NameCensus.

UK surname

Betteridge

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from Betteridge or a similarly-named location.

In the 1881 census there were 1,347 people recorded with the Betteridge surname, ranking it #3,040 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,445, ranked #2,695, up from #3,040 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, London parishes and Tamworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Betteridge is 2,575 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.5%.

1881 census count

1,347

Ranked #3,040

Modern count

2,445

2016, ranked #2,695

Peak year

1998

2,575 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Betteridge had 1,347 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,040 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,445 in 2016, ranked #2,695.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,193 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Betteridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Betteridge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Betteridge 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 460 #5,388
1861 historical 574 #4,590
1881 historical 1,347 #3,040
1891 historical 1,561 #2,841
1901 historical 2,047 #2,618
1911 historical 2,193 #2,300
1997 modern 2,473 #2,534
1998 modern 2,575 #2,536
1999 modern 2,575 #2,553
2000 modern 2,552 #2,569
2001 modern 2,506 #2,559
2002 modern 2,538 #2,580
2003 modern 2,509 #2,560
2004 modern 2,500 #2,571
2005 modern 2,441 #2,595
2006 modern 2,481 #2,560
2007 modern 2,484 #2,579
2008 modern 2,482 #2,598
2009 modern 2,503 #2,641
2010 modern 2,505 #2,693
2011 modern 2,487 #2,682
2012 modern 2,447 #2,671
2013 modern 2,463 #2,703
2014 modern 2,505 #2,676
2015 modern 2,467 #2,689
2016 modern 2,445 #2,695

Geography

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Where Betteridges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, London parishes, Tamworth and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire. 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 Romsey Extra, Michelmersh Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Tamworth Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 012 Stratford-on-Avon
2 South Derbyshire 007 South Derbyshire
3 North West Leicestershire 012 North West Leicestershire
4 North West Leicestershire 008 North West Leicestershire
5 Stratford-on-Avon 015 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Betteridge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Betteridge

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

Betteridge is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Betteridge falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Betteridge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Betteridge

The surname Betteridge is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Derbyshire. It is derived from the Old English words "betere" meaning "better" and "ridge" referring to a higher ground or a ridge.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Betteridge can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror. It is believed that the name was initially associated with a location or a geographical feature.

During the 13th century, the surname Betteridge appeared in various records and manuscripts, with variations in spelling such as Beterugge, Betterugge, and Betteridge. This was a common occurrence due to the inconsistencies in written English during that time period.

In the 16th century, the Betteridge family was known to have resided in the village of Holbrook, Derbyshire. One notable individual from this era was John Betteridge, born in 1568, who was a landowner and a respected member of the local community.

Another prominent figure with the Betteridge surname was Sir William Betteridge (1672-1748), a successful merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Nottingham in the early 18th century.

During the 19th century, the Betteridge name was also found in other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable individual from this period was Reverend Thomas Betteridge (1801-1878), a clergyman and author who published several works on theology and religious education.

In more recent history, Sir Walter Betteridge (1887-1964) was a British civil engineer and a pioneer in the field of concrete construction. He was instrumental in the development of many notable structures, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

Another significant figure with the Betteridge surname was Dorothy Betteridge (1906-2000), a British actress and writer who had a successful career in theater and television. She was particularly known for her roles in BBC productions.

While the Betteridge surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, through migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Betteridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Betteridge 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 162 Betteridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.00x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 162 6.00x
Warwickshire 151 4.55x
Oxfordshire 141 17.34x
Middlesex 127 0.96x
Gloucestershire 111 4.30x
Derbyshire 93 4.51x
Staffordshire 83 1.87x
Leicestershire 71 4.86x
Worcestershire 65 3.78x
Surrey 62 0.97x
Berkshire 57 5.77x
Yorkshire 52 0.40x
Sussex 35 1.58x
Lancashire 33 0.21x
Wiltshire 27 2.32x
Lincolnshire 16 0.76x
Buckinghamshire 14 1.76x
Durham 11 0.28x
Essex 11 0.42x
Kent 11 0.24x
Shropshire 6 0.53x
Royal Navy 4 2.55x
Hertfordshire 2 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.11x
Channel Islands 1 0.26x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 45 Betteridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.92x.

Place Total Index
Aston 45 4.92x
Church Gresley 44 134.15x
Over Norton 42 2110.55x
Ashby De La Zouch 37 109.34x
Cheltenham 35 17.57x
Birmingham 34 3.07x
Islington London 33 2.59x
Chipping Norton 31 164.89x
Hunslet 27 13.27x
Bolehall Glascote 23 163.47x
Hartshorn 22 282.41x
Brighton 21 4.69x
Michelmersh 19 363.29x
Tamworth 19 79.93x
Salford 18 1058.82x
Walsall Foreign 17 7.40x
Ibstock 16 150.80x
Kings Norton 16 10.38x
St Maryle Wigford 16 97.80x
Hanley Castle 15 145.77x
Bermondsey 14 3.57x
Idsworth 14 782.12x
Reading St Mary 14 17.68x
Romsey Extra 13 81.00x
Rowley Regis 12 9.69x
Southampton St Mary 12 7.07x
Bourton On The Water 11 209.13x
Churchill 11 482.46x
Croydon 11 3.09x
Kensington London 11 1.50x
Willenhall 11 13.21x
Eastbourne 10 9.79x
Garston 10 21.68x
Kempsey 10 153.37x
Kingston On Thames 10 6.49x
Portsea 10 1.89x
Southampton All Sts 10 21.59x
St Marylebone London 10 1.42x
Sutton Coldfield 10 28.65x
Titchfield 10 49.16x
Beaulieu 9 214.29x
Box 9 90.63x
Broughton Poggs 9 1406.25x
Charlton Kings 9 50.36x
Everton 9 1.81x
Nuneaton 9 23.39x
Paddington London 9 1.86x
St George Hanover Square 9 3.88x
Temple Grafton 9 481.28x
Chilvers Coton 8 58.57x
Maugersbury 8 322.58x
North Baddesley 8 490.80x
Painswick 8 43.79x
Prestbury 8 125.00x
Wales 8 77.59x
Charlbury 7 76.67x
Chilworth 7 686.27x
Dudley 7 3.35x
Eton 7 38.78x
Hammersmith London 7 2.16x
Linton 7 129.15x
Monkwearmouth Shore 7 9.15x
Northallerton 7 42.02x
Northwood 7 18.21x
Southwark St Saviour 7 10.34x
St John Winchester 7 123.46x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.05x
Blackfordby 6 128.76x
Bray 6 20.66x
Chelsea London 6 1.51x
Clewer 6 14.82x
Derby St Werburgh 6 5.04x
Mottisfont 6 256.41x
Newington 6 1.23x
Stapenhill 6 19.55x
Upton Cum Chalvey 6 18.91x
Upton On Severn 6 53.29x
Wednesbury 6 5.40x
West Ham 6 1.05x
Whiteparish 6 120.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 68
Elizabeth 52
Sarah 45
Ann 41
Emma 29
Ellen 27
Eliza 22
Jane 21
Alice 13
Annie 12
Emily 12
Hannah 12
Edith 11
Harriet 11
Louisa 11
Florence 10
Catherine 9
Clara 9
Margaret 9
Martha 9
Caroline 8
Fanny 8
Frances 7
Maria 7
Agnes 6
Anne 6
Esther 6
Gertrude 6
Charlotte 5
Kate 5
Lucy 5
Rose 5
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Matilda 4
Rachel 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Elizth. 3
Betsy 2
Diana 2
Dinah 2
Leah 2
Louise 2
Minnie 2
Olive 2
Phebe 2
Rebecca 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 82
George 57
James 56
John 54
Thomas 53
Henry 35
Joseph 33
Charles 25
Alfred 20
Richard 18
Albert 16
Walter 15
Arthur 14
Frederick 14
Samuel 14
Edward 13
Ernest 10
Robert 9
Frank 7
Harry 7
Stephen 6
Wm. 5
Andrew 4
David 4
Francis 4
Leonard 4
Tom 4
Bernard 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Jas. 3
Josh. 3
Lewis 3
Willm. 3
Ben 2
Clement 2
Edgar 2
Herbert 2
Jabez 2
Jesse 2
Job 2
Josiah 2
Mark 2
Michael 2
Moses 2
Noah 2
Sidney 2
Solomon 2
Wallace 2
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Betteridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Betteridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,347 people were recorded with the Betteridge surname. That placed it at #3,040 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Betteridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,445 in 2016. That gives Betteridge a modern rank of #2,695.

What does the Betteridge surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from Betteridge or a similarly-named location.

What does the Betteridge map show?

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