NameCensus.

UK surname

Beeson

Derived from a place name meaning "bee enclosure" or an occupational name for a beekeeper.

In the 1881 census there were 1,201 people recorded with the Beeson surname, ranking it #3,359 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,788, ranked #3,522, down from #3,359 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rickmansworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harborough, Boston and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beeson is 1,903 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.9%.

1881 census count

1,201

Ranked #3,359

Modern count

1,788

2016, ranked #3,522

Peak year

2010

1,903 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beeson had 1,201 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,359 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,788 in 2016, ranked #3,522.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,738 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Beeson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beeson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beeson 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 830 #3,260
1861 historical 622 #4,302
1881 historical 1,201 #3,359
1891 historical 1,246 #3,466
1901 historical 1,690 #3,055
1911 historical 1,738 #2,823
1997 modern 1,828 #3,288
1998 modern 1,887 #3,316
1999 modern 1,883 #3,347
2000 modern 1,888 #3,323
2001 modern 1,841 #3,325
2002 modern 1,891 #3,320
2003 modern 1,843 #3,327
2004 modern 1,850 #3,316
2005 modern 1,820 #3,334
2006 modern 1,792 #3,388
2007 modern 1,789 #3,425
2008 modern 1,815 #3,410
2009 modern 1,846 #3,438
2010 modern 1,903 #3,414
2011 modern 1,849 #3,450
2012 modern 1,790 #3,500
2013 modern 1,817 #3,509
2014 modern 1,831 #3,503
2015 modern 1,796 #3,527
2016 modern 1,788 #3,522

Geography

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Where Beesons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rickmansworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, St Werburgh and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harborough, Boston, Cheshire East, Wiltshire and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Rickmansworth Hertfordshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harborough 006 Harborough
2 Boston 007 Boston
3 Cheshire East 041 Cheshire East
4 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
5 North East Lincolnshire 005 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beeson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beeson

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

Beeson 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

Beeson falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Beeson

The surname Beeson is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "beo" meaning bee and "tun" meaning an enclosure or farm, indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a bee enclosure or apiary.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a John de Beston, and the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1310, which refers to a William Beyston.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Beston, Beyston, and Beeston, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The spelling "Beeson" emerged later, possibly as a result of the Norman influence on English language and pronunciation.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Beeston, a 16th-century English actor and playwright who was a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the company that produced many of Shakespeare's plays. He was born around 1550 and died in 1620.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Beeston, an English naval officer and colonial administrator who served as Governor of Jamaica from 1692 to 1699. He was born in 1636 and died in 1701.

In the 18th century, the Beeson family established itself in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. One notable member was Reverend Joseph Beeson, a clergyman and author who was born in 1751 and died in 1828.

The 19th century saw the name spread further across England and beyond. William Beeson, born in 1809 and died in 1875, was a prominent English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Another significant figure was Henry Ward Beecher, an American Congregationalist clergyman and social reformer, who was born in 1813 and died in 1887. Although his surname was spelled differently, it is believed to share a common ancestry with the Beeson name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beeson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beeson 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. Middlesex leads with 185 Beesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.58x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 185 1.58x
Derbyshire 156 8.53x
Lincolnshire 101 5.41x
Buckinghamshire 98 13.87x
Nottinghamshire 79 5.02x
Leicestershire 74 5.71x
Staffordshire 65 1.65x
Surrey 57 1.00x
Hertfordshire 56 6.95x
Yorkshire 54 0.47x
Warwickshire 34 1.15x
Oxfordshire 32 4.43x
Essex 31 1.34x
Lancashire 29 0.21x
Northamptonshire 20 1.82x
Durham 19 0.55x
Kent 19 0.48x
Norfolk 17 0.95x
Berkshire 13 1.48x
Hampshire 8 0.33x
Rutland 8 9.32x
Midlothian 7 0.45x
Bedfordshire 6 0.99x
Flintshire 6 1.91x
Sussex 4 0.20x
Channel Islands 3 0.87x
Cheshire 3 0.12x
Worcestershire 3 0.20x
Devon 2 0.08x
Monmouthshire 2 0.24x
Royal Navy 2 1.44x
Cumberland 1 0.10x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.21x
Westmorland 1 0.39x
Wiltshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 37 Beesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.88x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 37 14.88x
Derby St Werburgh 28 26.51x
Rickmansworth 23 103.70x
Derby St Alkmund 21 38.30x
Nottingham St Mary 21 5.15x
Hackney London 20 3.05x
Aston 18 2.22x
Great Grimsby 18 15.18x
West Bromwich 18 7.97x
Paddington London 17 3.96x
Goring 16 388.35x
Hanworth 16 390.24x
Bishopwearmouth 15 5.03x
Derby St Peter 15 25.74x
Lambeth 15 1.47x
Leicester St Margaret 15 4.75x
Ratcliffe Upon Trent 15 379.75x
Watford 14 22.42x
Battersea 13 3.02x
Ecclesall Bierlow 13 5.52x
Handsworth 13 13.37x
Wycombe 13 24.68x
Bilston 12 15.70x
Lee 12 2448.98x
Hughenden 11 152.57x
Nuthall 11 186.13x
Pentrich 11 106.80x
Prittlewell 11 34.41x
Towcester 11 97.00x
Clee With Weelsby 10 24.44x
Hognaston 10 892.86x
St Pancras London 10 1.06x
Caythorpe 9 250.70x
Chalfont St Peter 9 154.64x
Claylane 9 35.39x
Derby All Sts 9 58.90x
Humberstone 9 84.59x
Oxford St Thomas 9 26.72x
Ruddington 9 85.23x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.58x
Great Missenden 8 91.95x
St Marylebone London 8 1.28x
Acton 7 10.22x
Birmingham 7 0.71x
Chenies 7 451.61x
Doncaster 7 8.27x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 1.11x
Heckington 7 98.45x
Ibstock 7 74.31x
Leamington Priors 7 9.65x
Leicester St Mary 7 6.69x
Lichfield St Chad 7 78.92x
Moulton 7 77.86x
Radford 7 8.75x
Sanderstead 7 457.52x
Southwark St Saviour 7 11.66x
Stretton 7 886.08x
Walton On Thames 7 26.77x
Wendover 7 91.86x
Willesden 7 6.35x
Wirksworth 7 42.09x
Chebsey 6 298.51x
Enderby 6 89.42x
Everton 6 1.36x
Gaulby 6 1714.29x
Harmondsworth 6 82.64x
Hope 6 38.39x
Kirkdale 6 2.57x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 6 20.54x
Middletonby Wirksworth 6 333.33x
New Sleaford 6 50.13x
Whitchurch 6 166.21x
Whittington 6 23.71x
Whitwick 6 36.43x
Bovingdon 5 118.48x
Garston 5 12.22x
Hammersmith London 5 1.74x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 9.27x
Little Warley 5 155.28x
S Stoke 5 147.93x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 67
John 64
Thomas 58
Henry 41
George 40
James 33
Joseph 27
Charles 20
Samuel 18
Alfred 17
Arthur 17
Robert 15
Walter 15
Edward 13
Frederick 13
Benjamin 10
Harry 10
Herbert 8
Richard 7
Frank 6
Isaac 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Aaron 3
Bennett 3
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Wm. 3
Edmund 2
Fred 2
G. 2
Gilbert 2
Hiram 2
Infant 2
Naaman 2
Philip 2
Sidney 2
Alpheus 1
Amos 1
Cecil 1
Chas.H. 1
Frances 1
Georg 1
Jack 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Beeson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beeson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,201 people were recorded with the Beeson surname. That placed it at #3,359 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beeson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,788 in 2016. That gives Beeson a modern rank of #3,522.

What does the Beeson surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "bee enclosure" or an occupational name for a beekeeper.

What does the Beeson map show?

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