NameCensus.

UK surname

Best

An English occupational surname referring to a beast master, animal keeper, or one who tended cattle.

In the 1881 census there were 8,020 people recorded with the Best surname, ranking it #519 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11,008, ranked #580, down from #519 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Best is 11,259 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.3%.

1881 census count

8,020

Ranked #519

Modern count

11,008

2016, ranked #580

Peak year

2010

11,259 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Best had 8,020 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #519 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 11,008 in 2016, ranked #580.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9,907 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Best surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Best surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Best 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 5,271 #522
1861 historical 5,066 #554
1881 historical 8,020 #519
1891 historical 8,274 #533
1901 historical 9,511 #551
1911 historical 9,907 #495
1997 modern 10,657 #582
1998 modern 10,950 #586
1999 modern 11,044 #586
2000 modern 11,049 #584
2001 modern 10,828 #580
2002 modern 11,080 #578
2003 modern 10,835 #580
2004 modern 10,794 #582
2005 modern 10,655 #581
2006 modern 10,742 #577
2007 modern 10,738 #586
2008 modern 10,796 #587
2009 modern 11,018 #588
2010 modern 11,259 #588
2011 modern 11,104 #587
2012 modern 10,912 #586
2013 modern 11,120 #582
2014 modern 11,191 #583
2015 modern 11,035 #582
2016 modern 11,008 #580

Geography

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Where Bests are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Lambeth and St Stephen in Brannel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and South Somerset. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Stephen in Brannel Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 038 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 036 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
5 South Somerset 021 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Best

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Best

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Best, 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 Best surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Best 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Best is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Best is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Best falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Best is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Best

The surname Best is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "best" meaning "the best" or "the most excellent." This name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was considered the best or most skilled in a particular trade or profession.

The earliest recorded instances of the Best surname can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, there is a reference to a Richard le Best. The surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John le Best is mentioned.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Best surname was John Best, a 15th-century English author and theologian who lived from around 1405 to 1470. He was a fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and is known for his work "The Farming Book," which provided guidance on agricultural practices.

In the 16th century, the Best family played a significant role in the English wool trade. Thomas Best, born around 1570 in Elmswell, Suffolk, was a prominent wool merchant and benefactor of the town. He founded almshouses and a school in Elmswell, which still bear his name today.

During the 17th century, the Best surname gained further prominence with individuals like Paul Best (1590-1657), an English clergyman and theologian who served as a chaplain to King Charles I. Another notable figure was Samuel Best (1738-1825), an English naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars.

The 18th century saw the rise of William Best (1768-1853), a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Pembroke Boroughs from 1807 to 1831. He was also a prominent figure in the Society of Friends (Quakers) and advocated for the abolition of slavery.

In the 19th century, William Thomas Best (1826-1897) was a British explorer and author who is best known for his travels in the Arctic regions. He wrote several books documenting his expeditions, including "Voyage of the Pandora" and "The Naturalist in Nicaragua."

While the surname Best has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, largely due to immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Best families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Best 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 1,277 Bests recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.64x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,277 1.64x
Middlesex 902 1.15x
Surrey 611 1.59x
Durham 577 2.46x
Kent 536 2.00x
Cornwall 460 5.16x
Lancashire 398 0.43x
Somerset 356 2.81x
Northumberland 314 2.68x
Dorset 287 5.55x
Sussex 283 2.13x
Hampshire 223 1.38x
Warwickshire 174 0.88x
Gloucestershire 143 0.93x
Devon 142 0.87x
Worcestershire 135 1.31x
Lanarkshire 126 0.49x
Staffordshire 126 0.47x
Lincolnshire 106 0.84x
Nottinghamshire 91 0.86x
Wiltshire 91 1.31x
Oxfordshire 72 1.48x
Glamorgan 65 0.47x
Berkshire 59 1.00x
Essex 57 0.37x
Channel Islands 40 1.71x
Ayrshire 33 0.56x
Hertfordshire 31 0.57x
Leicestershire 25 0.29x
Cumberland 24 0.35x
Cambridgeshire 21 0.42x
Fife 21 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 20 0.42x
Roxburghshire 20 1.40x
Suffolk 20 0.21x
Cheshire 17 0.10x
Northamptonshire 17 0.23x
Monmouthshire 16 0.28x
Norfolk 13 0.11x
Renfrewshire 13 0.21x
Berwickshire 11 1.15x
Angus 10 0.14x
Shropshire 10 0.15x
Wigtownshire 10 0.96x
Herefordshire 9 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.10x
Derbyshire 7 0.06x
Dunbartonshire 7 0.33x
Midlothian 7 0.07x
Montgomeryshire 7 0.39x
Royal Navy 7 0.75x
Huntingdonshire 5 0.32x
West Lothian 5 0.42x
Bedfordshire 4 0.10x
Clackmannanshire 4 0.62x
Isle of Man 4 0.27x
Westmorland 4 0.23x
Flintshire 3 0.14x
Merionethshire 2 0.14x
Anglesey 1 0.07x
Brecknockshire 1 0.06x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.06x
Perthshire 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 108 Bests recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.15x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 108 2.15x
Lambeth 104 1.52x
Leeds 93 2.11x
Birmingham 86 1.30x
Brighton 75 2.80x
St Stephen In Brannel 75 92.25x
Islington London 74 0.97x
Kensington London 72 1.65x
St Pancras London 58 0.92x
Christchurch 55 15.72x
Great Bolton 54 4.36x
Hackney London 54 1.22x
South Petherton 53 81.00x
Bishopwearmouth 52 2.59x
Hunslet 51 4.19x
North Bierley 50 11.87x
Aston 49 0.90x
Brightside Bierlow 49 3.20x
Govan 49 0.78x
Hammersmith London 48 2.48x
Wareham Lady St Mary 47 117.77x
Bermondsey 46 1.96x
Holy Trinity 46 2.45x
St Marylebone London 45 1.07x
Chatham 44 5.95x
Deptford St Paul 43 2.08x
Headingley Cum Burley 43 8.56x
Barony 42 0.65x
Croydon 42 1.97x
Elswick 41 4.39x
Farnley In Bramley 41 42.10x
Sheffield 40 1.61x
Liverpool 39 0.69x
Nottingham St Mary 39 1.42x
Darlington 38 4.20x
Kingston On Thames 38 4.12x
Shepton Beauchamp 36 208.70x
Newington 35 1.20x
Chelsea London 34 1.43x
Northowram 33 6.03x
St Dennis 33 99.16x
Bethnal Green London 32 0.94x
Bodmin 32 21.70x
Kingsbury Episcopi 32 77.97x
Portsea 31 0.98x
Sculcoates 31 2.51x
Paddington London 30 1.04x
Norton Sub Hamdon 29 199.72x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 28 2.76x
Hetton Le Hole 28 9.43x
Preston 28 1.12x
Clapham 27 2.74x
Horton In Bradford 27 2.22x
Huddersfield 27 2.38x
Tynemouth 27 4.30x
Armley 26 7.56x
Chiselborough 26 267.21x
Gateshead 26 1.48x
Glasgow 26 0.58x
Reigate Foreign 25 6.02x
Wednesbury 25 3.76x
Clerkenwell London 24 1.29x
Martock 24 29.13x
Mile End Old Town London 24 1.43x
St Austell 24 7.88x
Stockton On Tees 24 2.13x
Battersea 23 0.79x
Blisland 23 153.54x
Corfe Mullen 23 122.80x
Northfleet 23 9.72x
Poplar London 23 1.55x
Willesden 23 3.10x
Wortley In Bramley 23 3.72x
Clayton 22 11.52x
Great Grimsby 22 2.75x
Harlington 22 53.01x
Ilminster 22 24.85x
Oxford St Thomas 22 9.70x
Southwark St George Martyr 22 1.39x
Wavertree 22 7.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 509
Elizabeth 341
Sarah 208
Jane 196
Ann 134
Emma 124
Annie 123
Eliza 119
Ellen 117
Alice 112
Emily 110
Hannah 80
Margaret 77
Louisa 67
Edith 62
Caroline 55
Florence 50
Martha 50
Fanny 46
Isabella 42
Maria 42
Harriet 40
Kate 40
Clara 38
Lucy 37
Susan 37
Charlotte 35
Ada 34
Catherine 33
Frances 31
Anne 29
Agnes 28
Sophia 24
Harriett 23
Eleanor 20
Rose 20
Laura 19
Matilda 19
Rebecca 19
Anna 18
Elizth. 17
Amelia 16
Ethel 16
Julia 16
Susannah 15
Amy 14
Gertrude 14
Grace 14
Esther 13
Selina 12

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 448
John 433
George 343
Thomas 251
James 220
Henry 175
Charles 156
Joseph 120
Robert 105
Alfred 103
Arthur 81
Frederick 74
Edward 72
Albert 68
Richard 65
Samuel 62
Walter 58
Harry 55
Edwin 40
Herbert 36
Frank 34
Wm. 27
Francis 26
Stephen 23
Ernest 22
Fred 22
Benjamin 21
Matthew 18
Andrew 17
David 17
Isaac 16
Chas. 14
Tom 14
Christopher 13
Edmund 12
Thos. 12
Fredk. 11
Philip 11
Percy 10
Fredrick 9
Geo. 9
Oliver 9
Daniel 8
Peter 8
Sidney 8
Abraham 7
Jno. 7
Louis 7
Sydney 7
Mark 6

FAQ

Best surname: questions and answers

How common was the Best surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8,020 people were recorded with the Best surname. That placed it at #519 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Best surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 11,008 in 2016. That gives Best a modern rank of #580.

What does the Best surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a beast master, animal keeper, or one who tended cattle.

What does the Best map show?

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