NameCensus.

UK surname

Beers

Derived from Middle English "bere," referring to someone who lived near a grove or wood of berry-bearing trees.

In the 1881 census there were 169 people recorded with the Beers surname, ranking it #14,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 276, ranked #15,673, down from #14,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sawley, Nuneaton and Bubbenhall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Erewash and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beers is 284 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.3%.

1881 census count

169

Ranked #14,324

Modern count

276

2016, ranked #15,673

Peak year

2010

284 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beers had 169 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 276 in 2016, ranked #15,673.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 267 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Beers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beers 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 70 #21,020
1861 historical 120 #18,255
1881 historical 169 #14,324
1891 historical 235 #13,316
1901 historical 229 #13,894
1911 historical 267 #12,360
1997 modern 254 #15,111
1998 modern 258 #15,354
1999 modern 258 #15,467
2000 modern 260 #15,360
2001 modern 260 #15,113
2002 modern 261 #15,369
2003 modern 251 #15,563
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 253 #15,514
2006 modern 258 #15,402
2007 modern 262 #15,399
2008 modern 266 #15,384
2009 modern 275 #15,349
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 271 #15,708
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 276 #15,683
2014 modern 281 #15,583
2015 modern 276 #15,673
2016 modern 276 #15,673

Geography

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Where Beers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sawley, Nuneaton, Bubbenhall, Newbold-on-Avon and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Erewash and Nottingham. 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 Sawley Derbyshire
2 Nuneaton Warwickshire
3 Bubbenhall Warwickshire
4 Newbold-on-Avon Warwickshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
2 Erewash 010 Erewash
3 Erewash 014 Erewash
4 Erewash 015 Erewash
5 Nottingham 009 Nottingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beers

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Beers is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beers is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beers falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beers 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 Beers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Beers

The surname "BEERS" is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged as an occupational name in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "bere," meaning barley, and it was likely initially given to someone involved in the production or trade of beer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Bere" in this historical document, suggesting that it was already in use by that time.

During the medieval period, the surname was often associated with individuals living in or near areas known for brewing or barley cultivation. For instance, the village of Bere Regis in Dorset, England, was once a prominent center for brewing, and it is possible that some individuals from this region adopted the surname "BEERS."

As the surname evolved over time, various spellings emerged, including "Beer," "Bere," and "Bere." These variations were not uncommon, as spelling conventions were not standardized until much later.

One notable figure with the surname "BEERS" was John Beers (1579-1667), an English colonist who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century. He is considered one of the founders of the town of Stratford, Connecticut, and his descendants went on to play influential roles in the development of the region.

Another individual of historical significance was Richard Beers (1743-1825), an American revolutionary soldier who fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was awarded a prestigious military honor, the Badge of Military Merit, for his bravery and service.

In the literary realm, Henry Addington Beers (1847-1926) was a renowned American educator, critic, and author. He served as a professor of English literature at Yale University and wrote several influential works on literary criticism, including "A History of English Romanticism in the Nineteenth Century."

The surname "BEERS" can also be traced back to prominent figures in the arts and sciences. For example, William Beers (1841-1900) was an American painter known for his landscape and genre scenes, while Clifford Whittingham Beers (1876-1943) was a pioneering mental health advocate whose autobiographical work, "A Mind That Found Itself," helped shape the modern mental health movement.

Throughout history, the surname "BEERS" has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, from early settlers and soldiers to scholars and artists. While its origins can be traced back to the brewing and barley trades of medieval England, the name has since spread across the globe, carrying with it a rich tapestry of stories and experiences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beers 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. Warwickshire leads with 40 Beers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.68x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 40 9.68x
Derbyshire 28 10.91x
Kent 25 4.47x
Oxfordshire 16 15.81x
Northumberland 9 3.69x
Leicestershire 8 4.40x
Middlesex 8 0.49x
Northamptonshire 8 5.19x
Hampshire 6 1.79x
Lanarkshire 4 0.75x
Worcestershire 4 1.87x
Essex 3 0.93x
Gloucestershire 2 0.62x
Surrey 2 0.25x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.45x
Renfrewshire 1 0.79x
Sussex 1 0.36x
Westmorland 1 2.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sawley in Derbyshire leads with 16 Beers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2077.92x.

Place Total Index
Sawley 16 2077.92x
Bubbenhall 15 10000.00x
Littlebourne 11 2558.14x
Bicester Market End 10 537.63x
Warwick St Mary 10 278.55x
Newcastle On Tyne St 9 71.20x
Faversham 8 150.09x
Church Lawford 7 4666.67x
Oadby 7 721.65x
Alfreton 6 77.02x
Bethnal Green London 6 8.43x
Long Eaton 6 176.99x
Potterspury 6 967.74x
Long Lawford 4 1052.63x
The Hill 4 291.97x
Weeke 4 392.16x
Birmingham 3 2.18x
Braintree 3 103.45x
Fringford 3 1304.35x
Govan 3 2.29x
Cheltenham 2 8.07x
Eastry 2 256.41x
Oxford St Thomas 2 42.37x
Whittlebury 2 714.29x
Arnold 1 31.06x
Barony 1 0.75x
Bredgar 1 285.71x
Bromley 1 11.74x
Cathcart 1 14.56x
Croydon 1 2.26x
East Clandon 1 625.00x
Hindley 1 12.06x
Islington London 1 0.63x
Kendal 1 15.17x
Leicester St Nicholas 1 97.09x
Newnham Regis 1 1428.57x
Portsea 1 1.52x
Preston 1 20.75x
Ryde 1 13.87x
Stratton Audley 1 500.00x
Swalecliffe 1 1250.00x
Westminster St Margaret 1 12.66x
Whitstable 1 36.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 11
Mary 9
Elizabeth 7
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Gertrude 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Agness 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dinnah 1
Edit 1
Elezebth 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Lousia 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Meine 1
Minie 1
Nelly 1
Priscilla 1
Roselia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 10
Henry 8
John 8
James 6
Charles 4
Thomas 4
Frank 3
Harry 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Fred 2
Joseph 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Author 1
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Emma 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Hector 1
Janet 1
Leslie 1
Phillip 1
Sainon 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Beers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 169 people were recorded with the Beers surname. That placed it at #14,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 276 in 2016. That gives Beers a modern rank of #15,673.

What does the Beers surname mean?

Derived from Middle English "bere," referring to someone who lived near a grove or wood of berry-bearing trees.

What does the Beers map show?

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