NameCensus.

UK surname

Beetham

A locational surname referring to someone from Beetham, a village in Cumbria, England.

In the 1881 census there were 498 people recorded with the Beetham surname, ranking it #6,796 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 553, ranked #9,240, down from #6,796 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Doncaster and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Hyndburn and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beetham is 603 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.0%.

1881 census count

498

Ranked #6,796

Modern count

553

2016, ranked #9,240

Peak year

1999

603 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beetham had 498 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,796 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016, ranked #9,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 565 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Beetham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beetham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beetham 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 357 #6,620
1861 historical 261 #9,481
1881 historical 498 #6,796
1891 historical 485 #7,607
1901 historical 553 #7,500
1911 historical 565 #7,146
1997 modern 547 #8,694
1998 modern 580 #8,575
1999 modern 603 #8,419
2000 modern 582 #8,583
2001 modern 574 #8,539
2002 modern 599 #8,472
2003 modern 574 #8,581
2004 modern 560 #8,754
2005 modern 556 #8,720
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 549 #8,916
2008 modern 542 #9,074
2009 modern 564 #8,989
2010 modern 589 #8,912
2011 modern 571 #9,002
2012 modern 563 #9,023
2013 modern 558 #9,223
2014 modern 570 #9,123
2015 modern 562 #9,141
2016 modern 553 #9,240

Geography

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Where Beethams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Doncaster, Preston, Bradford and Kendal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Preston, Hyndburn, Doncaster, Cornwall and Redbridge. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kendal Westmorland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 013 Preston
2 Hyndburn 007 Hyndburn
3 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
4 Cornwall 041 Cornwall
5 Redbridge 014 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beetham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beetham

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Beetham 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

Beetham is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beetham 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 Beetham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Beetham

The surname Beetham originates from England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Beetham in Cumbria, formerly a part of Westmorland. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "beo" meaning bee and "ham" meaning homestead or village, suggesting it was once a place where bees were kept or honey was produced.

Records show that the earliest known spelling of the name was "de Beitham" in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1212. This indicates that the name was initially used as a locational descriptor for someone hailing from Beetham village. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname.

In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, the village of Beetham is mentioned as "Biedun" and "Bedun," providing evidence of its existence during the Norman conquest of England. This ancient text is one of the earliest records containing a variation of the name's spelling.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Beetham was Richard de Betham, who was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Westmorland in 1202. In the 14th century, Robert de Betham held lands in Westmorland, as documented in the Feet of Fines.

Sir Thomas Beetham (1575-1653) was a notable figure from the family, serving as a Member of Parliament for Westmorland in the 17th century. He was also a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant for the county.

Another prominent individual was William Beetham (1789-1853), an English clergyman and writer who authored several works on theology and religious subjects.

In the 19th century, Edward Beetham (1801-1868) was a respected English engineer and inventor, best known for his work on the development of the screw propeller for maritime vessels.

The surname Beetham has also been associated with various place names, such as Beetham Hall, a historic manor house in Cumbria, and Beetham Fell, a prominent hill in the same region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beetham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beetham 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. Yorkshire leads with 251 Beethams recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.21x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 251 5.21x
Lancashire 77 1.34x
Westmorland 70 65.57x
Durham 27 1.87x
Staffordshire 19 1.16x
Middlesex 12 0.25x
Gloucestershire 9 0.94x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.07x
Cheshire 5 0.47x
Kent 5 0.30x
Cumberland 4 0.96x
Denbighshire 4 2.18x
Derbyshire 2 0.26x
Berkshire 1 0.27x
Devon 1 0.10x
Essex 1 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Surrey 1 0.04x
Sussex 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 20 Beethams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.36x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 20 7.36x
Bowling 16 33.56x
Halifax 16 22.64x
Manningham 16 26.98x
Preston 16 10.37x
Bradford 15 12.87x
Kendal 15 76.77x
Armley 11 51.81x
Horton In Bradford 11 14.63x
Thornton In Bradford 11 68.62x
Pudsey 10 38.87x
Shipley 10 40.03x
Ambleside 9 271.90x
Burnley 9 18.54x
Coundon Grange 9 283.91x
Lower Allithwaite 9 652.17x
Over Staveley 9 743.80x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 8 45.77x
Cheltenham 8 10.88x
Leyburn 8 493.83x
Sheen 8 1142.86x
Applethwaite 7 220.13x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 7 121.74x
Bramley In Bramley 7 37.98x
Chorley 7 21.64x
Islington London 7 1.49x
Tuxford 7 434.78x
Uttoxeter 7 83.43x
Holy Trinity 6 5.18x
Kirkby Overblow 6 1363.64x
Nether Staveley 6 1111.11x
Northowram 6 17.77x
Tong 6 64.52x
West Harlsey 6 5454.55x
Worsthorne Cum 6 327.87x
Allerton 5 81.43x
Appleby St Michael 5 208.33x
Bishopwearmouth 5 4.03x
Brightside Bierlow 5 5.30x
Cliburn 5 1086.96x
Liverpool 5 1.43x
South Kirkby 5 476.19x
Wouldham 5 236.97x
Calverley Cum Farsley 4 29.26x
Kirkland 4 175.44x
Llanrwst 4 62.99x
Manchester 4 1.54x
Ovenden 4 18.67x
Southowram 4 27.23x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 2.30x
Altofts 3 56.50x
Bishop Auckland 3 15.47x
Guiseley 3 48.70x
Keighley 3 5.85x
Kirkby Lonsdale 3 103.81x
Lancaster 3 8.75x
Newton In Northwich 3 92.02x
Openshaw 3 11.11x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 3 17.44x
St Cuthbert W O 3 14.71x
Strickland Roger 3 416.67x
Wuerdle Wardle 3 17.14x
Ashton On Mersey 2 36.10x
Cheetham 2 4.65x
Darlington 2 3.58x
Doncaster 2 5.69x
Ealing 2 4.61x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 6.45x
Hemsworth 2 72.20x
Layton With Warbreck 2 9.46x
Lynesack Softley 2 51.28x
Middlesbrough 2 3.19x
Skircoat 2 10.54x
St Pancras London 2 0.51x
Sunderland 2 7.84x
Easingwold 1 29.41x
Penrith 1 6.47x
Warcop 1 83.33x
Warton With Lindeth 1 41.32x
Yealand Conyers 1 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 30
James 22
Joseph 15
Thomas 15
George 10
Robert 9
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Wm. 6
Albert 5
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Henry 4
Herbert 4
Matthew 4
Frederick 3
Walter 3
Anthony 2
Edwin 2
Jas. 2
Joshua 2
Michael 2
Sam 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Bertram 1
Charlotte 1
Christopher 1
Cyrus 1
Firth 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk.W. 1
Garfitt 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Jno. 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Ned 1
Oswald 1
Richd.S. 1
Robt. 1
Simeon 1
Thos.D. 1

FAQ

Beetham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beetham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 498 people were recorded with the Beetham surname. That placed it at #6,796 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beetham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016. That gives Beetham a modern rank of #9,240.

What does the Beetham surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Beetham, a village in Cumbria, England.

What does the Beetham map show?

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