NameCensus.

UK surname

Begbie

Of Scottish origin, meaning "dweller by the peat bog".

In the 1881 census there were 462 people recorded with the Begbie surname, ranking it #7,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 568, ranked #9,058, down from #7,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inveresk, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oxgangs, Cambridge and Stenhouse and Saughton Mains.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Begbie is 571 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.9%.

1881 census count

462

Ranked #7,183

Modern count

568

2016, ranked #9,058

Peak year

1901

571 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Begbie had 462 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 568 in 2016, ranked #9,058.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 571 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Begbie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Begbie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Begbie 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 358 #6,604
1861 historical 346 #7,377
1881 historical 462 #7,183
1891 historical 508 #7,341
1901 historical 571 #7,341
1911 historical 199 #15,016
1997 modern 540 #8,782
1998 modern 562 #8,765
1999 modern 569 #8,746
2000 modern 555 #8,883
2001 modern 538 #8,950
2002 modern 568 #8,764
2003 modern 529 #9,109
2004 modern 521 #9,235
2005 modern 516 #9,236
2006 modern 504 #9,432
2007 modern 522 #9,254
2008 modern 529 #9,229
2009 modern 529 #9,442
2010 modern 538 #9,523
2011 modern 534 #9,493
2012 modern 527 #9,497
2013 modern 542 #9,446
2014 modern 551 #9,378
2015 modern 556 #9,221
2016 modern 568 #9,058

Geography

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Where Begbies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inveresk, London parishes, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oxgangs, Cambridge, Stenhouse and Saughton Mains, Kilmacolm Central and Central Easterhouse. 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 Inveresk Edinburgh
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oxgangs City of Edinburgh
2 Cambridge 007 Cambridge
3 Stenhouse and Saughton Mains City of Edinburgh
4 Kilmacolm Central Inverclyde
5 Central Easterhouse Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Begbie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Begbie

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Begbie is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Begbie 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

Begbie falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Begbie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Begbie

The surname Begbie originates from Scotland, where it first appeared in the early 14th century. It is derived from the Old French word "beguine," which refers to a member of a religious order of women who lived in communities and took vows of chastity and obedience without strictly being nuns.

The name is thought to have been initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near or was associated with a beguine house, a type of religious community where these women resided. Early records show variations in the spelling, including Begbie, Begybie, and Begobie.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Begbie can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1390, which mention a person named John Begby. The name also appears in various other Scottish records from the 15th and 16th centuries, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

In terms of historical figures with the Begbie surname, one notable individual was William Begbie (1685-1743), a Scottish physician and author who practiced in Twickenham, England. He is known for his work "A Treatise on the Cure of Ruptures" published in 1734.

Another prominent Begbie was Sir John Begbie (1826-1888), a British lawyer and jurist who served as the first Chief Justice of British Columbia, Canada. He played a significant role in establishing the legal system in the province during its early years after becoming a British colony.

In the 19th century, Thomas Masterman Begbie (1834-1920) was a British lawyer and judge who served as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer. He is notable for his involvement in several high-profile cases during his legal career.

James Warburton Begbie (1826-1876) was a Scottish physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in British Columbia. He is credited with discovering several new species and had a mountain range named after him in recognition of his work.

Lastly, Jeb Begbie (born 1963) is a contemporary American musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and co-founder of the punk rock band Titus Andronicus.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Begbie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Begbie 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. Midlothian leads with 204 Begbies recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.79x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 204 33.79x
Middlesex 27 0.60x
Angus 23 5.51x
Surrey 21 0.96x
East Lothian 20 33.51x
Lanarkshire 19 1.30x
West Lothian 15 22.10x
Northumberland 12 1.79x
Inverness-shire 11 8.17x
Stirlingshire 11 6.62x
Yorkshire 11 0.25x
Gloucestershire 10 1.13x
Perthshire 10 4.94x
Sussex 10 1.32x
Cumberland 9 2.32x
Roxburghshire 8 9.80x
Dunbartonshire 7 5.78x
Denbighshire 5 2.94x
Lancashire 5 0.09x
Westmorland 5 5.05x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.47x
Hampshire 4 0.43x
Kent 4 0.26x
Berkshire 2 0.59x
Ayrshire 1 0.30x
Berwickshire 1 1.83x
Caithness 1 1.62x
Fife 1 0.37x
Selkirkshire 1 2.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 107 Begbies recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.05x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 107 44.05x
Dundee 21 13.47x
Colinton 20 297.18x
Lambeth 20 5.09x
Inveresk 14 85.63x
Inverness 11 32.50x
St Marylebone London 10 4.16x
Stirling 10 47.71x
Leeds 9 3.57x
Rockcliff 9 743.80x
Clifton 8 17.91x
South Leith 8 11.78x
St Boswells 8 540.54x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 7 167.46x
Kirknewton East 7 277.78x
Row 7 44.67x
Dalmeny 6 231.66x
Edinburgh High Church 6 158.31x
Edinburgh St Stephens 6 50.51x
Glasgow 6 2.32x
Govan 6 1.66x
Shettleston 6 45.98x
St Pancras London 6 1.65x
Aberlady 5 322.58x
Blair Athole 5 185.87x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 32.55x
Edinburgh Greenside 5 62.66x
Edinburgh St Marys 5 42.59x
Hastings St Mary 5 26.44x
Llanelian 5 675.68x
Padiham 5 38.70x
Queensferry 5 301.20x
Berwick Upon Tweed 4 28.15x
East Meon 4 165.98x
Elswick 4 7.48x
Haddington 4 45.40x
Islington London 4 0.92x
Kidbrooke 4 459.77x
Uphall 4 53.62x
Edinburgh St Andrews 3 60.12x
Gladsmuir 3 112.78x
Hastings St Clement 3 41.96x
Paddington London 3 1.81x
Undermilbeck 3 91.74x
Westgate 3 7.23x
Applethwaite 2 67.80x
Berwick North 2 47.85x
Bristol St James In 2 15.38x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 2 14.01x
Great Missenden 2 59.52x
Liberton 2 21.46x
Little Dunkeld 2 58.31x
Little Missenden 2 116.28x
Mid Calder 2 76.34x
North Leith 2 7.16x
Prestonkirk 2 67.11x
Salton 2 224.72x
St George Martyr London 2 21.91x
Sunninghill 2 42.64x
Alva 1 12.61x
Bolton 1 192.31x
Bridlington 1 9.78x
Broadwater 1 5.74x
Camberwell 1 0.35x
Cockpen 1 14.16x
Crieff 1 13.30x
Culross 1 57.14x
Duddingston 1 8.25x
Dunse 1 19.31x
Farnell 1 104.17x
Hove 1 3.00x
Jesmond 1 10.60x
Kensington London 1 0.40x
Melrose 1 9.75x
Monifieth 1 6.78x
Penicuik 1 12.20x
Perth East Church 1 5.24x
Poplar London 1 1.18x
Scarborough 1 2.46x
Thurso 1 10.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Mary 7
Margaret 5
Florence 4
Gertrude 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Ann 2
Anna 2
Annie 2
Barbara 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Grace 2
Margret 2
Aggie 1
Agness 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Francess 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Julia 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Margeret 1
Margt.E. 1
Matilda 1
Sophia 1
Susie 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 6
Alexander 4
James 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Richard 2
Thomas 2
Archibald 1
Arundel 1
Benjn. 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Mars 1
Sydney 1
Vivian 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Begbie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Begbie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 462 people were recorded with the Begbie surname. That placed it at #7,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Begbie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 568 in 2016. That gives Begbie a modern rank of #9,058.

What does the Begbie surname mean?

Of Scottish origin, meaning "dweller by the peat bog".

What does the Begbie map show?

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