NameCensus.

UK surname

Beeny

A variant spelling of the English surname "BEENE", derived from an Old English term meaning "dweller near the bees".

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Beeny surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, down from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Warbleton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, Plymouth and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beeny is 159 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.7%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

1998

159 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beeny had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 133 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Beeny surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beeny surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beeny 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 38 #26,502
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 112 #22,291
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 133 #19,214
1997 modern 144 #21,660
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 159 #21,030
2000 modern 143 #22,457
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 140 #22,948
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 142 #23,791
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 147 #24,036
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Beenys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Warbleton, Hurstmonceux, Wartling and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, Plymouth, Huntingdonshire and Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
3 Warbleton Sussex
4 Hurstmonceux, Wartling Sussex
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 024 Gateshead
2 Plymouth 032 Plymouth
3 Huntingdonshire 011 Huntingdonshire
4 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 049 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beeny

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beeny

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beeny, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Beeny surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Beeny household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Beeny 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

Beeny is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beeny 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 Beeny 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 Beeny, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Beeny

The surname Beeny is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the late 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bene," which means "bean" or "bean-field," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who cultivated or sold beans.

One of the earliest known mentions of the name Beeny is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a person named John Bene is listed. This record provides evidence that the name was already in use by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Bene, Beane, and Beny, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common in that era. For example, records from the Court of Common Pleas in 1367 mention a Robert Bene from Oxfordshire.

The Beeny surname has also been associated with several place names in England, particularly in areas where the name was more prevalent. For instance, there is a village called Beeney in Worcestershire, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.

Historically, the Beeny family has produced several notable individuals, including:

1. John Beeny (c. 1550 - 1615), an English playwright and poet known for his works such as "The Maid's Metamorphosis" and "A Courtly Controversy of Cupid's Cautels." 2. William Beeny (1608 - 1677), a renowned English botanist and herbalist who published several influential works on medicinal plants and their uses. 3. Elizabeth Beeny (1670 - 1738), a prominent Quaker minister and author who wrote extensively on religious topics and advocated for women's rights in the Society of Friends. 4. Richard Beeny (1783 - 1856), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a member of Parliament. 5. Thomas Beeny (1825 - 1901), a respected English architect who designed numerous churches, schools, and public buildings across the country.

While the surname Beeny may not be as common today as it once was, its historical roots and associations with various occupations and notable individuals make it a fascinating name to explore.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beeny families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beeny 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 46 Beenys recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.30x.

County Total Index
Sussex 46 37.30x
Kent 11 4.41x
Middlesex 11 1.50x
Warwickshire 6 3.25x
Surrey 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warbleton in Sussex leads with 13 Beenys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3513.51x.

Place Total Index
Warbleton 13 3513.51x
Brighton 10 40.19x
Hammersmith London 10 55.49x
Eastbourne 8 140.85x
Hailsham 6 800.00x
Birmingham 5 8.13x
Battle 3 361.45x
Rodmersham 3 2727.27x
Crowhurst 2 1818.18x
Deptford St Paul 2 10.39x
Faversham 2 84.03x
Minster In Sheppey 2 48.43x
Westham 2 800.00x
Aston 1 1.97x
Camberwell 1 2.14x
Clayton 1 217.39x
Hellingly 1 243.90x
Hoo 1 303.03x
Kensington London 1 2.46x
Ramsgate 1 24.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Esther 2
Jane 2
Olive 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Emily 1
Fannetty 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Lettitia 1
Lily 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Rebaca 1
Sarah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 5
Alfred 3
Walter 3
William 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Lewis 2
Absalam 1
Absalom 1
Alban 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fredc. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
John 1
Matthew 1
Newton 1
Robert 1
Sampson 1
Thomas 1
Wallace 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 Beeny households.

FAQ

Beeny surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beeny surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Beeny surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beeny surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Beeny a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Beeny surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname "BEENE", derived from an Old English term meaning "dweller near the bees".

What does the Beeny map show?

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