreign 18 203.39x
Ashburnham 15 3409.09x
Hastings St Mary 12 170.45x
Chelsea London 9 17.80x
Islington London 8 4.92x
Tonbridge 8 38.74x
Stoke 7 181.35x
Bodiam 6 3157.89x
Cuckfield 6 209.79x
Speldhurst 6 206.19x
Wartling 6 1764.71x
Crowhurst 5 2083.33x
Dallington 5 1666.67x
Monk Hesleden 5 359.71x
Aston 4 3.43x
Wombwell 4 82.47x
Battle 3 157.07x
Catsfield 3 731.71x
Eastbourne 3 23.04x
Guestling 3 652.17x
Lewes All Sts 3 265.49x
Lewes St John Under 3 769.23x
Northiam 3 434.78x
Washington 3 143.54x
Brighton 2 3.50x
Chatham 2 12.70x
Faversham 2 36.63x
Murston 2 392.16x
Ore 2 94.79x
Solihull 2 65.79x
St George Hanover Square 2 6.77x
Westminster St Margaret 2 24.72x
Burpham 1 434.78x
Cookham 1 25.45x
Esh 1 27.55x
Ewhurst 1 158.73x
Fulham London 1 4.11x
Portsea 1 1.48x
Rochester St Margaret 1 16.56x
Sunderland 1 11.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Elizabeth 5
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Emily 3
Emma 3
Louisa 3
Sarah 3
Amelia 2
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Mabel 2
Maria 2
(Miss) 1
(Mrs) 1
Adlay 1
Angelina 1
Barbara 1
Constance 1
Dora 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Hilda 1
Janet 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Naomi 1
Pheebe 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 8
James 7
William 7
Edward 5
Henry 5
Albert 4
Thomas 4
Walter 4
Horace 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Edgar 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Joe 2
Wm. 2
Absolom 1
Alamayu 1
Alfd. 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Errnest 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredrk 1
John 1
Marcust 1
Robert 1
Vincent 1

FAQ

Beeney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beeney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 172 people were recorded with the Beeney surname. That placed it at #14,163 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beeney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 479 in 2016. That gives Beeney a modern rank of #10,308.

What does the Beeney surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname meaning "the keeper of bees".

What does the Beeney map show?

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