NameCensus.

UK surname

Behan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "beathán," meaning "little bear" or "lively one."

In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Behan surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,200, ranked #4,958, up from #19,296 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Halifax and Poulton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromsgrove, Leeds and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Behan is 1,267 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1053.8%.

1881 census count

104

Ranked #19,296

Modern count

1,200

2016, ranked #4,958

Peak year

2010

1,267 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Behan had 104 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,296 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,200 in 2016, ranked #4,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 197 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Behan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Behan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Behan 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 36 #26,838
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 104 #19,296
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 126 #19,970
1911 historical 197 #15,101
1997 modern 1,088 #5,119
1998 modern 1,135 #5,113
1999 modern 1,135 #5,162
2000 modern 1,145 #5,088
2001 modern 1,120 #5,093
2002 modern 1,117 #5,218
2003 modern 1,093 #5,207
2004 modern 1,092 #5,219
2005 modern 1,079 #5,208
2006 modern 1,083 #5,205
2007 modern 1,103 #5,176
2008 modern 1,133 #5,098
2009 modern 1,200 #4,939
2010 modern 1,267 #4,817
2011 modern 1,203 #4,960
2012 modern 1,183 #4,969
2013 modern 1,184 #5,051
2014 modern 1,207 #4,994
2015 modern 1,209 #4,939
2016 modern 1,200 #4,958

Geography

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Where Behans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Halifax, Poulton, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromsgrove, Leeds, Stockton-on-Tees, Birmingham and Brighton and Hove. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Poulton Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromsgrove 002 Bromsgrove
2 Leeds 064 Leeds
3 Stockton-on-Tees 010 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Birmingham 011 Birmingham
5 Brighton and Hove 014 Brighton and Hove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Behan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Behan

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Behan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Behan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Behan 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

Behan 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

Behan 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 Behan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Behan

The surname Behan originated in Ireland, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "beathán," which means "little life" or "little being." This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was small in stature or youthful in appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Behan surname can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In an entry dated 1173, a man named Aedh Behan is mentioned as being present at a significant event.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Behan family was well-established in County Wexford, located in the southeastern part of Ireland. Several members of the family were landowners and prominent figures in the local community.

In the late 18th century, a notable individual named Brendan Behan (1735-1814) served as a member of the Irish Parliament, representing the borough of Duleek in County Meath. He was a vocal advocate for Catholic rights and played a significant role in the political landscape of the time.

Another prominent figure bearing the Behan surname was the acclaimed Irish playwright and author, Brendan Behan (1923-1964). Born in Dublin, he gained international recognition for his works, including the plays "The Quare Fellow" and "The Hostage," as well as the autobiographical novel "Borstal Boy."

In the realm of Irish music, the Behan name has been carried on by the traditional singer and songwriter, Paddy Behan (1913-1988). He was a beloved figure in Dublin's folk music scene and a prolific composer of ballads and songs celebrating Irish culture and history.

Other notable individuals with the Behan surname include Michael Behan (1865-1923), an Irish politician and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and Dominic Behan (1928-1989), a writer and playwright who was the younger brother of the famous Brendan Behan.

While the Behan name has its roots in Ireland, it has since been carried by individuals across various parts of the world, reflecting the diaspora of Irish emigration throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Behan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Behan 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. Lancashire leads with 38 Behans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 38 3.16x
Middlesex 12 1.18x
Yorkshire 12 1.19x
Cheshire 10 4.47x
Surrey 7 1.42x
Hampshire 5 2.41x
Sussex 5 2.92x
Dumfriesshire 4 17.85x
Dunbartonshire 4 14.67x
Durham 2 0.66x
Kent 2 0.58x
Gloucestershire 1 0.50x
Oxfordshire 1 1.60x
Pembrokeshire 1 3.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 14 Behans recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.55x.

Place Total Index
Salford 14 39.55x
Liverpool 9 12.31x
Bowling 6 60.24x
Chester St John Baptist 6 149.25x
Newington 6 16.01x
Thornton In Fylde 6 228.14x
Eastbourne 5 63.53x
Nether Hallam 5 36.76x
Birkenhead 4 22.41x
Dumbarton 4 105.54x
Dumfries 4 181.00x
Aldershot 3 43.10x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 49.67x
St Luke London 3 18.44x
Hampstead London 2 12.66x
Heston 2 59.35x
Poplar London 2 10.45x
Stockton On Tees 2 13.75x
Blackburn 1 3.12x
Broughton In Salford 1 9.08x
Cheltenham 1 6.51x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 29.85x
Farnborough 1 45.87x
Fulwood 1 76.92x
Hulme 1 3.98x
Kensington London 1 1.77x
Lambeth 1 1.13x
Lewisham 1 5.42x
Oxford St Clement 1 63.29x
Pembroke St Mary 1 24.10x
Portsea 1 2.45x
Skipton 1 31.65x
St Marylebone London 1 1.85x
Westminster St Margaret 1 20.45x
Windle 1 14.77x
Withington 1 25.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Margaret 7
Ann 3
Sarah 3
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Ebig.J.H. 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Lear 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Behan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Behan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Behan surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Behan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,200 in 2016. That gives Behan a modern rank of #4,958.

What does the Behan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "beathán," meaning "little bear" or "lively one."

What does the Behan map show?

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