NameCensus.

UK surname

Bevans

A surname derived from the Welsh personal name Evan or Ieuan.

In the 1881 census there were 448 people recorded with the Bevans surname, ranking it #7,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 353, ranked #13,081, down from #7,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, Camrose and Prendergast. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Leicester and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bevans is 488 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.2%.

1881 census count

448

Ranked #7,339

Modern count

353

2016, ranked #13,081

Peak year

1911

488 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bevans had 448 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016, ranked #13,081.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 488 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bevans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bevans surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bevans 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 318 #7,293
1861 historical 338 #7,541
1881 historical 448 #7,339
1891 historical 471 #7,788
1901 historical 484 #8,244
1911 historical 488 #7,980
1997 modern 355 #12,040
1998 modern 376 #11,918
1999 modern 371 #12,101
2000 modern 353 #12,480
2001 modern 338 #12,669
2002 modern 336 #12,992
2003 modern 326 #13,076
2004 modern 325 #13,161
2005 modern 342 #12,579
2006 modern 346 #12,539
2007 modern 342 #12,809
2008 modern 350 #12,694
2009 modern 361 #12,663
2010 modern 371 #12,679
2011 modern 371 #12,546
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 359 #12,917
2014 modern 355 #13,125
2015 modern 358 #12,942
2016 modern 353 #13,081

Geography

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Where Bevans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, Camrose, Prendergast, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Steynton, Walwins Castle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Leicester and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 St Mary Pembrokeshire
2 Camrose Pembrokeshire
3 Prendergast Pembrokeshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Steynton, Walwins Castle Pembrokeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire
2 Pembrokeshire 014 Pembrokeshire
3 Leicester 012 Leicester
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 013 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Pembrokeshire 011 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bevans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bevans

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bevans is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bevans is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bevans falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bevans

The surname BEVANS is of Welsh origin, derived from the Welsh personal name "Evan" or "Ieuan", which itself is a Welsh form of the name John. The name BEVANS likely emerged as a patronymic, meaning "son of Evan".

The earliest recorded instances of the BEVANS surname date back to the 16th century in various regions of Wales. One notable early record is that of Rees Bevans, who was recorded as living in Glamorganshire, Wales in 1588.

In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the BEVANS surname began appearing in English parish records, suggesting that bearers of the name had migrated from Wales to England during this time period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BEVANS surname in England is found in the parish records of St. Giles Cripplegate, London, where the marriage of John Bevans and Margery Howlett was recorded in 1607.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the BEVANS name continued to spread across various regions of England, with notable individuals including Thomas Bevans (1653-1721), a Welsh Anglican clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Bangor.

In the 19th century, the BEVANS surname began to appear in various parts of the United States, likely due to immigration from Wales and England. One notable American bearer of the name was William Bevans (1799-1881), a politician from Pennsylvania who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Other notable individuals with the BEVANS surname throughout history include:

1. Griffith Bevans (c. 1530-1594), a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament for Cardiganshire. 2. William Bevans (1622-1698), an English physician and author of several medical treatises. 3. John Bevans (1758-1824), a Welsh Baptist minister and author. 4. Charles Bevans (1844-1916), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois. 5. Evan Bevans (1844-1920), a Welsh-born American industrialist and coal mining operator in Pennsylvania.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bevans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bevans 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. Pembrokeshire leads with 190 Bevans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.19x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 190 136.19x
Leicestershire 66 13.56x
Warwickshire 25 2.26x
Middlesex 24 0.55x
Staffordshire 19 1.28x
Durham 17 1.30x
Glamorgan 17 2.22x
Surrey 17 0.79x
Devon 11 1.20x
Hampshire 11 1.22x
Lincolnshire 9 1.28x
Lancashire 8 0.15x
Brecknockshire 6 6.84x
Derbyshire 6 0.87x
Kent 4 0.27x
Caernarfonshire 3 1.69x
Channel Islands 3 2.31x
Sussex 3 0.41x
Lanarkshire 2 0.14x
Monmouthshire 2 0.63x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.54x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.33x
Somerset 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 33 Bevans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.80x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 33 27.80x
Leicester St Mary 30 76.30x
Camrose 28 2105.26x
Prendergast 19 892.02x
Pembroke St Mary 18 100.17x
Birmingham 15 4.07x
Slebech 13 2363.64x
Tudhoe 12 104.99x
Camberwell 11 3.92x
Fulham London 11 17.28x
Wiston 11 1018.52x
Portsea 9 5.10x
Steynton 9 199.56x
Aston 8 2.62x
Furzey Park Portfield 8 1951.22x
Haycastle 8 1818.18x
Spittal 7 1129.03x
St Brides 7 2413.79x
West Bromwich 7 8.25x
Brocklesby 6 1538.46x
Church Gresley 6 54.89x
Hilderstone 6 1016.95x
Llandilo Talybont 6 149.63x
Llangorse 6 1132.08x
Marloes 6 967.74x
Poplar London 6 7.24x
Haverfordwest St Martin 5 193.80x
Islington London 5 1.18x
Lambston 5 1666.67x
Maenclochog 5 694.44x
Newmoat 5 1086.96x
Robeston West 5 2173.91x
Yerbeston 5 2941.18x
Aberdare 4 7.62x
Battersea 4 2.48x
Exeter St Leonard 4 160.00x
Llansamlet Lower 4 57.80x
Rosemarket 4 784.31x
Royton 4 25.11x
Windlestone 4 1081.08x
Drewsteignton 3 247.93x
Llanberis 3 65.65x
Newhaven 3 49.92x
Ogley Hay 3 97.40x
Pembroke St Michael 3 148.51x
Roch 3 370.37x
St Helier 3 7.08x
Sutton At Hone 3 96.46x
Wigan 3 4.12x
Barony 2 0.56x
Coventry St Michael 2 5.62x
Great Grimsby 2 4.49x
Haverfordwest St Mary 2 100.00x
Kingston 2 158.73x
Lambeth 2 0.52x
Littleham 2 29.94x
Martletwy 2 357.14x
St Ishmaels 2 281.69x
Tenby St Mary In 2 28.17x
Walwyns Castle 2 400.00x
Bagworth 1 109.89x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.89x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 6.33x
Chagford 1 45.66x
Granston 1 384.62x
Hasguard 1 714.29x
Herbrandston 1 185.19x
High Littleton 1 86.21x
Hoyland Nether 1 9.37x
Kingsley 1 36.23x
Lampeter Velfrey 1 68.03x
Leek Lowe 1 5.07x
Llanstadwell 1 21.93x
Loughor 1 24.63x
Matherne 1 129.87x
Monks Coppenhall 1 2.74x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.42x
Stoke Newington London 1 2.92x
Swansea Town 1 1.60x
Woolwich 1 1.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 25
Eliza 12
Jane 12
Sarah 11
Ann 10
Emma 9
Martha 9
Alice 6
Edith 5
Ellen 5
Agnes 4
Frances 4
Anne 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Phoebe 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Henrietta 2
Leah 2
Margret 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Charlotte 1
E.A. 1
Ethel 1
Eunice 1
Francess 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Lavenia 1
Liza 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Margeret 1
Margt 1
Mariah 1
Marianne 1
Marion 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
William 32
Thomas 26
George 18
Alfred 15
James 15
Charles 6
David 6
Richard 6
Benjamin 4
Edward 4
Henry 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Edwin 3
Joseph 3
Essex 2
Evan 2
Francis 2
Philip 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Charlie 1
Conelius 1
Dubal 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo 1
Gilbert 1
Hugh 1
Inkerman 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Sam. 1
Stephen 1
Steven 1
Stocks 1
T.J. 1
Tho. 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bevans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bevans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 448 people were recorded with the Bevans surname. That placed it at #7,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bevans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016. That gives Bevans a modern rank of #13,081.

What does the Bevans surname mean?

A surname derived from the Welsh personal name Evan or Ieuan.

What does the Bevans map show?

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