UK surname
A surname of Czech origin meaning "lamb" or referring to someone who worked as a shepherd.
In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Beran surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #27,447 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Mynyddyslwyn and Llanwonno. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beran is 399 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.5%.
1881 census count
44
Ranked #27,447
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1891
399 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beran surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beran surname density by area, 1891 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 | 82 | #19,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 225 | #10,843 |
| 1881 | historical | 44 | #27,447 |
| 1891 | historical | 399 | #8,898 |
| 1901 | historical | 99 | #22,999 |
| 1911 | historical | 81 | #24,719 |
| 1997 | modern | 35 | #34,174 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 39 | #34,058 |
| 2000 | modern | 41 | #33,889 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 39 | #34,296 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 45 | #34,160 |
| 2006 | modern | 46 | #34,415 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 54 | #34,431 |
| 2010 | modern | 61 | #34,143 |
| 2011 | modern | 65 | #33,842 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 69 | #33,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Mynyddyslwyn, Llanwonno, Toxteth Park and St Pancras. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Mynyddyslwyn | Monmouthshire |
| 3 | Llanwonno | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beran 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 Beran, 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 Beran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beran 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, Beran 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 Beran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beran, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Beran originates from the Czech Republic and its origins can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Czech word "ber", which means "bear", suggesting that the name may have originated as a nickname for someone who was strong or brave like a bear.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Beran can be found in a document from the town of Beroun, located in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, dated 1265. This document mentions a man named Bera, which is believed to be an early variant of the surname Beran.
In the 14th century, the name began to appear in various municipal records and tax rolls across the Czech lands. For instance, a man named Petr Beran was listed as a landowner in the village of Předměřice nad Labem in 1342.
Historically, the Beran surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Jan Beran (1598-1673), a prominent Czech writer and translator who played a significant role in the development of the Czech language during the Baroque period.
Another notable bearer of the Beran surname was Josef Beran (1888-1969), a Czech cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Archbishop of Prague from 1946 to 1969. He was a vocal opponent of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia and was imprisoned for his beliefs.
In the 15th century, the Beran surname can be found in the records of the town of Kutná Hora, which was an important center of silver mining during the Middle Ages. A document from 1457 mentions a miner named Václav Beran, who was involved in a dispute over a mining claim.
The Beran surname has also been associated with various place names in the Czech Republic. For example, the village of Beranovy Stavby (formerly known as Beranovy Lhotky) in the Pardubice Region, which is believed to have been named after an early settler with the surname Beran.
Throughout history, several other notable individuals have borne the Beran surname, including Miloš Beran (1885-1948), a Czech politician and Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia from 1938 to 1939, and Jiří Beran (1901-1959), a Czech physicist and inventor who made significant contributions to the field of radio technology.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beran 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. Middlesex leads with 17 Berans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.96x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 17 | 3.96x |
| Staffordshire | 9 | 6.21x |
| Surrey | 8 | 3.83x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 2.68x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 6.45x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.76x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 5.68x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.45x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.78x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cannock in Staffordshire leads with 8 Berans recorded in 1881 and an index of 316.21x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cannock | 8 | 316.21x |
| Farnham | 7 | 429.45x |
| Shoreditch London | 5 | 26.88x |
| Islington London | 4 | 9.62x |
| Bethnal Green London | 3 | 16.09x |
| Hove | 2 | 63.09x |
| Newport | 2 | 135.14x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 5.79x |
| Aberdare | 1 | 19.49x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 9.87x |
| Harborne | 1 | 21.55x |
| Holy Trinity St Mary | 1 | 153.85x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 4.19x |
| Knightwick | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.67x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | 13.93x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 6.34x |
| Walcot | 1 | 27.17x |
| Weston Under Penyard | 1 | 833.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beran 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 Beran 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 Beran households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Cook | 2 |
| (Indoor Farm Serv) | 1 |
| Bank Cashier & Hop Grower Of 15 1/2 Ac Employing 3 Men | 1 |
| Boot Finisher | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Coach Man (ND) | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer Lodging House | 1 |
| Ladies Maid Domestic | 1 |
| Manager Of Shoe Shop. | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Needle Woman | 1 |
| Servant Dom | 1 |
| Tea Dealer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Beran surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Beran a modern rank of #34,511.
A surname of Czech origin meaning "lamb" or referring to someone who worked as a shepherd.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beran 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.