NameCensus.

UK surname

Bett

A surname possibly derived from the Old English word "bett" meaning bed or couch.

In the 1881 census there were 718 people recorded with the Bett surname, ranking it #5,071 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 876, ranked #6,422, down from #5,071 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Auchtermuchty and Cupar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Anstruther, East Lindsey and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bett is 914 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.0%.

1881 census count

718

Ranked #5,071

Modern count

876

2016, ranked #6,422

Peak year

1998

914 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bett had 718 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,071 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 876 in 2016, ranked #6,422.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 815 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Bett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bett 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 443 #5,557
1861 historical 759 #3,603
1881 historical 718 #5,071
1891 historical 758 #5,257
1901 historical 815 #5,539
1911 historical 492 #7,913
1997 modern 911 #5,918
1998 modern 914 #6,080
1999 modern 888 #6,273
2000 modern 912 #6,121
2001 modern 883 #6,160
2002 modern 880 #6,287
2003 modern 862 #6,286
2004 modern 856 #6,315
2005 modern 850 #6,311
2006 modern 841 #6,370
2007 modern 848 #6,386
2008 modern 862 #6,349
2009 modern 873 #6,429
2010 modern 885 #6,483
2011 modern 868 #6,508
2012 modern 881 #6,344
2013 modern 892 #6,379
2014 modern 874 #6,514
2015 modern 868 #6,492
2016 modern 876 #6,422

Geography

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Where Betts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Edinburgh and Kilrenny. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Anstruther, East Lindsey and West Lindsey. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Auchtermuchty Fife
3 Cupar Fife
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Kilrenny Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Anstruther Fife
2 East Lindsey 002 East Lindsey
3 East Lindsey 004 East Lindsey
4 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
5 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bett

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Bett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Bett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Bett is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Bett 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

Bett falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bett

The surname BETT originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English word "bett," which means a bed or couch. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a prominent bed or couch, or possibly a maker of beds or couches.

The earliest recorded instances of the name BETT can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, where a Richard Bett was listed in 1297. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279 mention a Walter Bette.

In the 15th century, the surname BETT appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondences from the Paston family of Norfolk. In a letter dated 1472, a person named John Bett was mentioned as a servant to the Pastons. This provides evidence of the name's presence in East Anglia during that time period.

As for notable individuals with the surname BETT, one of the earliest was Sir William Bett (c. 1510-1580), who served as a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in 1555 during the reign of Queen Mary I.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Bett (1556-1612), an English diplomat and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Canterbury in 1586 and later as the English ambassador to the Netherlands.

In the 18th century, there was William Bett (1734-1808), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works, including "An Inquiry into the Nature and Obligation of Virtue" in 1785.

Moving into the 19th century, Sir Charles Bett (1817-1892) was a notable English architect who designed many churches and public buildings in London and surrounding areas. He was also a founding member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Finally, one cannot discuss the surname BETT without mentioning the famous English cricketer, Sir Frank Bett (1883-1957). He played for the English national team and was considered one of the best bowlers of his era, taking over 1,000 wickets in his career.

While the surname BETT may not be as common as some others, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, from politics and diplomacy to architecture and sports.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bett 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. Lincolnshire leads with 190 Betts recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.97x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 190 16.97x
Fife 160 38.59x
Perthshire 43 13.68x
Surrey 35 1.03x
Middlesex 32 0.46x
Yorkshire 32 0.46x
Angus 30 4.62x
Midlothian 24 2.56x
Lancashire 18 0.22x
Staffordshire 15 0.63x
Cheshire 11 0.71x
Leicestershire 11 1.42x
Buckinghamshire 9 2.13x
Dunbartonshire 9 4.78x
Sussex 9 0.76x
Lanarkshire 8 0.35x
Derbyshire 7 0.64x
Stirlingshire 7 2.71x
Clackmannanshire 6 10.37x
Kinross-shire 6 33.88x
Ross-shire 6 3.12x
Suffolk 6 0.70x
Kent 5 0.21x
Argyllshire 4 2.05x
Essex 4 0.29x
Glamorgan 4 0.33x
Northumberland 4 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.42x
Oxfordshire 4 0.92x
Wiltshire 3 0.48x
Herefordshire 2 0.70x
Norfolk 2 0.19x
Renfrewshire 2 0.37x
Shropshire 2 0.33x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Roxburghshire 1 0.79x
Somerset 1 0.09x
Westmorland 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunfermline in Fife leads with 27 Betts recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.35x.

Place Total Index
Dunfermline 27 42.35x
Kilrenny 25 325.95x
Cupar 22 122.02x
Auchtermuchty 18 323.16x
Benniworth 15 1648.35x
Logie 15 132.98x
Tealby 13 828.03x
Stickney 12 722.89x
Great Grimsby 11 15.48x
South Willingham 11 1392.41x
Abernethy 10 243.31x
Alvingham 10 1562.50x
Waddingham 10 584.80x
Bushbury 9 211.76x
Clee With Weelsby 9 36.70x
Dumbarton 9 34.35x
Edinburgh Old 9 158.17x
Forteviot 9 600.00x
Louth 9 35.06x
St Monance 9 181.82x
Abbotshall 8 51.65x
Broughton In Salford 8 10.53x
Dundee 8 3.30x
Frieston 8 301.89x
Kettins 8 368.66x
Burntisland 7 60.40x
Hartfield 7 187.17x
Lambeth 7 1.15x
Legbourne 7 614.04x
Middlesbrough 7 7.75x
Sixhills 7 1666.67x
St Andrews 7 37.10x
St Pancras London 7 1.24x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 38.15x
Whitechapel London 7 10.14x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 7 50.87x
Barony 6 1.05x
Battersea 6 2.33x
Ealing 6 9.59x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 1.59x
Egham 6 28.64x
Forfar 6 17.07x
Holbeach 6 48.12x
Litchurch 6 13.60x
Logie Easter 6 298.51x
Monks Risborough 6 295.57x
Nettleton 6 517.24x
Newchurch 6 8.82x
Normanby By Spital 6 631.58x
Rotherhithe 6 6.93x
St Swithin Lincoln 6 34.07x
Stirling 6 18.42x
Tillicoultry 6 46.62x
Elie 5 306.75x
Hainton 5 684.93x
Islington London 5 0.74x
Leicester St Margaret 5 2.64x
Leicester St Mary 5 7.97x
Newburgh 5 94.88x
Normanby 5 1470.59x
Orwell 5 102.46x
Raithby In Louth 5 1219.51x
Birkenhead 4 3.25x
Boston 4 11.77x
Brotton 4 44.15x
Byker 4 7.76x
Dunoon Kilmun 4 26.32x
Fortingall 4 99.75x
Glentham 4 408.16x
Hipperholme Cum 4 13.11x
Inverkeithing 4 64.00x
Kirkley 4 56.02x
Market Rasen 4 63.90x
Thame 4 50.83x
West Calder 4 21.63x
Whitstable 4 34.13x
Ystradyfodwg 4 3.74x
Carlton 3 27.86x
Haddenham 3 86.21x
Wandsworth 3 4.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 18
Ann 13
Alice 10
Annie 6
Eliza 5
Fanny 5
Harriet 5
Anne 4
Ellen 4
Frances 4
Jane 4
Lucy 4
Martha 4
Emma 3
Kate 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Clara 2
E. 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Florance 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Louisa 2
Rebecca 2
Adaline 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Beulah 1
Blanche 1
Elspeth 1
Ethel 1
Eve 1
Gwenelta 1
Harriett 1
Harriot 1
Helen 1
Hephzibah 1
Hettie 1
Infant 1
Jessi 1
Joanna 1
Tabitha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 25
George 16
Thomas 14
Charles 8
Henry 7
James 7
Samuel 7
Joseph 6
Arthur 5
David 5
Robert 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Francis 3
Frank 3
Tom 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Isaac 2
Richard 2
W. 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Ashby 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
C.W. 1
Christopher 1
Cordwin 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Edith 1
Elija 1
Elizabeth 1
Enoch 1
Fred. 1
G. 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Joshua 1
Lindsay 1
Moses 1
Owen 1
Reuben 1
Stafford 1
Valentine 1

FAQ

Bett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 718 people were recorded with the Bett surname. That placed it at #5,071 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 876 in 2016. That gives Bett a modern rank of #6,422.

What does the Bett surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old English word "bett" meaning bed or couch.

What does the Bett map show?

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