NameCensus.

UK surname

Bettinson

An English surname derived from Betty's son, a patronymic name.

In the 1881 census there were 238 people recorded with the Bettinson surname, ranking it #11,476 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 421, ranked #11,388, up from #11,476 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bourn, Gluvias and Walsoken. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Doncaster and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bettinson is 478 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 76.9%.

1881 census count

238

Ranked #11,476

Modern count

421

2016, ranked #11,388

Peak year

2002

478 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bettinson had 238 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,476 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016, ranked #11,388.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 374 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Bettinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bettinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bettinson 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 196 #10,573
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 238 #11,476
1891 historical 271 #11,992
1901 historical 372 #9,972
1911 historical 374 #9,770
1997 modern 414 #10,729
1998 modern 454 #10,338
1999 modern 456 #10,354
2000 modern 468 #10,125
2001 modern 447 #10,294
2002 modern 478 #9,963
2003 modern 454 #10,222
2004 modern 454 #10,229
2005 modern 443 #10,331
2006 modern 445 #10,319
2007 modern 440 #10,533
2008 modern 441 #10,600
2009 modern 444 #10,797
2010 modern 448 #10,947
2011 modern 435 #11,066
2012 modern 436 #10,940
2013 modern 449 #10,850
2014 modern 442 #11,057
2015 modern 432 #11,183
2016 modern 421 #11,388

Geography

Back to top

Where Bettinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bourn, Gluvias, Walsoken, Lansalloes and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Doncaster, South Holland, Broxtowe and Cornwall. 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 Bourn Lincolnshire
2 Gluvias Cornwall
3 Walsoken Cambridgeshire
4 Lansalloes Cornwall
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 008 Caerphilly
2 Doncaster 005 Doncaster
3 South Holland 009 South Holland
4 Broxtowe 003 Broxtowe
5 Cornwall 037 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bettinson

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bettinson

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Bettinson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Bettinson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bettinson 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

Bettinson 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bettinson

The surname Bettinson is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, specifically in the town of Bettinson, now known as Betherton.

The name Bettinson is derived from the Old English words "bett" and "tun," which together mean "the enclosure or settlement near the bent grass." This suggests that the early bearers of this name may have lived in an area where bent grass was abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bettinson can be found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1301, where a certain Robert de Bettinson is mentioned as a landowner in the area.

In the 16th century, the Bettinson family gained prominence in the textile industry of Yorkshire. John Bettinson (1510-1587), a wealthy wool merchant from Wakefield, is noted for his philanthropic efforts in establishing a free grammar school in the town.

During the English Civil War, Captain William Bettinson (1620-1679) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was awarded lands in Lancashire for his services. His descendants continued to hold influence in the region for several generations.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Bettinson family migrated to the American colonies. One notable figure was Thomas Bettinson (1728-1810), a prominent merchant and landowner in Philadelphia, who played a role in the American Revolutionary War.

Sir Henry Bettinson (1845-1921), a British industrialist and philanthropist, was knighted for his contributions to the development of the coal mining industry in Yorkshire. He also served as the Lord Mayor of Leeds from 1901 to 1902.

Another distinguished bearer of the Bettinson name was Reverend George Edmund Bettinson (1870-1943), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious and philosophical subjects.

The Bettinson surname has also been associated with various places in England, such as Bettinson Green in Staffordshire and Bettinson Farm in Derbyshire, reflecting the family's historical roots and geographical presence across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bettinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bettinson 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. Cornwall leads with 77 Bettinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.17x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 77 29.17x
Norfolk 35 9.76x
Lincolnshire 32 8.58x
Middlesex 26 1.12x
Nottinghamshire 14 4.46x
Yorkshire 10 0.43x
Hampshire 9 1.88x
Lancashire 8 0.29x
Rutland 6 35.05x
Surrey 6 0.53x
Derbyshire 5 1.37x
Kent 3 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.35x
Devon 2 0.41x
Hertfordshire 2 1.24x
Royal Navy 1 3.60x
Staffordshire 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. Walsoken in Norfolk leads with 17 Bettinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 787.04x.

Place Total Index
Walsoken 17 787.04x
St Pancras London 13 6.93x
Upwell 12 718.56x
Pelynt 10 1851.85x
St Martins 10 3571.43x
St Marylebone London 10 8.03x
Ryde 9 87.72x
St Gluvias Penryn 9 426.54x
Thurlby 9 3750.00x
Bourn 8 265.78x
Lansallos 8 1403.51x
Liskeard 8 181.00x
Maker 8 327.87x
Gunthorpe 6 30000.00x
Menheniot 6 545.45x
Newark Upon Trent 6 53.14x
Barrow In Furness 5 13.29x
Bicker 5 862.07x
Clapham 5 17.16x
South Lynn 5 123.46x
Boconnoc 4 1904.76x
Budock 4 201.01x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 8.51x
Great Grimsby 4 16.91x
Colan 3 1578.95x
Dronfield 3 64.10x
Holy Trinity 3 5.40x
Skirbeck 3 143.54x
St Gluvias 3 202.70x
West Looe 3 428.57x
Bromley London 2 3.90x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.26x
Didsbury 2 54.50x
Edingley 2 833.33x
Hertford St Andrew 2 101.01x
Norwell 2 606.06x
Wellow 2 689.66x
Whitwell 2 137.93x
Wisbech St Peter 2 27.03x
Balderton 1 116.28x
Barkstone Ash 1 370.37x
Boston 1 8.84x
Burstwick With 1 294.12x
Caunton 1 312.50x
Devonport 1 17.92x
Gosberton 1 60.24x
Kirton 1 67.11x
Northfleet 1 14.27x
Oldham 1 1.12x
Royal Navy 1 4.21x
Southcoates 1 7.80x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 9.91x
St Blazey 1 43.10x
St Budeaux 1 66.23x
Terrington St Clement 1 61.73x
Trentham 1 14.95x
Wimbledon 1 7.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 7
Ann 6
Emily 5
Edith 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Alice 3
Ellen 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Mabel 2
Susannah 2
Asenith 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Eleanour 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Georgiana 1
Gertrude 1
H.E. 1
Halice 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Janie 1
Lavinia 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lonie 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Matilda 1
Olivia 1
Phoebe 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
George 17
William 12
James 7
Henry 6
Richard 6
Charles 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Robert 4
Joseph 3
Edward 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Burnell 1
Charley 1
Ernest 1
G. 1
G.S. 1
Geo. 1
Isaac 1
Jno. 1
Richd. 1
Seral 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Thos.A. 1
V.H. 1
Verllen 1
W.E. 1
Walter 1
Wm 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bettinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bettinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 238 people were recorded with the Bettinson surname. That placed it at #11,476 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bettinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016. That gives Bettinson a modern rank of #11,388.

What does the Bettinson surname mean?

An English surname derived from Betty's son, a patronymic name.

What does the Bettinson map show?

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