NameCensus.

UK surname

Beldon

An English habitational surname derived from a place name, possibly relating to "bell" and "don".

In the 1881 census there were 165 people recorded with the Beldon surname, ranking it #14,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 102, ranked #30,722, down from #14,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mirfield, Gateshead and Doncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Northumberland and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beldon is 199 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.2%.

1881 census count

165

Ranked #14,559

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

1901

199 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beldon had 165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 199 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Beldon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beldon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beldon 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 165 #14,559
1891 historical 195 #15,211
1901 historical 199 #15,173
1911 historical 192 #15,342
1997 modern 142 #21,856
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 133 #23,462
2001 modern 126 #23,883
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 119 #25,193
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 116 #26,510
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 117 #27,557
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 109 #28,689
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Beldons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mirfield, Gateshead, Doncaster, Almondbury and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Northumberland, Windsor and Maidenhead and North West Leicestershire. 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 Mirfield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
2 Northumberland 012 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 017 Northumberland
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 011 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 North West Leicestershire 003 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beldon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beldon

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Beldon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Beldon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Beldon is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beldon is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beldon 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 Beldon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Beldon

The surname Beldon is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name such as Belden or Beldon. The name may have been influenced by the Old English words "bel" meaning bell, and "dun" meaning hill or down, potentially referring to a location situated on a hill where bells could be heard.

One of the earliest known records of the Beldon surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and tenants in England after the Norman Conquest. The name appears to have been concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire during this time.

In the 13th century, a Robert de Beldon was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Yorkshire, indicating the presence of the family in the region. The name also appeared in various tax records and manor rolls throughout the medieval period, suggesting its widespread use across England.

Variations in spelling, such as Beldone and Beldowne, were common in earlier times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions. The surname may also have connections to place names like Belden in Northamptonshire or Beldon in Derbyshire, further reflecting its locational origins.

Notable individuals with the surname Beldon include:

1. Thomas Beldon (c. 1545-1611), an English clergyman and author who served as a prebendary of York Minster. 2. Sir William Beldon (1584-1652), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire. 3. John Beldon (1616-1678), an English lawyer and writer who authored legal treatises on real property law. 4. Sarah Beldon (1770-1844), an English writer and poet known for her collection of poems titled "Verses on Various Occasions." 5. Henry Beldon (1804-1869), a British engineer and inventor who patented improvements to steam engine design and contributed to the development of early railway systems.

The Beldon surname has a rich history rooted in the English landscape, with its origins likely stemming from place names and topographical features. While its meaning has evolved over time, the name remains a testament to the diverse cultural heritage of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beldon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beldon 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 91 Beldons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.71x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 91 5.71x
Northumberland 28 11.69x
Durham 25 5.22x
Middlesex 6 0.37x
Hampshire 4 1.21x
Devon 3 0.90x
Essex 3 0.94x
Norfolk 2 0.81x
Cumberland 1 0.72x
Kent 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 16 Beldons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.77x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 16 17.77x
Gateshead 11 30.68x
Mirfield 11 125.57x
Almondbury 10 129.70x
Doncaster 8 68.67x
Bingley 7 68.90x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 58.42x
Heworth 6 63.63x
Wallsend 6 79.05x
Dalton In Huddersfield 5 140.06x
Hornsey 5 24.57x
Benfieldside 4 126.98x
Benwell 4 152.67x
Bradford 4 10.36x
Crawley 4 1600.00x
North Shields 4 83.68x
Saddleworth 4 32.52x
Tynemouth 4 31.20x
Calverley Cum Farsley 3 66.23x
Keighley 3 17.65x
Sheffield 3 5.91x
Throston 3 326.09x
West Teignmouth 3 117.19x
Whitley 3 389.61x
Elswick 2 10.47x
Humshaugh 2 769.23x
West Ham 2 2.85x
York St Cuthbert 2 136.99x
York St Helen On Walls 2 769.23x
Camerton 1 500.00x
Great Houghton 1 500.00x
Harpley 1 434.78x
Hartlepool 1 14.71x
Hoyland Nether 1 25.58x
Huddersfield 1 4.30x
Lenton 1 19.57x
Maidstone 1 6.11x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 8.06x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 1 62.11x
Ravenfield 1 1111.11x
Rotherham 1 11.12x
Thornaby 1 16.78x
Warden 1 204.08x
Westgate 1 6.74x
Willesden 1 6.59x
Woodford 1 27.78x
Yokefleet 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 13
Ann 6
Elizabeth 6
Jane 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Frances 3
Alice 2
Emma 2
Maria 2
Agnes 1
Arret 1
Charlotte 1
Drothy 1
E.A. 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Sibila 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 9
William 9
Charles 8
John 7
George 6
Harry 5
Joseph 3
Tom 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Anthony 2
David 2
Jas. 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jesse 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Rd. 1
Samuel 1
Silvanus 1
Thompson 1
Walter 1
Wilbert 1

FAQ

Beldon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beldon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 165 people were recorded with the Beldon surname. That placed it at #14,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beldon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Beldon a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Beldon surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name, possibly relating to "bell" and "don".

What does the Beldon map show?

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