NameCensus.

UK surname

Bettles

A surname derived from a place name in various locations across England.

In the 1881 census there were 416 people recorded with the Bettles surname, ranking it #7,749 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 517, ranked #9,761, down from #7,749 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Dean, Nether and Upper and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, East Northamptonshire and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bettles is 582 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.3%.

1881 census count

416

Ranked #7,749

Modern count

517

2016, ranked #9,761

Peak year

1901

582 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bettles had 416 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,749 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016, ranked #9,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 582 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bettles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bettles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bettles 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 273 #8,212
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 416 #7,749
1891 historical 392 #9,019
1901 historical 582 #7,241
1911 historical 582 #6,995
1997 modern 556 #8,593
1998 modern 559 #8,808
1999 modern 549 #8,996
2000 modern 547 #8,990
2001 modern 531 #9,039
2002 modern 530 #9,242
2003 modern 545 #8,902
2004 modern 539 #8,991
2005 modern 560 #8,679
2006 modern 528 #9,097
2007 modern 528 #9,174
2008 modern 532 #9,195
2009 modern 546 #9,230
2010 modern 549 #9,380
2011 modern 531 #9,524
2012 modern 506 #9,776
2013 modern 520 #9,734
2014 modern 523 #9,770
2015 modern 517 #9,777
2016 modern 517 #9,761

Geography

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Where Bettles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Dean, Nether and Upper, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Islip. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, East Northamptonshire and Kettering. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 Dean, Nether and Upper Huntingdonshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Islip Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 004 Central Bedfordshire
2 East Northamptonshire 003 East Northamptonshire
3 East Northamptonshire 006 East Northamptonshire
4 East Northamptonshire 008 East Northamptonshire
5 Kettering 011 Kettering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bettles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bettles

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bettles is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Bettles 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

Bettles falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bettles

The surname Bettles is of English origin and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "betl," meaning a small wooden mallet or beetlehead, which was a tool used in various trades such as woodworking and metalworking.

Historically, surnames often originated as occupational names, indicating a person's trade or profession. In this case, Bettles was likely given as a surname to an individual who worked as a maker or user of beetleheads or small mallets.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Bettles can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1327, where a certain John Betill is listed. This suggests that the name had already been established by the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name Bettles appeared in various forms, such as Bettell, Betill, and Bettle, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time. For instance, in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1664, a Thomas Bettell is recorded as residing in the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London.

One notable figure associated with the surname Bettles was John Bettles (c. 1548-1613), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Bunbury in Cheshire from 1593 until his death.

Another individual of historical significance was William Bettles (1677-1751), a prominent English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable projects, including the reconstruction of St. Paul's Cathedral in London after the Great Fire of 1666.

In the 18th century, the name Bettles was found in various parts of England, with concentrations in counties such as Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Shropshire. One example is Mary Bettles (1718-1788), who was born in the village of Ombersley, Worcestershire.

The 19th century saw the spread of the Bettles surname to other parts of the world, particularly to British colonies and dominions, as individuals emigrated from England. One such individual was George Bettles (1824-1887), who was born in Gloucestershire and later settled in Australia, where he became a prominent farmer and landowner.

Throughout history, the surname Bettles has been associated with various professions and occupations, from clergymen and architects to farmers and tradesmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bettles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bettles 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. Northamptonshire leads with 98 Bettles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.68x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 98 25.68x
Bedfordshire 92 43.79x
Middlesex 59 1.45x
Huntingdonshire 31 38.48x
Kent 21 1.52x
Staffordshire 18 1.31x
Yorkshire 13 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 10 4.08x
Essex 10 1.25x
Lancashire 10 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.65x
Surrey 8 0.40x
Norfolk 7 1.12x
Derbyshire 5 0.79x
Lincolnshire 5 0.77x
Berkshire 4 1.31x
Hertfordshire 4 1.43x
Warwickshire 4 0.39x
Leicestershire 3 0.67x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.39x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Orkney 1 2.24x
Rutland 1 3.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islip in Northamptonshire leads with 20 Bettles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2531.65x.

Place Total Index
Islip 20 2531.65x
Poddington 16 2133.33x
Bedford St Paul 15 104.09x
Dean 14 2058.82x
Wolverhampton 14 13.29x
Shelton 13 6190.48x
Islington London 11 2.80x
Bethnal Green London 10 5.67x
Greenwich 10 15.48x
Northampton Priory St 10 43.67x
St Pancras London 10 3.06x
Nether Hallam 9 16.54x
Peterborough 9 32.57x
Stoke Doyle 9 5294.12x
St Neots 8 182.65x
Ealing 7 19.31x
Higham Ferrers 7 338.16x
Iver 7 221.52x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 36.05x
Southoe 7 1842.11x
St George In East London 7 18.34x
Strood 7 88.61x
Wellingborough 7 36.48x
Welney 7 489.51x
Wymington 7 1014.49x
Beeston 6 95.54x
Kensington London 6 2.66x
Denford 5 724.64x
Derby St Alkmund 5 26.26x
Eaton Socon 5 151.52x
Lambeth 5 1.41x
Milton Ernest 5 862.07x
Sharnbrook 5 431.03x
Aston 4 1.42x
Burton Extra 4 50.96x
Duddington 4 800.00x
Haddon 4 2105.26x
Hitchin 4 31.70x
Lawford 4 341.88x
Manchester 4 1.85x
Swineshead 4 1176.47x
Twywell 4 571.43x
Wollaston 4 190.48x
Bedford St Cuthbert 3 160.43x
Datchet 3 178.57x
Earls Barton 3 92.02x
Goldington 3 375.00x
Gorton 3 6.63x
Greasley 3 24.31x
Kimberworth 3 13.44x
West Ham 3 1.70x
Cranford 2 285.71x
Leyton Low 2 12.29x
Market Deeping 2 119.05x
Oundle 2 46.84x
Reading St Giles 2 6.69x
Reading St Mary 2 8.20x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.80x
St Marylebone London 2 0.92x
Stilton 2 222.22x
Tottington Lower End 2 8.74x
Bedford St Mary 1 18.48x
Caldecot 1 2000.00x
Cardington 1 58.48x
Clapham 1 1.97x
Empingham 1 87.72x
Hammersmith London 1 1.00x
Leeds 1 0.44x
Little Paxton 1 256.41x
Parson Drove 1 97.09x
Pilton 1 588.24x
Richmond 1 3.61x
Ringstead 1 75.19x
Rochester St Margaret 1 6.85x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 23.20x
Souldrop 1 303.03x
St Maryle Wigford 1 19.84x
Thorpe Achurch 1 500.00x
Tilbrook 1 185.19x
Westbury On Trym 1 3.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 24
Mary 24
Sarah 21
Emma 11
Annie 9
Alice 7
Ann 7
Susan 6
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Sophia 4
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
Fanny 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Cecilia 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Phoebe 2
Sylvia 2
Agnes 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Eadith 1
Eliza. 1
Elizth. 1
Eveline 1
Fannie 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Hepzibah 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Louie 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
M.A. 1
Margerit 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 26
Thomas 21
George 16
James 16
Joseph 8
Arthur 7
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Charles 4
Edward 4
Henry 4
Samuel 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Stephen 2
Abraham 1
Alexander 1
C. 1
C.F. 1
Cecil 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Dover 1
Felix 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.J. 1
Geo.Thos. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Humphry 1
Isiah 1
Jno.J. 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Mathew 1
Oliver 1
Phillip 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Fras. 1
Willie 1
Wm 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bettles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bettles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 416 people were recorded with the Bettles surname. That placed it at #7,749 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bettles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016. That gives Bettles a modern rank of #9,761.

What does the Bettles surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in various locations across England.

What does the Bettles map show?

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