NameCensus.

UK surname

Beilby

A locational surname originating from the town of Bielby, England.

In the 1881 census there were 337 people recorded with the Beilby surname, ranking it #8,981 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 313, ranked #14,318, down from #8,981 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Hull Holy Trinity and Wheldrake. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, Leeds and Rushmoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beilby is 546 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.1%.

1881 census count

337

Ranked #8,981

Modern count

313

2016, ranked #14,318

Peak year

1911

546 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beilby had 337 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,981 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016, ranked #14,318.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 546 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Beilby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beilby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beilby 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 266 #8,373
1861 historical 212 #11,466
1881 historical 337 #8,981
1891 historical 372 #9,386
1901 historical 464 #8,512
1911 historical 546 #7,331
1997 modern 349 #12,197
1998 modern 365 #12,175
1999 modern 362 #12,316
2000 modern 353 #12,480
2001 modern 341 #12,588
2002 modern 342 #12,837
2003 modern 345 #12,549
2004 modern 341 #12,673
2005 modern 339 #12,668
2006 modern 345 #12,571
2007 modern 346 #12,689
2008 modern 340 #12,989
2009 modern 341 #13,214
2010 modern 347 #13,325
2011 modern 349 #13,108
2012 modern 333 #13,468
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 331 #13,851
2015 modern 319 #14,118
2016 modern 313 #14,318

Geography

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Where Beilbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Hull Holy Trinity, Wheldrake, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Gainsborough, Paddocks. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, Leeds, Rushmoor, Mansfield and Selby. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Wheldrake Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 005 West Devon
2 Leeds 101 Leeds
3 Rushmoor 006 Rushmoor
4 Mansfield 001 Mansfield
5 Selby 003 Selby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beilby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beilby

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

Beilby is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beilby falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beilby 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 Beilby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Beilby

The surname BEILBY is of English origin, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century in Yorkshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bel" meaning "bell" and "by" meaning "a farmstead or village," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked near a bell or bellhouse.

One of the earliest known records of the BEILBY surname is found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which lists a "Johannes Beilby" from the village of Kildwick. This early spelling variation, "Beilby," is thought to have evolved from the older forms "Belby" or "Beleby."

In the 16th century, the BEILBY name appears in various historical documents, including the Parish Registers of Otley, Yorkshire, where a "Thomas Beilby" was recorded in 1592. During this time period, the surname was also found in other areas of Yorkshire, such as Ripon and Knaresborough.

One notable bearer of the BEILBY surname was Sir Ralph Beilby (1619-1693), a successful merchant and Member of Parliament for York in the late 17th century. He was known for his involvement in the wool trade and for his philanthropic contributions to the city of York.

Another prominent figure was Reverend Ralph Beilby (1744-1817), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Hayton, Nottinghamshire. He published several works on theology and natural history during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the BEILBY name gained recognition through the achievements of Sir Samuel Beilby (1805-1873), an English industrialist and inventor. He pioneered the process of making lead-encased blocks for use in the construction of buildings, and his innovations contributed significantly to the development of the modern construction industry.

Other notable individuals bearing the BEILBY surname include William Beilby (1818-1893), a renowned English artist and engraver, and John Beilby (1854-1936), a respected architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire.

Throughout its history, the BEILBY surname has maintained a strong presence in the Yorkshire region of England, with various branches of the family settling in areas such as Leeds, Wakefield, and Huddersfield over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beilby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beilby 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. Yorkshire leads with 222 Beilbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.88x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 222 6.88x
Durham 16 1.65x
Lancashire 11 0.28x
Surrey 11 0.69x
Buckinghamshire 10 5.08x
Northumberland 9 1.86x
Nottinghamshire 9 2.05x
Midlothian 8 1.83x
Essex 7 1.09x
Lincolnshire 7 1.34x
Middlesex 7 0.21x
Worcestershire 7 1.65x
Staffordshire 4 0.36x
Lanarkshire 3 0.28x
Glamorgan 2 0.35x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wheldrake in Yorkshire leads with 43 Beilbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6417.91x.

Place Total Index
Wheldrake 43 6417.91x
Holy Trinity 18 23.18x
Fangfoss 11 5789.47x
Cheddington 10 1204.82x
Coxlodge 9 243.90x
Sculcoates 9 17.59x
Beverley St Mary 8 169.49x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 4.56x
Flamborough 7 448.72x
Gainsborough 7 57.00x
Northowram 7 30.92x
Saltmarshe 7 8750.00x
West Ham 7 4.93x
Bermondsey 6 6.19x
Great Driffield 6 90.50x
Whitby 6 55.15x
Arden 5 3571.43x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 45.29x
Camberwell 5 2.40x
Clerkenwell London 5 6.50x
Darlington 5 13.36x
Egton 5 352.11x
Hunslet 5 9.93x
Raskelf 5 943.40x
Snenton 5 28.99x
Swanland 5 1020.41x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 4.73x
Bentley Cum Arksey 4 236.69x
Beverley St Martin 4 74.21x
Collierley 4 92.59x
Eryholme 4 1904.76x
Hutton Henry 4 196.08x
North Newbald 4 547.95x
Pershore St Andrew 4 170.21x
Scarborough 4 13.63x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 3.43x
Clifton In York 3 44.44x
Coundon 3 76.34x
Crambe 3 1764.71x
Doncaster 3 12.72x
Govan 3 1.15x
Heslington St Lawrence 3 1071.43x
Lenton 3 29.01x
Oldham 3 2.40x
Southcoates 3 16.74x
Spofforth 3 681.82x
Worcester St Martin 3 52.26x
Wothersome 3 6000.00x
Aberdare 2 5.14x
Appleton Le Street 2 1000.00x
Brotherton 2 155.04x
Cattal 2 1000.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.26x
Newington 2 22.50x
Southburn 2 2000.00x
St Mary 2 92.59x
Anlaby 1 142.86x
Awkley 1 322.58x
Danby 1 76.92x
Edgbaston 1 3.93x
Flaxton 1 243.90x
Gate Fulford 1 13.26x
Mappleton Rowlston 1 500.00x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.44x
North Dalton 1 185.19x
North Frodingham 1 131.58x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.88x
Old Malton 1 49.26x
Otley 1 12.76x
Roundhay 1 109.89x
Royton 1 8.45x
Ruswarp 1 27.86x
Sheffield 1 0.97x
Snainton 1 114.94x
St Marylebone London 1 0.57x
Stainland Cum Old 1 18.12x
Thornholm 1 833.33x
Warrington 1 2.18x
York St Giles In 1 32.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 16
Annie 11
Ann 9
Jane 9
Hannah 8
Emma 7
Sarah 6
Alice 5
Maria 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Anne 2
Elizh. 2
Ellen 2
Margaret 2
Agness 1
Amelia 1
Amma 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Eieth 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Emley 1
Emly 1
Emmaline 1
Ethelfleda 1
Eva 1
Florince 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
George 24
William 15
Thomas 12
Robert 10
Arthur 5
James 5
Joseph 5
Geo. 4
Herbert 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
David 3
Fred 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Hy. 2
Jonathan 2
Wm. 2
Archie 1
Authur 1
Benjamin 1
C.J. 1
Charls 1
Edward 1
Elias 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Henery 1
Jhon 1
Matthew 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Roger 1

FAQ

Beilby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beilby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 337 people were recorded with the Beilby surname. That placed it at #8,981 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beilby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016. That gives Beilby a modern rank of #14,318.

What does the Beilby surname mean?

A locational surname originating from the town of Bielby, England.

What does the Beilby map show?

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