UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name, potentially referring to someone from a wooded or forested area.
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Belwood surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Belwood is 102 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.9%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1891
102 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Belwood surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Belwood surname density by area, 1901 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 | 87 | #18,695 |
| 1861 | historical | 86 | #22,810 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 54 | #27,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 38 | #33,872 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 37 | #34,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 38 | #34,004 |
| 2002 | modern | 36 | #34,480 |
| 2003 | modern | 35 | #34,609 |
| 2004 | modern | 33 | #34,947 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 35 | #35,191 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 34 | #35,502 |
| 2009 | modern | 37 | #35,434 |
| 2010 | modern | 38 | #35,514 |
| 2011 | modern | 39 | #35,444 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), St Pancras, Manchester and Carnaby. 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 | Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick | Worcestershire |
| 2 | Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Carnaby | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Belwood 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 Belwood, 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 Belwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Belwood 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, Belwood 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 Belwood is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Belwood, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BELWOOD is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from a place name, likely a town or village where the first bearers of the name resided. The name may have evolved from the Old English words "bell" meaning "bell" and "wudu" meaning "wood," potentially referring to a wooded area near a church or monastery with a bell tower.
One of the earliest recorded references to the BELWOOD name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a John de Bellewode. This entry suggests that the name was in use as early as the 13th century, possibly originating from a place called Belwood or a variation thereof.
In the 14th century, the BELWOOD surname appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, which listed a Robert de Bellewode in 1332. This record provides further evidence of the name's presence in medieval England and its potential connection to a location with a similar name.
John BELWOOD (c. 1480 - 1558) was a notable figure who held the position of Abbot of St. Mary's Abbey in York, serving from 1531 until the abbey's dissolution in 1539 during the English Reformation. He was a respected religious leader and played a significant role in the abbey's affairs during a turbulent period in English history.
Sir Edward BELWOOD (1568 - 1647) was an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Southwark in the early 17th century. He was actively involved in local affairs and owned substantial properties in Surrey and Kent.
Notable bearers of the BELWOOD surname in later centuries include William BELWOOD (1737 - 1819), a prominent merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, England, who made significant contributions to educational and charitable causes in the city.
Another individual of note was Mary BELWOOD (1845 - 1922), a British educator and women's rights advocate who campaigned for equal opportunities in education and played a crucial role in establishing several girls' schools in London and the surrounding areas.
The BELWOOD surname has a rich history rooted in medieval England, with potential connections to specific locations and place names. While its origins remain uncertain, the name has been associated with various notable figures across different walks of life throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Belwood 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. Yorkshire leads with 65 Belwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.47x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 65 | 7.47x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 0.86x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.30x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.46x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.74x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.85x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.45x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.87x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Marske In Guisbrough in Yorkshire leads with 9 Belwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 584.42x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Marske In Guisbrough | 9 | 584.42x |
| Bradford | 7 | 33.24x |
| Horbury | 7 | 460.53x |
| Hulme | 7 | 32.18x |
| Brotherton | 6 | 1714.29x |
| Kirk Bramwith | 6 | 12000.00x |
| Crambe | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Hilderthorpe | 4 | 909.09x |
| Morley | 4 | 88.50x |
| Pontefract | 4 | 213.90x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 8.53x |
| Haughton Le Skerne | 3 | 1363.64x |
| Leeds | 3 | 6.11x |
| Broughton In Stokesley | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Carleton In Pontefract | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 2 | 11.31x |
| West Derby | 2 | 6.56x |
| Armthorpe | 1 | 833.33x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.64x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 4.46x |
| Chester St Oswald | 1 | 28.49x |
| Crosby | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Gateshead | 1 | 5.12x |
| Gloucester St John Baptist | 1 | 90.09x |
| Great Melton | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Harworth | 1 | 588.24x |
| Huttons Ambo | 1 | 769.23x |
| Stranton | 1 | 11.38x |
| Sykehouse | 1 | 833.33x |
| Thirsk | 1 | 100.00x |
| Whistones | 1 | 120.48x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Belwood 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 Belwood 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 Belwood households.
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Belwood surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Belwood a modern rank of #35,582.
A locational surname derived from a place name, potentially referring to someone from a wooded or forested area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Belwood 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.