NameCensus.

UK surname

Bessent

An English surname derived from the Old French word "bessant", meaning a golden coin.

In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Bessent surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 167, ranked #22,055, down from #18,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Eling and Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Mid Devon and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bessent is 183 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.8%.

1881 census count

110

Ranked #18,695

Modern count

167

2016, ranked #22,055

Peak year

1999

183 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bessent had 110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016, ranked #22,055.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 151 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bessent surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bessent surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bessent 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 54 #23,577
1861 historical 92 #22,112
1881 historical 110 #18,695
1891 historical 136 #19,601
1901 historical 131 #19,552
1911 historical 151 #17,797
1997 modern 154 #20,780
1998 modern 174 #19,729
1999 modern 183 #19,248
2000 modern 181 #19,360
2001 modern 166 #20,129
2002 modern 166 #20,532
2003 modern 175 #19,690
2004 modern 177 #19,662
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 181 #19,466
2007 modern 180 #19,745
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 183 #20,135
2010 modern 183 #20,586
2011 modern 173 #21,172
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 173 #21,639
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 167 #22,055

Geography

Back to top

Where Bessents are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Eling, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner, Portsmouth, Portsea and Barnes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea, Mid Devon and Dover. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Eling Hampshire
3 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Barnes Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 007 Swansea
2 Swansea 005 Swansea
3 Mid Devon 005 Mid Devon
4 Dover 013 Dover
5 Swansea 020 Swansea

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bessent

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bessent

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Bessent 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

Bessent is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bessent 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 Bessent is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bessent

The surname Bessent originates from England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "besant," which referred to a gold coin used during the Crusades. This suggests that the name may have been associated with someone who dealt in these coins or was involved in trade with the Middle East.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1214, which mentions a Robert Besant residing in Buckinghamshire. Another early reference is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a John Besaunt in Oxfordshire. These records indicate that the name was present in various parts of southern and central England during the medieval period.

The surname Bessent is also linked to several place names in England, such as Bessingby in Yorkshire and Bessingworth in Gloucestershire. These locations may have influenced the spelling variations of the name, including Bessingham, Bessingworth, and Bessingby.

One notable individual with this surname was Sir Thomas Bessent (c. 1490 - 1558), who served as the Sheriff of Gloucestershire during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another prominent figure was Sir John Bessent (1545 - 1620), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London.

In the literary world, John Bessent (1679 - 1738) was an English poet and translator known for his translations of French plays. He was also a member of the Spalding Society, a literary group in the early 18th century.

Venturing into the realm of science, we find Edward Bessent (1738 - 1808), a British inventor and engineer who patented several innovations related to steam engines and pumps.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contributions of William Bessent (1820 - 1892), a notable architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in Gloucestershire and Somerset during the Victorian era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bessent families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bessent 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. Hampshire leads with 38 Bessents recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.97x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 38 16.97x
Devon 14 6.16x
Glamorgan 12 6.31x
Kent 11 2.95x
Surrey 10 1.88x
Monmouthshire 8 10.13x
Middlesex 6 0.55x
Essex 5 2.32x
Dorset 4 5.58x
Royal Navy 2 15.36x
Berkshire 1 1.22x
Sussex 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eling in Hampshire leads with 15 Bessents recorded in 1881 and an index of 660.79x.

Place Total Index
Eling 15 660.79x
Loughor 12 1188.12x
Alverstoke 10 123.46x
Trevethin 8 107.24x
Chilbolton 6 4615.38x
Gillingham 6 78.13x
Topsham 6 560.75x
Chatham 5 48.78x
East Ham 5 125.00x
Lambeth 5 5.25x
Broad Clist 4 512.82x
Christchurch 3 61.86x
Kinson 3 214.29x
Newington 3 7.43x
Exeter Alphington 2 476.19x
Islington London 2 1.89x
Mortlake 2 84.39x
Royal Navy 2 17.97x
Southampton St Mary 2 14.20x
Ealing 1 10.25x
Fordington 1 64.94x
Hove 1 12.38x
Mile End New Town London 1 46.30x
Paddington London 1 2.49x
Reading St Lawrence 1 57.14x
Romsey Extra 1 75.19x
Ryde 1 20.79x
Shoreditch London 1 2.11x
Tiverton 1 25.51x
Woodbury 1 149.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Ellen 7
Edith 3
Harriet 3
Mary 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Eleanor 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Jeannett 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Amey 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Emey 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Kathrine 1
Laura 1
Laurate 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Bessent surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bessent surname in 1881?

In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Bessent surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bessent surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016. That gives Bessent a modern rank of #22,055.

What does the Bessent surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "bessant", meaning a golden coin.

What does the Bessent map show?

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