NameCensus.

UK surname

Betty

An English surname referring to the nickname or diminutive form of "Elizabeth".

In the 1881 census there were 374 people recorded with the Betty surname, ranking it #8,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 457, ranked #10,690, down from #8,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St James and St Paul and Stoke St Gregory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Torfaen and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Betty is 818 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.2%.

1881 census count

374

Ranked #8,364

Modern count

457

2016, ranked #10,690

Peak year

1861

818 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Betty had 374 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 457 in 2016, ranked #10,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 818 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Betty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Betty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Betty 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 422 #5,779
1861 historical 818 #3,366
1881 historical 374 #8,364
1891 historical 497 #7,465
1901 historical 515 #7,878
1911 historical 521 #7,593
1997 modern 508 #9,195
1998 modern 519 #9,327
1999 modern 507 #9,555
2000 modern 487 #9,819
2001 modern 464 #10,002
2002 modern 482 #9,906
2003 modern 472 #9,889
2004 modern 477 #9,833
2005 modern 454 #10,144
2006 modern 465 #9,988
2007 modern 474 #9,948
2008 modern 476 #10,012
2009 modern 487 #10,059
2010 modern 493 #10,161
2011 modern 487 #10,155
2012 modern 485 #10,089
2013 modern 478 #10,362
2014 modern 469 #10,570
2015 modern 462 #10,619
2016 modern 457 #10,690

Geography

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Where Bettys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St James and St Paul, Stoke St Gregory, St Philip and Jacob and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Torfaen, Cardiff and Chelmsford. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St James and St Paul Gloucestershire
3 Stoke St Gregory Somerset
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 004 Taunton Deane
2 Taunton Deane 008 Taunton Deane
3 Torfaen 009 Torfaen
4 Cardiff 014 Cardiff
5 Chelmsford 007 Chelmsford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Betty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Betty

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Betty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Betty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Betty is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Betty is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Betty falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Betty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Betty

The surname Betty is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Anglo-Norman French personal name Bette, itself a diminutive of the Old French name Beatrice, meaning "she who brings happiness" or "voyager."

The earliest recorded instances of the Betty surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "Bette." Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of Betty. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Devon in southwestern England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Betty surname was John Betty, a merchant from Bristol, who was mentioned in the city's Guild Rolls in 1382. Another notable figure was Sir William Betty, a member of the landed gentry from Dorset, whose name appears in the Feet of Fines records in 1487.

In the 16th century, the Betty surname began to spread beyond its traditional southern English stronghold. One prominent individual from this era was Sir Edward Betty (1558-1628), a courtier and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several members of the Betty family achieved distinction in various fields. Among them were Robert Betty (1639-1702), a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the understanding of comets, and Sir William Betty (1714-1789), a successful merchant and philanthropist from London.

In the 19th century, the Betty surname gained further prominence with individuals like Sir John Betty (1801-1868), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and the Crimean War, and William Henry Betty (1815-1899), an English actor and playwright known for his performances in Shakespeare's works.

Throughout its long history, the Betty surname has been linked to various place names in England, such as Betty's Hill in Wiltshire and Betty's Wood in Gloucestershire, further attesting to its deep roots in the country's geography and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Betty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Betty 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. Somerset leads with 100 Bettys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.35x.

County Total Index
Somerset 100 17.35x
Gloucestershire 72 10.25x
Middlesex 45 1.26x
Cornwall 26 6.42x
Yorkshire 24 0.68x
Devon 20 2.68x
Surrey 14 0.80x
Lancashire 8 0.19x
Essex 7 0.99x
Dorset 5 2.13x
Durham 5 0.47x
Pembrokeshire 5 4.39x
Lincolnshire 4 0.70x
Wiltshire 4 1.26x
Glamorgan 3 0.48x
Kent 3 0.25x
Lanarkshire 3 0.26x
Angus 2 0.60x
Herefordshire 2 1.36x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 3.86x
Renfrewshire 2 0.72x
Warwickshire 2 0.22x
Argyllshire 1 1.00x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.46x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Leicestershire 1 0.25x
Morayshire 1 1.80x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.21x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St James St Paul in Gloucestershire leads with 27 Bettys recorded in 1881 and an index of 115.34x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St James St Paul 27 115.34x
Taunton St Mary 21 198.49x
St Marylebone London 19 9.94x
Bridgewater 17 108.70x
Chard 11 157.59x
Ladock 11 956.52x
Bitton Oldland 10 139.28x
Battersea 9 6.83x
Bedminster 9 16.62x
Bristol St George 8 24.64x
Bristol St Paul In 8 42.78x
Clayton 8 92.17x
Holbeck 7 29.79x
Kensington London 7 3.52x
Liverpool 7 2.71x
South Shoebury 7 246.48x
Stoke St Gregory 7 400.00x
Alwington 6 1304.35x
Callington 6 254.24x
Clifton 6 16.91x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 6 36.41x
Almsford 5 1388.89x
St George Hanover Square 5 7.93x
Wellington 5 64.02x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.57x
Fitzhead 4 1250.00x
Isle Abbotts 4 930.23x
Llanstadwell 4 107.53x
Morton In Gainsborough 4 357.14x
Saltash 4 127.39x
Swindon 4 16.29x
Westbury On Trym 4 16.81x
Gateshead 3 3.76x
Landrake 3 333.33x
Llandaff 3 14.46x
Newington 3 2.27x
Stoke Damerel 3 5.75x
Abbotsham 2 344.83x
Barony 2 0.68x
Bideford 2 25.06x
Brechin 2 15.35x
Bridport 2 41.32x
Bristol St James In 2 19.36x
Bristol St Michael 2 33.22x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 3.03x
Buckland St Mary 2 266.67x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.37x
Cumberworth 2 110.50x
Darlington 2 4.86x
Dawlish 2 35.97x
Hornsey 2 4.42x
Huish Episcopi 2 243.90x
Minnigaff 2 102.56x
St Pancras London 2 0.69x
Tickenham 2 487.80x
Tormoham 2 6.34x
West Greenock 2 4.02x
Woolwich 2 4.43x
Wormbridge 2 1666.67x
Bristol St Stephen 1 54.95x
Chelsea London 1 0.93x
Chester Castle 1 238.10x
Devonport 1 11.68x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 8.46x
Eton 1 20.37x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 13.16x
Herbrandston 1 227.27x
High Ham 1 72.99x
Langford Budville 1 227.27x
Leamington Priors 1 4.50x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.03x
Lydeard St Lawrence 1 153.85x
Madresfield 1 303.03x
Milverton 1 46.95x
North Petherton 1 21.51x
Othery 1 140.85x
Paddington London 1 0.76x
Portsea 1 0.70x
Wednesbury 1 3.31x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 21.55x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 17
James 16
Charles 13
George 11
Thomas 7
Robert 6
Samuel 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Walter 5
Frank 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Nathaniel 2
Partrick 2
Sidney 2
B.K. 1
Bertram 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Dibble 1
Chas.Ireland 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Montegue 1
Moses 1
Olive 1
Osman 1
Paget 1
Patrick 1
R.V. 1
Reginald 1
Stanley 1
Wm.Hy.K. 1

FAQ

Betty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Betty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 374 people were recorded with the Betty surname. That placed it at #8,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Betty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 457 in 2016. That gives Betty a modern rank of #10,690.

What does the Betty surname mean?

An English surname referring to the nickname or diminutive form of "Elizabeth".

What does the Betty map show?

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