NameCensus.

UK surname

Bethell

A locational surname likely referring to someone from a place called Bethell, derived from Old English words meaning broad nook or corner of land.

In the 1881 census there were 1,107 people recorded with the Bethell surname, ranking it #3,595 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,992, ranked #3,235, up from #3,595 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Stockport and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Liverpool and Telford and Wrekin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bethell is 2,060 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.9%.

1881 census count

1,107

Ranked #3,595

Modern count

1,992

2016, ranked #3,235

Peak year

2010

2,060 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bethell had 1,107 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,595 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,992 in 2016, ranked #3,235.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,868 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bethell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bethell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bethell 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 659 #3,932
1861 historical 813 #3,386
1881 historical 1,107 #3,595
1891 historical 1,346 #3,233
1901 historical 1,648 #3,131
1911 historical 1,868 #2,647
1997 modern 1,954 #3,113
1998 modern 2,030 #3,122
1999 modern 2,047 #3,127
2000 modern 2,052 #3,106
2001 modern 2,021 #3,086
2002 modern 2,059 #3,099
2003 modern 1,975 #3,146
2004 modern 1,990 #3,130
2005 modern 1,978 #3,115
2006 modern 1,963 #3,147
2007 modern 1,982 #3,150
2008 modern 1,973 #3,175
2009 modern 2,041 #3,158
2010 modern 2,060 #3,198
2011 modern 2,024 #3,208
2012 modern 1,944 #3,257
2013 modern 2,007 #3,234
2014 modern 2,012 #3,247
2015 modern 1,994 #3,248
2016 modern 1,992 #3,235

Geography

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Where Bethells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Stockport, London parishes and Eccles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Liverpool, Telford and Wrekin, Colchester and Forest Heath. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Eccles Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 017 Herefordshire, County of
2 Liverpool 050 Liverpool
3 Telford and Wrekin 010 Telford and Wrekin
4 Colchester 008 Colchester
5 Forest Heath 001 Forest Heath

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bethell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bethell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bethell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Bethell is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bethell falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bethell

The surname Bethell originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Bethell, a township in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "bed" meaning a valley and "hell" meaning a hillock or flat-topped hill, referring to the topography of the area.

One of the earliest records of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Bedehilla". This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th century, the name was found in various spellings such as Bethell, Bedhill, and Bedhyll, reflecting the common variations in spelling during that era.

Notable individuals bearing the Bethell surname include Sir Hugh Bethell (1604-1679), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire. Another prominent figure was Richard Bethell (1800-1873), a British lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain from 1861 to 1865.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with the village of Bethell in Yorkshire, where families bearing the surname were recorded as landowners and prominent members of the local community.

Christopher Bethell (1773-1859) was an English clergyman and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy. He served as the Bishop of Bangor and later the Bishop of Gloucester.

William Bethell (1709-1781) was an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the Mansion House in York and the Palladian-style Doncaster Mansion House.

Edward Bethell (1847-1931) was a British explorer and traveler who led expeditions to Central Asia and published accounts of his journeys, contributing to the understanding of the region's geography and culture.

The Bethell surname has been present in England for centuries and has a rich history rooted in the Yorkshire region, with notable individuals contributing to various fields such as politics, law, religion, architecture, and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bethell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bethell 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 307 Bethells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.40x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 307 2.40x
Middlesex 132 1.22x
Cheshire 109 4.58x
Surrey 63 1.20x
Herefordshire 62 14.03x
Gloucestershire 54 2.55x
Somerset 51 2.94x
Warwickshire 43 1.58x
Shropshire 30 3.22x
Staffordshire 27 0.74x
Kent 22 0.60x
Monmouthshire 22 2.82x
Yorkshire 21 0.20x
Essex 16 0.75x
Hampshire 16 0.72x
Devon 14 0.62x
Durham 13 0.41x
Denbighshire 12 2.95x
Buckinghamshire 10 1.53x
Northumberland 10 0.62x
Wiltshire 10 1.05x
Worcestershire 8 0.57x
Cornwall 7 0.57x
Lincolnshire 7 0.41x
Glamorgan 5 0.27x
Renfrewshire 5 0.60x
Suffolk 5 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.59x
Channel Islands 3 0.94x
Norfolk 3 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.21x
Berkshire 2 0.25x
Flintshire 2 0.69x
Sussex 2 0.11x
Brecknockshire 1 0.46x
Dorset 1 0.14x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Oxfordshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 0.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barton Upon Irwell in Lancashire leads with 39 Bethells recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.50x.

Place Total Index
Barton Upon Irwell 39 40.50x
Hulme 29 10.86x
Liverpool 29 3.73x
Heaton Norris 25 34.34x
Battersea 23 5.80x
Walcot 23 24.89x
Aston 22 2.94x
Salford 21 5.58x
St Marylebone London 21 3.65x
Hammersmith London 19 7.16x
Lambeth 19 2.02x
Everton 18 4.42x
Chelsea London 17 5.23x
Clifton 16 14.97x
Toxteth Park 15 3.46x
Brinnington 14 62.98x
Birmingham 13 1.43x
Cheadle 13 28.60x
Woolwich 12 8.83x
Hereford St Peter 11 93.14x
Horton 11 814.81x
West Ham 11 2.34x
Didsbury 10 58.89x
Great Bolton 10 5.90x
Ince In Makerfield 10 16.80x
Stockport 10 8.17x
Cheltenham 9 5.52x
Pontesbury 9 79.44x
Wolverhampton 9 3.22x
Aston Clinton 8 144.93x
Bedwellty 8 5.81x
Churton By Aldford 8 824.74x
Marlborough St Peter St 8 163.27x
Newington 8 2.01x
Wedmore 8 70.86x
Bromley London 7 2.95x
Darlington 7 5.65x
Dawley 7 20.66x
Elton In Chester 7 958.90x
Hampstead London 7 4.17x
Heaton 7 131.58x
Little Bolton 7 4.26x
Portsea 7 1.62x
Sale 7 23.98x
Windle 7 9.73x
Withington 7 16.99x
Alverstoke 6 7.50x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.28x
Camberwell 6 0.87x
Colwall 6 109.49x
Cowley 6 540.54x
Hoose 6 134.53x
Islington London 6 0.57x
Manchester 6 1.04x
Oldham 6 1.45x
St George Hanover Square 6 3.16x
St George Martyr London 6 27.49x
St Luke London 6 3.47x
St Swithin Lincoln 6 22.14x
Stretford 6 8.53x
Tranmere 6 6.86x
Wakefield 6 7.32x
Bersham 5 28.79x
Bridgnorth St Mary 5 55.07x
Burslem 5 4.80x
Chester St John Baptist 5 11.69x
Cradley 5 77.40x
East Stonehouse 5 11.31x
Exeter Heavitree 5 29.89x
Foleshill 5 17.48x
Hempstead 5 214.59x
Holy Trinity 5 1.95x
Hunslet 5 3.00x
Menheniot 5 98.62x
Newton In Makerfield 5 12.76x
Preston 5 1.46x
Stoke Prior 5 248.76x
Trevethin 5 6.79x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 5 13.58x
West Pennard 5 179.21x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 74
John 63
George 43
James 41
Thomas 33
Henry 24
Charles 21
Samuel 19
Alfred 17
Joseph 14
Edward 13
Richard 13
Arthur 9
Frederick 9
Francis 8
Robert 8
Albert 6
Edwin 6
Frank 6
Harry 6
Walter 6
Benjamin 5
Daniel 5
Wm. 5
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Josiah 4
Jonathan 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Adam 2
Amos 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Lionel 2
Andrew 1
Bertie 1
Cecil 1
Chas.H. 1
Edmund 1
Elijah 1
Eustace 1
F. 1
F.J.L. 1
Fred 1
Hepworth 1
Hon.Alexander 1
Honble 1
Joe 1
Worthy 1

FAQ

Bethell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bethell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,107 people were recorded with the Bethell surname. That placed it at #3,595 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bethell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,992 in 2016. That gives Bethell a modern rank of #3,235.

What does the Bethell surname mean?

A locational surname likely referring to someone from a place called Bethell, derived from Old English words meaning broad nook or corner of land.

What does the Bethell map show?

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