NameCensus.

UK surname

Beston

A surname derived from the Old English words "bæst" meaning bark or tree trunk and "tun" meaning village or settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Beston surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 274, ranked #15,759, up from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Borrowstounness and Carriden, London parishes and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Warwick and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beston is 385 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.2%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

274

2016, ranked #15,759

Peak year

1861

385 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beston had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016, ranked #15,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 385 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Beston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beston 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 138 #13,745
1861 historical 385 #6,655
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 202 #14,808
1901 historical 178 #16,284
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 309 #13,268
1998 modern 318 #13,362
1999 modern 314 #13,556
2000 modern 319 #13,391
2001 modern 309 #13,487
2002 modern 319 #13,448
2003 modern 285 #14,295
2004 modern 280 #14,530
2005 modern 273 #14,708
2006 modern 275 #14,732
2007 modern 266 #15,261
2008 modern 267 #15,349
2009 modern 280 #15,141
2010 modern 295 #14,911
2011 modern 292 #14,863
2012 modern 286 #15,012
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 288 #15,285
2015 modern 274 #15,749
2016 modern 274 #15,759

Geography

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Where Bestons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Borrowstounness and Carriden, London parishes, Nottingham St Mary, Sculcoates and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Warwick and Lambeth. 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 Borrowstounness and Carriden Linlithgow
2 London parishes London 3
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 035 Sunderland
2 Sunderland 028 Sunderland
3 Sunderland 020 Sunderland
4 Warwick 011 Warwick
5 Lambeth 033 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beston

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Beston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Beston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Beston 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

Beston is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beston falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beston 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 Beston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Beston

The surname Beston is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, although its precise origins are somewhat uncertain. One theory suggests that it may be derived from an Old English or Anglo-Saxon word meaning "by the stone," potentially referring to someone who lived near a prominent rock or stone landmark.

Another possibility is that Beston is a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of the name hailed from a specific place or region. In this case, it could be derived from the name of a now-lost or obscure village, hamlet, or geographical feature.

While the Beston surname does not appear to be explicitly mentioned in the Domesday Book, the seminal record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086, some early examples of similar spellings can be found in other historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Beston surname is that of Robert de Beston, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1195. The Pipe Rolls were a series of administrative records maintained by the English Exchequer, and they often provide valuable insights into the names and locations of individuals during that period.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Beston is recorded as having been a member of the Parliament of England, representing the borough of Southwark in 1340. His tenure as a Member of Parliament suggests that the Beston family had achieved a certain level of prominence and influence by that time.

Another individual of note bearing the Beston surname was William Beston, who was born in the late 15th century and served as the Mayor of Coventry in 1518. As a prominent civic leader in one of England's most significant medieval cities, William Beston's position underscores the family's continued social and political standing.

During the 16th century, the Beston surname is associated with several prominent figures in the Church of England. One such individual was John Beston, who was born in 1541 and later became the Dean of Carlisle Cathedral, a prestigious position within the Anglican clergy.

In the 17th century, a man named Thomas Beston gained recognition as a renowned mathematician and astronomer. Born in 1615, Beston made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, a prestigious honor reflecting his scholarly achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beston 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. Surrey leads with 19 Bestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.03x.

County Total Index
Surrey 19 3.03x
Warwickshire 14 4.31x
Durham 13 3.39x
Middlesex 12 0.93x
Nottinghamshire 10 5.76x
Cardiganshire 9 28.65x
West Lothian 9 46.42x
Lancashire 8 0.52x
Yorkshire 7 0.55x
Cambridgeshire 4 4.91x
Derbyshire 4 1.98x
Leicestershire 3 2.10x
Staffordshire 3 0.69x
Devon 2 0.75x
Kent 2 0.46x
Lanarkshire 2 0.48x
Northamptonshire 2 1.65x
Stirlingshire 2 4.21x
Suffolk 2 1.28x
Cheshire 1 0.35x
Midlothian 1 0.58x
Royal Navy 1 6.52x
Sussex 1 0.46x
Worcestershire 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 10 Bestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.24x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 10 9.24x
Nottingham St Mary 10 22.28x
Boness 9 337.08x
Llanddewi Aberarth 9 1428.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 30.88x
Bermondsey 6 15.65x
Southwark St John 5 126.90x
Balsham 4 888.89x
Houghton Le Spring 4 150.94x
Kippax 4 357.14x
St Marylebone London 4 5.82x
Stockton On Tees 4 21.67x
Ealing 3 26.06x
Pelton 3 164.84x
Aston 2 2.24x
Barony 2 1.90x
Falkirk 2 17.99x
Handsworth 2 18.67x
Ilkeston 2 35.40x
Leicester St Mary 2 17.35x
Liverpool 2 2.16x
Manningham 2 12.72x
Northampton St Giles 2 43.38x
Poslingford 2 1250.00x
Stoke Damerel 2 10.66x
Acton 1 13.25x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 8.24x
Castleford 1 21.51x
Chailey 1 149.25x
Coventry St Michael 1 9.59x
Dover Castle 1 312.50x
Edgbaston 1 9.93x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 27.93x
Hackney London 1 1.39x
Haslington 1 125.00x
Heaton Norris 1 11.49x
Heworth 1 13.25x
Hulme 1 3.14x
Lower Mitton 1 67.57x
Manchester 1 1.46x
Mickleover 1 161.29x
Middleton By Wirksworth 1 476.19x
Old Artillery Ground 1 90.09x
Ouston 1 178.57x
Pendlebury 1 30.96x
Ratcliffe London 1 14.06x
Rowley Regis 1 8.26x
Royal Navy 1 7.63x
St Pancras London 1 0.97x
Wardleworth 1 11.45x
Wickhambreux 1 476.19x
Woodhouse 1 175.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Miriam 1
Naomi 1
Pheobe 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 7
William 6
James 5
Edward 4
Frederick 3
John 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Ernest 2
Frank 2
George 2
Henry 2
Mike 2
Thos. 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Dennis 1
Harold 1
Harrold 1
Isaac 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Pilate 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Beston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Beston surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016. That gives Beston a modern rank of #15,759.

What does the Beston surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English words "bæst" meaning bark or tree trunk and "tun" meaning village or settlement.

What does the Beston map show?

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