NameCensus.

UK surname

Bethel

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a bethel, meaning "house of God" in Hebrew.

In the 1881 census there were 488 people recorded with the Bethel surname, ranking it #6,898 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 420, ranked #11,414, down from #6,898 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bethel is 553 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.9%.

1881 census count

488

Ranked #6,898

Modern count

420

2016, ranked #11,414

Peak year

1901

553 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bethel had 488 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,898 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016, ranked #11,414.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 553 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Bethel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bethel surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bethel 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 254 #8,683
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 488 #6,898
1891 historical 390 #9,058
1901 historical 553 #7,500
1911 historical 469 #8,232
1997 modern 454 #10,004
1998 modern 486 #9,810
1999 modern 496 #9,713
2000 modern 472 #10,063
2001 modern 451 #10,212
2002 modern 452 #10,408
2003 modern 451 #10,274
2004 modern 452 #10,270
2005 modern 445 #10,295
2006 modern 458 #10,109
2007 modern 452 #10,298
2008 modern 447 #10,481
2009 modern 443 #10,821
2010 modern 455 #10,802
2011 modern 440 #10,977
2012 modern 431 #11,047
2013 modern 436 #11,106
2014 modern 442 #11,057
2015 modern 437 #11,077
2016 modern 420 #11,414

Geography

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Where Bethels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Eccles, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Salford, Medway and Allerdale. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
2 Newcastle-under-Lyme 002 Newcastle-under-Lyme
3 Salford 027 Salford
4 Medway 037 Medway
5 Allerdale 002 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bethel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bethel

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bethel is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bethel is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bethel 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 Bethel 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 Bethel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bethel

The surname Bethel has its origins in the Hebrew language and can be traced back to ancient times. The name is derived from the Hebrew words "Beit" meaning "house" and "El" referring to God, thus translating to "House of God." This name was likely given to those who lived near a place of worship or a holy site.

The earliest known reference to the surname Bethel dates back to the 12th century in England. During this period, many individuals began adopting surnames based on their place of residence, occupation, or other distinguishing characteristics. The name Bethel may have been used to identify someone who lived near a church or a prominent religious site.

In the Domesday Book, a invaluable record of landowners in England compiled in 1086, there are no direct mentions of the surname Bethel. However, there are references to places called "Bethel," which may have been the origin of the surname for those residing in or near these locations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bethel was Sir Walter de Bethel, a English knight who lived in the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Bethel (c. 1552-1625), an English Puritan minister and author who was a prominent figure in the early days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In the 17th century, the surname Bethel gained prominence in colonial America, particularly in Virginia and Maryland. One notable individual was Sir Henry Bethel (1617-1677), a British politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed to the Council of Virginia in the 1660s.

Another prominent figure was Maximilian Bethel (1639-1718), a English-born landowner and merchant who settled in Virginia and became one of the wealthiest individuals in the colony. He played a significant role in the development of the tobacco trade and served in various political positions.

In the 18th century, the surname Bethel continued to be prominent in America, with individuals such as Oliver Bethel (1740-1815), a American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from South Carolina, and John Bethel (1765-1836), a United States Representative from North Carolina.

Throughout history, the surname Bethel has been associated with various notable figures, spanning different fields such as religion, politics, and commerce. While the name has maintained its connection to its Hebrew roots, it has also evolved and taken on new meanings and associations over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bethel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bethel 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. Lancashire leads with 168 Bethels recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 168 3.00x
Herefordshire 33 17.05x
Staffordshire 32 2.01x
Monmouthshire 31 9.08x
Yorkshire 31 0.66x
Cheshire 25 2.40x
Middlesex 21 0.44x
Kent 17 1.06x
Warwickshire 14 1.18x
Worcestershire 13 2.11x
Gloucestershire 11 1.19x
Surrey 10 0.43x
Suffolk 9 1.57x
Lincolnshire 7 0.93x
Shropshire 7 1.72x
Wiltshire 7 1.68x
Cambridgeshire 6 2.01x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.75x
Lanarkshire 5 0.33x
Midlothian 5 0.79x
Dorset 4 1.29x
Durham 3 0.21x
Hampshire 3 0.31x
Westmorland 3 2.89x
Carmarthenshire 2 1.01x
Glamorgan 2 0.24x
Northumberland 2 0.28x
Sussex 2 0.25x
Brecknockshire 1 1.06x
Devon 1 0.10x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.96x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Oxfordshire 1 0.34x
Somerset 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 24 Bethels recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.65x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 24 12.65x
Aberystruth 20 66.47x
Liverpool 17 5.00x
Salford 17 10.32x
Pendleton In Salford 15 22.48x
Barton Upon Irwell 14 33.20x
Everton 13 7.28x
Oldham 13 7.19x
Wolverhampton 13 10.61x
Stockport 11 20.51x
Aston 10 3.05x
Seal 10 384.62x
Willaston In Wirral 9 1200.00x
Camberwell 8 2.65x
Preston 8 5.34x
Woolpit 8 479.04x
Bradfield 7 38.80x
Brewood 7 152.51x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 7.87x
Manchester 7 2.78x
Urmston 7 192.84x
Bedwellty 6 9.96x
Burwell 6 167.60x
Dudley 6 8.01x
Hereford All Sts 6 67.64x
Leeds 6 2.27x
Aston Clinton 5 206.61x
Deptford St Paul 5 4.02x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.96x
Great Malvern 5 38.88x
Linthorpe 5 17.91x
Lockwood 5 29.71x
Marden 5 367.65x
Mynyddyslwyn 5 37.15x
Shotts 5 27.37x
Trowbridge 5 27.09x
Wellington 5 505.05x
Wellington 5 21.82x
Allensmore 4 425.53x
Cann 4 439.56x
Hammersmith London 4 3.44x
Kensington London 4 1.52x
St Marylebone London 4 1.59x
St Paul Lincoln 4 303.03x
Willenhall 4 13.40x
Charlton Kings 3 46.80x
Gorton 3 5.70x
Litherland 3 25.62x
Nether Staveley 3 576.92x
St Martin In Fields 3 10.61x
Stockton On Tees 3 4.43x
Wednesbury 3 7.53x
Birmingham 2 0.50x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 4.50x
Bosbury 2 125.00x
Bowling 2 4.32x
Castleton 2 3.57x
Edgbaston 2 5.42x
Felton 2 1176.47x
Great Grimsby 2 4.17x
Hindley 2 8.37x
Irby 2 869.57x
Keele 2 118.34x
Kings Norton 2 3.62x
Pembrey 2 21.86x
Seaton Delaval 2 32.41x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.40x
St Pancras London 2 0.53x
Stratton St Margaret 2 31.25x
Stretford 2 6.49x
Sutton 2 370.37x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 14.94x
Tormarton 2 289.86x
West Dean 2 13.30x
Altrincham 1 5.49x
Bishops Frome 1 85.47x
Fownhope 1 59.17x
Haughton 1 12.24x
Llantrisant 1 4.83x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 18
Ann 10
Jane 10
Alice 8
Emma 8
Ellen 7
Harriet 7
Martha 7
Annie 6
Fanny 6
Emily 5
Esther 5
Hannah 5
Anne 4
Catherine 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Annette 2
Beatrice 2
Edith 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Lavinia 2
Lizzie 2
Matilda 2
Silvia 2
Ady 1
Christmas 1
Coralie 1
Elizth. 1
Evalyn 1
Francis 1
Jessie 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lena 1
Leslie 1
Lizzy 1
Lousia 1
Lowesia 1
Tyley 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 29
George 19
Thomas 19
James 18
Charles 11
Edward 8
Joseph 8
Richard 7
Arthur 5
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Harry 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Alfd. 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Josiah 2
Richd. 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Anthony 1
Arther 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Chat 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Hugh 1
Isaiah 1
Leon 1
Louis 1
Mick. 1
Morgan 1
P. 1
Per...es 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Bethel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bethel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 488 people were recorded with the Bethel surname. That placed it at #6,898 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bethel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016. That gives Bethel a modern rank of #11,414.

What does the Bethel surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a bethel, meaning "house of God" in Hebrew.

What does the Bethel map show?

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