NameCensus.

UK surname

Beth

A variant of the Middle English "bith", meaning shelter or refuge.

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Beth surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, down from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hadleigh, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hertfordshire, Great Yarmouth and Guildford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beth is 274 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 188.9%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

1861

274 bearers

Map years

3

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beth had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 274 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Beth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beth surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beth 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 274 #9,111
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 89 #23,922
1997 modern 47 #32,975
1998 modern 46 #33,286
1999 modern 48 #33,233
2000 modern 44 #33,602
2001 modern 41 #33,753
2002 modern 38 #34,307
2003 modern 39 #34,296
2004 modern 36 #34,717
2005 modern 37 #34,815
2006 modern 45 #34,491
2007 modern 57 #33,800
2008 modern 51 #34,439
2009 modern 60 #33,989
2010 modern 62 #34,069
2011 modern 61 #34,121
2012 modern 74 #33,348
2013 modern 79 #33,142
2014 modern 82 #32,992
2015 modern 86 #32,604
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Beths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hadleigh, St Pancras, Lambeth, St John Wapping and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hertfordshire, Great Yarmouth, Guildford, Havering and Uttlesford. 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 Hadleigh Suffolk
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St John Wapping London (East Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hertfordshire 016 East Hertfordshire
2 Great Yarmouth 006 Great Yarmouth
3 Guildford 003 Guildford
4 Havering 030 Havering
5 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beth

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Beth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Beth 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Beth is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Beth 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

Beth falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Beth

The surname "BETH" is believed to have originated in Wales, deriving from the Welsh word "bedd," which means "grave" or "tomb." This name likely emerged during the early medieval period, around the 6th to 10th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "BETH" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and property compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In its earliest form, the surname was often spelled as "Bethe" or "Beath," reflecting the Welsh pronunciation. Over time, as the name spread to other regions of Britain, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Beith," "Beithe," and eventually settling on the modern form of "BETH."

The surname "BETH" is closely associated with the Welsh town of Bethesda, which translates to "House of Mercy" or "House of Grace." It is possible that some early bearers of the name may have derived their surname from this place name or had connections to the area.

Notable individuals with the surname "BETH" throughout history include:

1. Syr Rhys ap Thomas Beth (c. 1449-1527), a Welsh knight and landowner who fought alongside Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth Field. 2. John Beth (c. 1580-1650), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge. 3. Evan Beth (1645-1722), a Welsh minister and author known for his writings on Welsh history and culture. 4. Elizabeth Beth (1752-1824), a Welsh writer and poet who contributed to the literary movement known as the "Welsh Renaissance." 5. David Beth (1818-1892), a Welsh industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Beth Ironworks in Blaenavon.

While the surname "BETH" has its roots in Wales, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration. However, its historical significance remains deeply rooted in its Welsh origins and associations with places like Bethesda and the early medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beth 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. Middlesex leads with 17 Beths recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 4.84x
Yorkshire 5 1.44x
Lancashire 4 0.96x
Surrey 3 1.75x
Fife 2 9.62x
Kent 2 1.67x
Midlothian 1 2.13x
Norfolk 1 1.85x
Renfrewshire 1 3.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East in Middlesex leads with 8 Beths recorded in 1881 and an index of 334.73x.

Place Total Index
St George In East 8 334.73x
St Pancras London 8 28.30x
Manningham 5 116.55x
Chadderton 4 196.08x
Lambeth 3 9.80x
Dunfermline 2 62.50x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 5.28x
Greenwich 1 17.89x
Inverkip 1 156.25x
Islington London 1 2.94x
Norwich St Clement 1 158.73x
Woolwich 1 22.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Maria 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Annierlle 1
Beatrice 1
Evelyn 1
Faith 1
Hanna 1
Jane 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Benjamin 3
George 3
John 2
Joseph 2
Alma 1
Charles 1
Eleazer 1
Henry 1
Simon 1
Woolf 1

Top occupations

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 Beth households.

FAQ

Beth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Beth surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Beth a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Beth surname mean?

A variant of the Middle English "bith", meaning shelter or refuge.

What does the Beth map show?

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