NameCensus.

UK surname

Bettison

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word 'betere', meaning one who beats or fulls cloth.

In the 1881 census there were 365 people recorded with the Bettison surname, ranking it #8,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 647, ranked #8,204, up from #8,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Bolsover and Ashfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bettison is 669 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.3%.

1881 census count

365

Ranked #8,506

Modern count

647

2016, ranked #8,204

Peak year

2010

669 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bettison had 365 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 647 in 2016, ranked #8,204.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 574 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bettison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bettison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bettison 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 225 #9,509
1861 historical 187 #12,690
1881 historical 365 #8,506
1891 historical 415 #8,610
1901 historical 489 #8,180
1911 historical 574 #7,069
1997 modern 640 #7,750
1998 modern 662 #7,798
1999 modern 665 #7,807
2000 modern 655 #7,893
2001 modern 630 #7,972
2002 modern 655 #7,896
2003 modern 636 #7,954
2004 modern 635 #7,972
2005 modern 612 #8,153
2006 modern 625 #8,042
2007 modern 642 #7,940
2008 modern 644 #7,967
2009 modern 648 #8,093
2010 modern 669 #8,068
2011 modern 634 #8,320
2012 modern 623 #8,342
2013 modern 633 #8,376
2014 modern 643 #8,337
2015 modern 642 #8,278
2016 modern 647 #8,204

Geography

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Where Bettisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Gainsborough, Paddocks and Hucknall Torkard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Bolsover and Ashfield. 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 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
5 Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
2 Bolsover 010 Bolsover
3 Cornwall 016 Cornwall
4 Ashfield 003 Ashfield
5 Ashfield 007 Ashfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bettison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bettison

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Bettison is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bettison 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bettison

The surname Bettison originated in England during the late medieval period, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Old French word "bettis," meaning "embroidered," suggesting that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for someone who worked as an embroiderer or embroidery maker.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Bettison can be found in the Poll Tax returns for Yorkshire in 1379, where a Robert Bettyson is listed. This suggests that the name was well-established in northern England by the late 14th century.

Variations in spelling were common in earlier times, and the name Bettison has been spelled in various ways throughout history, including Bettyson, Betison, and Betteson. These alternative spellings can be found in historical records from different regions of England.

The Bettison surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Bettison Close in Cheshire and Bettison Farm in Yorkshire. It is possible that some individuals with this surname may have derived their name from these locations, rather than from the occupational origin.

Notable individuals with the surname Bettison throughout history include:

1. William Bettison (c. 1670-1743), an English minister and author who wrote several religious works. 2. John Bettison (1776-1853), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. 3. Thomas Bettison (1809-1891), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the mid-19th century. 4. Mary Bettison (1856-1943), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reform. 5. Arthur Bettison (1880-1958), a British artist and illustrator known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life.

While the Bettison surname has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and exploration. However, its origins can be traced back to the embroidery trade and occupational surnames of the 13th and 14th centuries in Britain.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bettison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bettison 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 Bettisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.05x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 77 19.05x
Nottinghamshire 72 14.96x
Derbyshire 62 11.09x
Yorkshire 55 1.55x
Surrey 15 0.86x
Lincolnshire 14 2.45x
Middlesex 13 0.36x
Leicestershire 12 3.03x
Devon 10 1.35x
Hertfordshire 8 3.25x
Essex 7 0.99x
Lancashire 7 0.17x
Royal Navy 3 7.05x
Northumberland 2 0.38x
Anglesey 1 1.58x
Bedfordshire 1 0.54x
Channel Islands 1 0.95x
Dorset 1 0.43x
Kent 1 0.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.30x
Perthshire 1 0.62x
Stirlingshire 1 0.76x
Wiltshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hucknall Torkard in Nottinghamshire leads with 34 Bettisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 278.69x.

Place Total Index
Hucknall Torkard 34 278.69x
Alfreton 29 170.79x
Leeds 19 9.51x
St Austell 18 130.25x
Lambeth 14 4.50x
East Looe 11 670.73x
Elland Cum Greetland 11 69.01x
Gainsborough 9 66.86x
Hucknall Under 9 362.90x
Killamarsh 9 258.62x
Packington 9 638.30x
Bishop Stortford 8 97.32x
Falmouth 8 55.91x
Nottingham St Mary 8 6.43x
Ripley 7 101.30x
St Ervan 7 1458.33x
Brightside Bierlow 6 8.65x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 8.34x
Kenwyn 6 56.76x
Leyton Low 6 41.87x
Mansfield 6 36.04x
Morton In Gainsborough 5 446.43x
Morval 5 602.41x
Shirland 5 119.62x
St Budeaux 5 216.45x
Westminster St John 5 11.50x
Worksop 5 35.04x
Claylane 4 51.48x
Duloe 4 336.13x
South Normanton 4 101.78x
Clarborough 3 83.33x
Dronfield 3 41.90x
Drypool 3 55.35x
Holbeck 3 12.80x
Royal Navy 3 8.25x
St Blazey 3 84.51x
St Enoder 3 218.98x
St Pancras London 3 1.04x
Swannington 3 205.48x
Warrington 3 5.97x
West Derby 3 2.42x
Hornsea 2 89.29x
Otterburn 2 487.80x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 3.49x
Rampton 2 454.55x
Sheffield 2 1.78x
St Columb Major 2 59.70x
St Endellion 2 142.86x
St Gluvias Penryn 2 61.73x
St Stephen In Brannel 2 54.20x
Stoke Damerel 2 3.85x
Truro St Mary 2 58.82x
Wickersley 2 204.08x
Basford 1 4.51x
Bedford St Mary 1 21.01x
Brimington 1 23.58x
Buchanan 1 149.25x
Camberwell 1 0.44x
Compton Gifford 1 42.92x
East Ham 1 7.65x
Holyhead 1 8.47x
Kensington London 1 0.50x
Kirkdale 1 1.40x
Laneham 1 270.27x
Lenton 1 8.83x
Logie 1 17.39x
Newark Upon Trent 1 5.78x
Newington 1 10.27x
Paddington London 1 0.76x
Perranarworthal 1 74.07x
Poplar London 1 1.48x
Portland 1 7.94x
Potterspury 1 74.63x
Radford 1 4.09x
Sandwich St Mary 1 90.91x
Shoreditch London 1 0.65x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 6.47x
St Helier 1 2.90x
St Stephens By Saltash 1 57.47x
Winterbourne Monkton 1 370.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 26
Mary 24
Sarah 11
Ann 8
Jane 8
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Clara 3
Ellen 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Bessie 2
Elizh.M. 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Sophia 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Elise 1
Ellinor 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Gertrude 1
Gilly 1
Girtrude 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lily 1
Lora 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 26
George 15
Henry 12
Thomas 10
Albert 7
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Samuel 6
Richard 5
Robert 5
Edward 4
Herbert 4
Alfred 3
Anthony 3
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Tom 3
Elias 2
Frank 2
James 2
Jonathan 2
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Ashton 1
Bertram 1
Cecil 1
Earnist 1
Edwin 1
Erwin 1
Fancis 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Griffen 1
Harold 1
Isaac 1
Jas.M. 1
Jonathn. 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Nathaniel 1
Nimrod 1
Philip 1
Thos.S. 1
Willie 1
Willm.J. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bettison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bettison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 365 people were recorded with the Bettison surname. That placed it at #8,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bettison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 647 in 2016. That gives Bettison a modern rank of #8,204.

What does the Bettison surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word 'betere', meaning one who beats or fulls cloth.

What does the Bettison map show?

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