NameCensus.

UK surname

Beever

Animal trapper or beaver hunter.

In the 1881 census there were 495 people recorded with the Beever surname, ranking it #6,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 971, ranked #5,942, up from #6,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Batley and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beever is 1,073 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 96.2%.

1881 census count

495

Ranked #6,826

Modern count

971

2016, ranked #5,942

Peak year

2000

1,073 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beever had 495 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 971 in 2016, ranked #5,942.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,010 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Beever surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beever surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beever 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 349 #6,747
1861 historical 368 #6,935
1881 historical 495 #6,826
1891 historical 625 #6,193
1901 historical 723 #6,121
1911 historical 1,010 #4,509
1997 modern 1,021 #5,393
1998 modern 1,037 #5,505
1999 modern 1,034 #5,562
2000 modern 1,073 #5,370
2001 modern 1,039 #5,414
2002 modern 1,054 #5,455
2003 modern 1,041 #5,418
2004 modern 1,022 #5,502
2005 modern 995 #5,575
2006 modern 1,008 #5,530
2007 modern 1,008 #5,573
2008 modern 1,008 #5,618
2009 modern 1,024 #5,658
2010 modern 1,016 #5,811
2011 modern 1,021 #5,721
2012 modern 1,029 #5,601
2013 modern 1,032 #5,692
2014 modern 1,025 #5,742
2015 modern 999 #5,812
2016 modern 971 #5,942

Geography

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Where Beevers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Batley, Sheffield, Kirkburton and Penistone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley and Kirklees. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Kirkburton Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Penistone Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 024 Barnsley
2 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 054 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 058 Kirklees
5 Kirklees 057 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beever

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beever

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Beever 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

Beever 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

Beever falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beever is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Beever

The surname "BEEVER" originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "beofer," which means "beaver." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who lived near a beaver colony or engaged in activities related to beavers, such as hunting or trapping.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name "BEEVER" can be found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Richard Bever is listed. This indicates that the surname was already in use by the late 14th century in the region.

The "BEEVER" surname also appears in various historical records and documents from the 16th and 17th centuries. For instance, the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1523 mention a John Bever, while the Wills and Administrations of Kendal in 1614 include a reference to a Robert Beever.

Notably, the "BEEVER" name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was Sir Titus Beever (1616-1668), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Liverpool during the reign of Charles II.

Another prominent figure was John Beever (1795-1847), a British botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of mosses and lichens. His work, "A Descriptive Account of the Mosses of Great Britain and Ireland," published in 1836, is considered a seminal text in the field of bryology.

In more recent times, the "BEEVER" surname has been carried by individuals like Robert Beever (1936-2018), an English actor and voice artist known for his roles in various television series and films, including "The Prisoner" and "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope."

Additionally, the name "BEEVER" has been associated with several place names, particularly in the northern counties of England. For example, Beever Brook and Beever Hall in Lancashire derive their names from the surname, indicating the historical presence of the Beever family in those areas.

Throughout its history, the surname "BEEVER" has undergone various spellings, including Bever, Beever, Bever, and Beaver, reflecting the phonetic variations and regional dialects of different areas in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beever families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beever 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 379 Beevers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.90x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 379 7.90x
Lancashire 54 0.94x
Cheshire 13 1.22x
Derbyshire 11 1.45x
Middlesex 8 0.17x
Warwickshire 8 0.66x
Kent 5 0.30x
Durham 2 0.14x
Leicestershire 2 0.37x
Montgomeryshire 2 1.80x
Norfolk 2 0.27x
Suffolk 2 0.34x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.34x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 1.73x
Somerset 1 0.13x
Surrey 1 0.04x
Westmorland 1 0.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thurlstone in Yorkshire leads with 78 Beevers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1649.05x.

Place Total Index
Thurlstone 78 1649.05x
Wooldale 33 405.90x
Hepworth 28 1443.30x
Ecclesfield 23 65.43x
West Ardsley 17 294.63x
Meltham 15 201.07x
Penistone 12 320.86x
West Clayton 12 504.20x
Stayley 11 90.09x
Cartworth 10 252.53x
Huddersfield 10 14.32x
Hunshelf 10 425.53x
Salford 10 5.92x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 17.91x
Bradford 8 6.89x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 21.96x
Denby 8 308.88x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 8.20x
Fixby 8 963.86x
Langsett 8 1777.78x
Moss Side 8 26.48x
Oldham 8 4.32x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 7.67x
Ingbirchworth 7 1272.73x
Liversedge 7 32.80x
Ashborne 6 116.50x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 4.78x
Dalton In Huddersfield 6 55.87x
Dewsbury 6 12.20x
Morley 6 24.07x
Southcoates 6 22.54x
Glossop Dale 5 14.10x
Halifax 5 7.10x
Withington 5 27.04x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.14x
Leeds 4 1.48x
St Pancras London 4 1.03x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 31.55x
Almondbury 3 12.94x
Bradfield 3 16.23x
Higher Booths 3 28.99x
Sculcoates 3 3.95x
Shepley 3 113.64x
Austonley 2 73.80x
Brightside Bierlow 2 2.13x
Broughton In Salford 2 3.81x
Bungay Holy Trinity 2 66.23x
Ealing 2 4.63x
Gateshead 2 1.86x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 2 100.00x
Heigham 2 5.01x
Kirkburton 2 35.40x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.53x
Llandyssil 2 168.07x
Upperthong 2 49.02x
Wortley In Bramley 2 5.27x
Altrincham 1 5.36x
Applethwaite 1 31.55x
Barnsley 1 2.02x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.48x
Cheltenham 1 1.37x
Church Coniston 1 62.11x
Clifton In Halifax 1 34.84x
Doncaster 1 2.85x
Eaton 1 476.19x
Gillingham 1 2.94x
Great Grimsby 1 2.04x
Lymm 1 12.89x
Manchester 1 0.39x
Netherthong 1 64.52x
Pontefract 1 9.68x
Potter Newton 1 11.82x
Rawmarsh 1 5.90x
Royal Navy 1 2.03x
Silkstone 1 42.19x
Snaith Cowick 1 34.84x
St Marylebone London 1 0.39x
Woking 1 7.04x
Wycombe 1 4.59x
York St Maurice 1 11.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Sarah 18
Martha 15
Emma 13
Elizabeth 12
Hannah 11
Ann 10
Jane 8
Annie 6
Ellen 6
Harriet 6
Betty 5
Emily 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Eliza 4
Esther 4
Alice 3
Louisa 3
Lydia 3
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Dinah 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Myra 2
Agness 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Eliney 1
Elsie 1
Florance 1
Jennie 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Liley 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Margery 1
Margret 1
Zillia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
George 21
James 18
William 15
Henry 11
Thomas 11
Joseph 9
Charles 8
Fred 7
Joe 7
Arthur 6
Ben 6
Harry 6
Albert 5
Benjamin 5
Edward 5
Allen 4
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Mark 3
Richard 3
Sam 3
Tom 3
Alban 2
Christopher 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Hirst 2
Noah 2
Robert 2
Rowland 2
Thos. 2
Walker 2
Walter 2
Willie 2
Adam 1
Ben. 1
Benj.M. 1
Cyril 1
David 1
Dick 1
Earnest 1
Edmond 1
Elizabeth 1
Frank 1
Hugh 1
Ira 1
Jas 1
Jesse 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Beever surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beever surname in 1881?

In 1881, 495 people were recorded with the Beever surname. That placed it at #6,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beever surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 971 in 2016. That gives Beever a modern rank of #5,942.

What does the Beever surname mean?

Animal trapper or beaver hunter.

What does the Beever map show?

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