NameCensus.

UK surname

Betsworth

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name and referring to a person from Bedworth, Warwickshire.

In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Betsworth surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 155, ranked #23,197, down from #16,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry), St Mary Whitechapel and Steep. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arun, Allerdale and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Betsworth is 181 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.9%.

1881 census count

141

Ranked #16,091

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

1999

181 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Betsworth had 141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 149 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Betsworth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Betsworth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Betsworth 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 109 #16,212
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 141 #16,091
1891 historical 140 #19,193
1901 historical 149 #18,146
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 169 #19,578
1998 modern 176 #19,584
1999 modern 181 #19,380
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 164 #20,279
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 159 #20,983
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 160 #21,296
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 165 #22,026
2011 modern 166 #21,745
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 159 #22,706
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Betsworths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry), St Mary Whitechapel, Steep, Hayling, South and Hawkley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arun, Allerdale, Neath Port Talbot and East Hampshire. 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 Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry) Kent
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Steep Hampshire
4 Hayling, South Hampshire
5 Hawkley Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arun 003 Arun
2 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
3 Arun 006 Arun
4 Neath Port Talbot 004 Neath Port Talbot
5 East Hampshire 008 East Hampshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Betsworth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Betsworth

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Betsworth 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

Betsworth is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Betsworth falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Betsworth

The surname Betsworth originated in England during the late Anglo-Saxon period, around the 9th or 10th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "beters" meaning "better" and "worth" meaning "farm" or "estate." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived on a prosperous or successful farm.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Betsworth can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Bettersworth" and "Betresworth," reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time.

In the 13th century, the name Betsworth appeared in several historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire and the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire. These records mention individuals with the name, such as Robert de Betresworth and William de Betresworth, who were landowners and tenants of the time.

The surname Betsworth is also associated with several place names in England, including Betsworth in Oxfordshire and Bettesworth in Staffordshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, suggesting that the name was well-established in certain regions.

One notable individual with the surname Betsworth was Sir John Betsworth, who lived in the 16th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in 1559. Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Betsworth, born in 1634, who was a prominent Puritan minister and author in New England during the colonial era.

Other individuals with the surname Betsworth include:

1. Robert Betsworth (c. 1400-1470), an English landowner and knight from Worcestershire. 2. Elizabeth Betsworth (c. 1580-1642), an English gentlewoman and diarist who kept a detailed account of her life in Surrey. 3. William Betsworth (1672-1743), a British military officer who served in the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. 4. Catherine Betsworth (1768-1823), an English author and poet who published several works, including "Poems on Various Subjects" in 1795. 5. Henry Betsworth (1829-1901), a British engineer and inventor who patented several innovations related to steam engines and agricultural machinery.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Betsworth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Betsworth 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. Hampshire leads with 45 Betsworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.96x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 45 15.96x
Middlesex 23 1.67x
Kent 18 3.84x
Sussex 16 6.90x
Nottinghamshire 9 4.85x
Dorset 7 7.75x
Surrey 7 1.04x
Lancashire 6 0.37x
Essex 4 1.47x
Yorkshire 3 0.22x
Devon 2 0.70x
Fife 1 1.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hawkley in Hampshire leads with 25 Betsworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 17857.14x.

Place Total Index
Hawkley 25 17857.14x
Nottingham St Mary 9 18.77x
Whitechapel London 9 66.37x
Subdeanary 8 1290.32x
Capel 7 2692.31x
Portland 7 144.33x
Maidstone 6 42.92x
Penwortham 6 779.22x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 5 256.41x
Havant 4 279.72x
Hendon 4 80.81x
Warblington 4 357.14x
West Ham 4 6.67x
Bearsted 3 1071.43x
Bradfield 3 57.14x
Buriton 3 555.56x
Hambledon 2 281.69x
Hinton Ampner 2 1111.11x
Islington London 2 1.50x
Stonehouse East 2 137.93x
Subdeanery 2 113.64x
Westbourne 2 173.91x
Weybridge 2 138.89x
Woking 2 49.51x
Canterbury St Mary 1 31.75x
Chichester All Sts 1 666.67x
Chichester St Andrew 1 416.67x
Chiswick 1 13.30x
Forgan 1 64.10x
Froxfield 1 303.03x
Greenwich 1 4.57x
Hambledon 1 105.26x
Hammersmith London 1 2.95x
Hampstead London 1 4.67x
Headley 1 129.87x
Lambeth 1 0.83x
Littlehampton 1 54.05x
Millbrook 1 14.08x
Portsea 1 1.81x
Portsmouth 1 15.41x
St Maurice Winchester 1 85.47x
Uckfield 1 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 11
William 10
John 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
James 4
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Matthew 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Edmund 1
H.Wm. 1
Herbert 1
Horatio 1
Jesse 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Betsworth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Betsworth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Betsworth surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Betsworth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Betsworth a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Betsworth surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name and referring to a person from Bedworth, Warwickshire.

What does the Betsworth map show?

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