NameCensus.

UK surname

Beg

A surname potentially derived from the Turkish word "beg" meaning noble or lord.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Beg surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 718, ranked #7,566, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kinning Park and Festival Park, Preston and Kingston West and Dumbreck.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beg is 784 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17850.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

718

2016, ranked #7,566

Peak year

2010

784 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beg had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 718 in 2016, ranked #7,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Beg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beg surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beg 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 4 #32,658
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1997 modern 507 #9,204
1998 modern 532 #9,152
1999 modern 564 #8,802
2000 modern 542 #9,056
2001 modern 530 #9,055
2002 modern 569 #8,751
2003 modern 602 #8,313
2004 modern 625 #8,092
2005 modern 652 #7,751
2006 modern 661 #7,713
2007 modern 689 #7,515
2008 modern 714 #7,366
2009 modern 739 #7,331
2010 modern 784 #7,144
2011 modern 782 #7,080
2012 modern 725 #7,420
2013 modern 726 #7,527
2014 modern 725 #7,571
2015 modern 722 #7,543
2016 modern 718 #7,566

Geography

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Where Begs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kinning Park and Festival Park, Preston, Kingston West and Dumbreck, Waltham Forest and Southampton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kinning Park and Festival Park Glasgow City
2 Preston 016 Preston
3 Kingston West and Dumbreck Glasgow City
4 Waltham Forest 025 Waltham Forest
5 Southampton 022 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beg

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beg

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Beg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Beg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Beg is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beg is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beg falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beg 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Beg

The surname "BEG" is believed to have originated in Persia (modern-day Iran) during the medieval period. It is derived from the Persian word "Beg," which means "lord" or "chieftain." This title was commonly used to address high-ranking officials and nobles in the Persian Empire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BEG can be found in the "Safvat al-Safa," a historical work written by the Persian historian Mahmud ibn Amir Vali in the 13th century. The book mentions several individuals with the title "Beg," suggesting that the surname was already in use at that time.

In the 14th century, the BEG surname made its way to Central Asia, particularly in the regions that are now part of modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. This was during the reign of the Timurid Empire, founded by the famous conqueror Timur (also known as Tamerlane). Many members of the Timurid nobility and military elite bore the surname BEG.

As the Persian and Turkic empires expanded their influence, the surname BEG gradually spread to other parts of the Middle East and South Asia. In the 16th century, the Mughal Empire, which ruled over a vast territory spanning modern-day India, Pakistan, and parts of Afghanistan, had several notable figures with the BEG surname.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname BEG was Bairam Khan Beg (c. 1501-1561), a powerful military commander and regent during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Another prominent figure was Mirza Aziz Koka Beg (c. 1542-1624), a high-ranking noble and governor during the Mughal period.

The surname BEG also found its way to the Ottoman Empire, where it was often associated with the ruling elite and military leaders. One notable example is Mustafa Pasha Beg (c. 1515-1580), a grand vizier (chief minister) under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

In the 18th century, the BEG surname appeared in parts of Eastern Europe, particularly in regions that were under Ottoman or Persian influence, such as parts of modern-day Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece. One example is Vasil Levski Beg (1837-1873), a Bulgarian revolutionary and national hero.

Throughout its history, the surname BEG has been associated with nobility, military leadership, and political power in various parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. While its origins can be traced back to Persia, the surname has evolved and spread across different regions and cultures, reflecting the complex historical interactions and migrations of people in these areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beg 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 3 Begs recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.55x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 3 41.55x
Middlesex 2 2.56x
Caithness 1 93.46x
Cumberland 1 14.88x
Norfolk 1 8.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 2 Begs recorded in 1881 and an index of 148.15x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 148.15x
Dyce 1 3333.33x
Great Yarmouth 1 101.01x
Latheron 1 555.56x
St George Hanover Square 1 72.99x
St Marylebone London 1 24.04x
Whitehaven 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 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 Beg households.

FAQ

Beg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Beg surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 718 in 2016. That gives Beg a modern rank of #7,566.

What does the Beg surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Turkish word "beg" meaning noble or lord.

What does the Beg map show?

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