UK surname
A topographic surname referring to someone living near a stream or brook.
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Beker surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stiffkey, Sedgley and Shalbourn (incl. Oxenwood). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beker is 219 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
219 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beker surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 219 | #11,124 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 88 | #25,677 |
| 1901 | historical | 14 | #32,506 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 14 | #36,886 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 15 | #36,982 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stiffkey, Sedgley, Shalbourn (incl. Oxenwood), Hill Farrance, Oake, Nynehead and Ebony. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stiffkey | Norfolk |
| 2 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Shalbourn (incl. Oxenwood) | Berkshire |
| 4 | Hill Farrance, Oake, Nynehead | Somerset |
| 5 | Ebony | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beker, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Beker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Beker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Beker is of Germanic origin, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have emerged in the 12th century in the region of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands.
Beker is derived from the Old German word "becker," which translates to "baker." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who worked as bakers or were involved in the baking trade. The occupation-based surnames were common during this period, as they helped identify individuals by their professions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Beker can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae," a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This document mentions a "Henricus Beker" from the city of Leipzig in 1265.
In the late 15th century, the name Beker appeared in the "Liber Antiquissimus" of the city of Groningen in the Netherlands. This record lists a "Hinrik Beker" as a resident of the city in 1491.
Over the centuries, the name Beker has undergone various spelling variations, including Becker, Bekker, and Beeker. These variations can be attributed to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling conventions during earlier periods.
Notable individuals with the surname Beker include:
1. Joost Beker (1551-1619), a Dutch humanist scholar and writer from Groningen. 2. Cornelius Beker (1592-1648), a Dutch Golden Age painter from Amsterdam. 3. Gottfried Beker (1645-1712), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg. 4. Anna Beker (1765-1834), a German author and poet from Leipzig. 5. Johann Beker (1810-1879), a German architect and urban planner from Berlin, known for his contributions to the city's urban development during the 19th century.
The surname Beker has been present in various regions of Europe, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of Scandinavia, where it has maintained a strong presence throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 6 Bekers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.71x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 6 | 9.71x |
| Somerset | 4 | 19.60x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 2.44x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 8.38x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 6 Bekers recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.25x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 6 | 54.25x |
| Crewkerne | 4 | 1818.18x |
| Barony | 1 | 9.63x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 303.03x |
| Peterborough | 1 | 116.28x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Beker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Beker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Dom Servant | 1 |
| Factory Hand | 1 |
| Housemaid Servant | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Omnibus Conductor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Beker surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Beker a modern rank of #37,278.
A topographic surname referring to someone living near a stream or brook.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.