NameCensus.

UK surname

Begun

Hungarian surname meaning "violet" or "pansy".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tower Hamlets, Oldham and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Begun is 101 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

2016

101 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Begun surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Begun surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Begun 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1997 modern 81 #29,436
1998 modern 77 #30,289
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 53 #32,805
2001 modern 46 #33,311
2002 modern 44 #33,790
2003 modern 48 #33,533
2004 modern 44 #34,053
2005 modern 41 #34,478
2006 modern 50 #34,077
2007 modern 57 #33,800
2008 modern 67 #33,135
2009 modern 77 #32,553
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 71 #33,392
2012 modern 70 #33,638
2013 modern 67 #33,939
2014 modern 84 #32,823
2015 modern 86 #32,604
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Beguns 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 Tower Hamlets, Oldham and Tameside. 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 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
2 Oldham 016 Oldham
3 Tower Hamlets 008 Tower Hamlets
4 Tower Hamlets 020 Tower Hamlets
5 Tameside 028 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Begun

These lists show first names that appear often with the Begun 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 Begun

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Begun is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Begun 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

Begun falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Begun is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
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 Begun, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Begun

The surname "BEGUN" is believed to have originated in the region of Bengal, which is now part of modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. The name can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 8th to 10th centuries CE.

One theory suggests that the name "BEGUN" is derived from the ancient Bengali word "Bagan," which means "garden" or "orchard." It is possible that the surname was initially given to individuals who worked in or owned gardens or orchards in the Bengal region.

Another theory proposes that the name "BEGUN" is a variant of the Sanskrit word "Bhagavan," which means "Lord" or "God." This theory suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who were devotees of a particular deity or held a religious position.

In the 12th century, the name "BEGUN" appeared in several historical records and manuscripts from the Bengal region. One notable mention was in the "Pala Inscriptions," which were a collection of stone inscriptions commissioned by the Pala Empire, a Buddhist imperial power that ruled over parts of Bengal and neighboring regions.

The earliest recorded individual with the surname "BEGUN" was Shyamacharan Begun, a Bengali scholar and poet who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his contributions to Bengali literature and his works on Hindu philosophy.

In the 17th century, Ramkrishna Begun was a prominent Bengali artist and sculptor who specialized in terracotta art. His works can still be found in various temples and museums across West Bengal and Bangladesh.

During the 19th century, Jyotirindranath Begun was a renowned Bengali physician and social reformer. He played a significant role in the Bengali Renaissance movement, advocating for education and social reforms, particularly in the field of women's rights.

Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature, had a close friend named Kshitindranath Begun. Kshitindranath was a renowned Bengali playwright and novelist, and his works often explored themes of social injustice and human relationships.

In the 20th century, Satyajit Ray, the celebrated Indian filmmaker, had a close collaborator named Bansi Chandragupta Begun. Bansi Chandragupta was a Bengali art director and set designer who worked on several of Ray's iconic films, including the Apu Trilogy and "The Chess Players."

While the surname "BEGUN" has its roots in the Bengal region, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the historical and cultural significance of this surname remains deeply rooted in the rich heritage of Bengal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Begun surname: questions and answers

How common is the Begun surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Begun a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Begun surname mean?

Hungarian surname meaning "violet" or "pansy".

What does the Begun map show?

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