NameCensus.

UK surname

Begg

A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic word meaning "little" or "small".

In the 1881 census there were 1,816 people recorded with the Begg surname, ranking it #2,400 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,285, ranked #2,840, down from #2,400 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Canisbay, Wick and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North East, Wick South and Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Begg is 2,318 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.8%.

1881 census count

1,816

Ranked #2,400

Modern count

2,285

2016, ranked #2,840

Peak year

2010

2,318 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Begg had 1,816 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,400 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,285 in 2016, ranked #2,840.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,152 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Begg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Begg surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Begg 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 1,285 #2,229
1861 historical 1,447 #1,963
1881 historical 1,816 #2,400
1891 historical 1,968 #2,347
1901 historical 2,152 #2,500
1911 historical 445 #8,582
1997 modern 2,144 #2,881
1998 modern 2,221 #2,895
1999 modern 2,242 #2,894
2000 modern 2,215 #2,908
2001 modern 2,137 #2,940
2002 modern 2,237 #2,880
2003 modern 2,172 #2,896
2004 modern 2,219 #2,846
2005 modern 2,192 #2,847
2006 modern 2,196 #2,843
2007 modern 2,230 #2,820
2008 modern 2,268 #2,803
2009 modern 2,275 #2,861
2010 modern 2,318 #2,874
2011 modern 2,271 #2,891
2012 modern 2,258 #2,855
2013 modern 2,253 #2,903
2014 modern 2,283 #2,886
2015 modern 2,281 #2,857
2016 modern 2,285 #2,840

Geography

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Where Beggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Canisbay, Wick, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North East, Wick South, Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter, Lochlash and Alness. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Canisbay Caithness
2 Wick Caithness
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North East Highland
2 Wick South Highland
3 Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter Aberdeenshire
4 Lochlash Highland
5 Alness Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Begg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Begg

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Begg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Begg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Begg is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Begg 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

Begg 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 Begg 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 Begg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Begg

The surname BEGG has its origins in Scotland, where it emerged in the late 12th century as a variant of the Old English name BAGGA. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "baggi," meaning "bundle" or "pack," suggesting that the original bearer may have been someone who transported goods or worked as a carrier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BEGG can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a person named Thomas Begg is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in Scotland by the 13th century.

The BEGG surname is also closely associated with the town of Ayr, located in the southwest of Scotland. Historical records from the 16th century indicate that several families bearing the name BEGG resided in and around the Ayr area, and the name may have originated as a reference to someone from that particular region.

In the 17th century, the BEGG surname appears in various legal documents and parish records across Scotland. One notable individual was James Begg, a Scottish minister and theologian who lived from 1808 to 1888. He was a prominent figure in the Free Church of Scotland and played a significant role in the ecclesiastical debates of his time.

Another notable bearer of the BEGG surname was John Begg, a Scottish author and journalist who lived from 1834 to 1912. He wrote several books on Scottish history and culture, including "The Scots Worthies" and "The Covenanters of the Merse."

In the 19th century, the BEGG surname gained further prominence with the birth of Robert Begg (1840-1920), a Scottish industrialist and entrepreneur. He founded the Robert Begg & Co. Ltd, a successful textile manufacturing company based in Paisley, Scotland.

Moving into the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the BEGG surname was Alistair Begg, a Scottish-born Christian minister and author who was born in 1959. He is widely known for his work as a pastor and for his contributions to biblical teaching and preaching.

Throughout its history, the BEGG surname has maintained a strong presence in Scotland, with various branches of the family spreading across the country and beyond. While the name may have evolved from its original Old Norse roots, its Scottish heritage remains a defining characteristic of this ancient surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Begg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Begg 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 293 Beggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.80x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 293 17.80x
Lanarkshire 261 4.54x
Midlothian 202 8.48x
Caithness 173 71.09x
Ayrshire 130 9.77x
Angus 111 6.74x
Renfrewshire 72 5.23x
Kincardineshire 68 31.42x
Middlesex 50 0.28x
Banffshire 47 12.75x
Perthshire 41 5.14x
Stirlingshire 41 6.25x
Lancashire 40 0.19x
Fife 32 3.04x
Dunbartonshire 25 5.23x
Durham 25 0.47x
Surrey 25 0.29x
Morayshire 23 8.33x
Glamorgan 21 0.68x
Yorkshire 20 0.11x
Kent 13 0.21x
Suffolk 12 0.55x
Orkney 11 5.63x
Dumfriesshire 9 2.29x
East Lothian 9 3.82x
Northumberland 9 0.34x
Cumberland 8 0.52x
Northamptonshire 8 0.48x
Channel Islands 6 1.14x
Cheshire 6 0.15x
Sutherland 6 4.39x
Inverness-shire 3 0.57x
Lincolnshire 3 0.11x
Wiltshire 3 0.19x
Argyllshire 2 0.40x
Essex 2 0.06x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.78x
Ross-shire 2 0.41x
Royal Navy 2 0.94x
Nairnshire 1 1.84x
Peeblesshire 1 1.20x
Roxburghshire 1 0.31x
Shropshire 1 0.07x
West Lothian 1 0.37x
Wigtownshire 1 0.42x

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 91 Beggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.50x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 91 9.50x
Govan 72 5.06x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 62 20.13x
Wick 59 75.06x
Canisbay 55 344.18x
Aberdeen Old Machar 52 15.13x
Barony 44 3.02x
Dundee 44 7.16x
Glasgow 40 3.92x
Falkirk 35 22.81x
South Leith 33 12.32x
Muirkirk 25 80.05x
Liff Benvie 23 9.20x
East Kilbride 20 81.23x
Aboyne 19 218.64x
Towie 19 411.26x
Banchory Ternan 17 90.86x
Birse 17 254.87x
Hamilton 17 10.60x
Mortlach 16 88.89x
Paisley Middle Church 16 19.95x
Bishopwearmouth 15 3.30x
Shettleston 15 29.15x
Auckinleck 14 34.00x
Cathcart 14 18.79x
Dalry 14 22.37x
Dunnottar 14 91.92x
Glenbucket 14 454.55x
Blantyre 13 21.72x
North Leith 13 11.80x
Paisley High Church 13 11.85x
Dunnet 12 122.70x
Fordyce 12 45.23x
Sorn 12 45.92x
Dysart 11 15.53x
Edinburgh St Stephens 11 23.47x
Fraserburgh 11 23.74x
Kintore 11 76.92x
Paisley Low Church 11 25.23x
Watten 11 128.66x
Elgin 10 18.62x
Kemnay 10 100.20x
Latheron 10 24.56x
Old Cumnock 10 33.76x
Toxteth Park 10 1.40x
Bromley London 9 2.30x
Cardross 9 15.69x
Edinburgh St Georges 9 18.21x
Fetteresso 9 26.53x
Inveresk 9 13.96x
Lumphanan 9 130.06x
Arbroath 8 14.66x
Belhelvie 8 71.05x
Bower 8 81.63x
Dalmellington 8 20.46x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 8 39.82x
Meldrum 8 57.68x
New Cumnock 8 34.69x
Shoreditch London 8 1.04x
Shotts 8 11.63x
Wellingborough 8 9.52x
Abbotshall 7 17.81x
Avondale 7 20.83x
Bellie 7 56.09x
Brechin 7 10.82x
Camberwell 7 0.62x
Clunie 7 198.30x
Dalziel 7 11.32x
Dewsbury 7 3.88x
Drumoak 7 123.67x
Eaglesham 7 82.94x
Fordoun 7 57.71x
Leckwith 7 96.15x
Reay 7 52.47x
Roath 7 4.98x
St Giles 7 21.21x
Durris 6 96.93x
Great Bolton 6 2.15x
West Derby 6 0.97x
Woolwich 6 2.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Mary 13
Jane 8
Margaret 8
Ann 6
Jessie 5
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Annie 4
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Henrietta 3
Janet 3
Louisa 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Lucy 2
Sarah 2
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dorcas 1
E. 1
E.J. 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Isabel 1
Jessiema 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Margeret 1
Margt. 1
Marth. 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Pheobe 1
Rosa 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 16
James 10
David 6
Robert 6
Thomas 6
Arthur 5
George 4
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Hamilton 2
Hugh 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
A. 1
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Benjm.A. 1
Berthold 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Donald 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Gordon 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Isidore 1
J. 1
Mary 1
Max 1
Norman 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Samuel 1
Shelly 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Begg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Begg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,816 people were recorded with the Begg surname. That placed it at #2,400 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Begg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,285 in 2016. That gives Begg a modern rank of #2,840.

What does the Begg surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic word meaning "little" or "small".

What does the Begg map show?

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