NameCensus.

UK surname

Beveridge

From a place name derived from Old English, meaning "beaver stream" or "stream populated by beavers."

In the 1881 census there were 3,121 people recorded with the Beveridge surname, ranking it #1,442 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,864, ranked #1,750, down from #1,442 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Beath, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lochgelly East, Dunfermline Headwell and Lochgelly West and Lumphinnans.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beveridge is 3,945 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.8%.

1881 census count

3,121

Ranked #1,442

Modern count

3,864

2016, ranked #1,750

Peak year

2010

3,945 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beveridge had 3,121 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,442 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,864 in 2016, ranked #1,750.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,914 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Beveridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beveridge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beveridge 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 2,115 #1,380
1861 historical 2,210 #1,332
1881 historical 3,121 #1,442
1891 historical 3,451 #1,380
1901 historical 3,914 #1,442
1911 historical 854 #5,191
1997 modern 3,642 #1,782
1998 modern 3,767 #1,787
1999 modern 3,750 #1,809
2000 modern 3,791 #1,781
2001 modern 3,740 #1,761
2002 modern 3,855 #1,757
2003 modern 3,779 #1,759
2004 modern 3,763 #1,761
2005 modern 3,785 #1,729
2006 modern 3,759 #1,747
2007 modern 3,763 #1,756
2008 modern 3,802 #1,743
2009 modern 3,895 #1,748
2010 modern 3,945 #1,762
2011 modern 3,856 #1,777
2012 modern 3,801 #1,767
2013 modern 3,818 #1,797
2014 modern 3,871 #1,776
2015 modern 3,845 #1,766
2016 modern 3,864 #1,750

Geography

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Where Beveridges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Beath, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dalgety. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lochgelly East, Dunfermline Headwell, Lochgelly West and Lumphinnans, Cardenden and Cowdenbeath North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Beath Fife
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Dalgety Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lochgelly East Fife
2 Dunfermline Headwell Fife
3 Lochgelly West and Lumphinnans Fife
4 Cardenden Fife
5 Cowdenbeath North Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beveridge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beveridge

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Beveridge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Beveridge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Beveridge 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

Beveridge is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Beveridge

The surname Beveridge is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "befer" meaning beaver and "hrycg" meaning ridge, referring to a ridge or hillock where beavers were found. It originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in the areas around Yorkshire and Northumberland, sometime in the 12th or 13th century.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219, where it is written as "Beverigg". Other early variations include "Beverigge", "Beveridge", and "Beveredge". These early spellings suggest that the name was initially associated with places or geographic features related to beavers.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Beveridge was Thomas Beveridge, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. Another early record is that of John Beveridge, who appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1379.

The Beveridge surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Beveridge in Durham and Beverley in East Yorkshire, which may have influenced the development and spread of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Beveridge throughout history include:

1. Sir William Beveridge (1879-1963), a British economist and social reformer, best known for his report on social insurance and allied services, which formed the basis for the modern British welfare state.

2. David Beveridge (1888-1965), a Scottish poet and author known for his works on Scottish folklore and traditions.

3. Henry Beveridge (1837-1929), a Scottish scholar and translator, renowned for his English translations of medieval Persian literature, including the works of Akbar and Jahangir.

4. Albert J. Beveridge (1862-1927), an American historian, scholar, and politician who served as a United States Senator from Indiana from 1899 to 1911.

5. James Beveridge (1805-1883), a Scottish-Canadian agriculturalist and politician, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada.

The surname Beveridge has a rich history rooted in the northern counties of England, with its origins dating back to the 12th or 13th century. While it initially referred to places associated with beavers, the name has since been carried by notable individuals across various fields, including economics, literature, politics, and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beveridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beveridge 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. Fife leads with 1,145 Beveridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.61x.

County Total Index
Fife 1,145 63.61x
Lanarkshire 371 3.77x
Midlothian 317 7.78x
Ayrshire 116 5.10x
Kinross-shire 102 132.71x
Middlesex 99 0.33x
Perthshire 97 7.11x
Renfrewshire 97 4.12x
Durham 96 1.06x
Angus 73 2.59x
Aberdeenshire 62 2.20x
Northumberland 60 1.33x
Lancashire 59 0.16x
West Lothian 57 12.45x
Yorkshire 55 0.18x
Stirlingshire 49 4.37x
Clackmannanshire 47 18.72x
Surrey 28 0.19x
Dunbartonshire 22 2.69x
Kent 19 0.18x
Berwickshire 11 2.99x
Hampshire 11 0.18x
Devon 10 0.16x
Somerset 10 0.20x
Essex 9 0.15x
Warwickshire 9 0.12x
Roxburghshire 8 1.45x
Dumfriesshire 7 1.04x
Oxfordshire 7 0.37x
Selkirkshire 7 2.54x
Suffolk 7 0.19x
East Lothian 6 1.49x
Hertfordshire 6 0.29x
Morayshire 6 1.27x
Cumberland 5 0.19x
Lincolnshire 4 0.08x
Staffordshire 4 0.04x
Caithness 3 0.72x
Peeblesshire 3 2.10x
Glamorgan 2 0.04x
Gloucestershire 2 0.03x
Monmouthshire 2 0.09x
Argyllshire 1 0.12x
Banffshire 1 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.05x
Cheshire 1 0.01x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.23x
Royal Navy 1 0.28x
Sussex 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunfermline in Fife leads with 348 Beveridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 125.74x.

Place Total Index
Dunfermline 348 125.74x
Beath 165 290.08x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 102 6.22x
Dysart 82 67.65x
Kirkcaldy 75 84.01x
Aberdour 71 391.62x
Govan 69 2.84x
Barony 66 2.65x
Old Monkland 56 14.35x
Dundee 51 4.85x
Orwell 47 221.80x
South Leith 45 9.82x
Leslie 40 87.76x
Kinross 35 132.83x
Wemyss 34 44.64x
Alloa 32 26.28x
Slamannan 31 50.48x
Inverkeithing 29 106.93x
Dalgety 27 196.36x
Dalserf 27 27.51x
Glasgow 27 1.55x
Ballingry 26 234.02x
Cambusnethan 26 11.90x
Gateshead 25 3.69x
Dalkeith 24 29.87x
Rutherglen 24 16.64x
Kettle 23 106.43x
Kinghorn 23 60.19x
Abbotshall 21 31.22x
Burntisland 21 41.73x
Dalry 21 19.61x
Lasswade 21 22.55x
Perth West Church 21 32.43x
Bathgate 20 20.12x
Cathcart 20 15.69x
Markinch 20 32.73x
Aberdeen Old Machar 19 3.23x
Cupar 19 24.27x
East Greenock 19 8.54x
Perth East Church 19 14.77x
West Greenock 19 4.49x
Leeds 18 1.06x
Auchterderran 17 37.57x
Bishopwearmouth 17 2.19x
Tweedmouth 17 30.14x
Barrow In Furness 16 3.26x
Kirkliston 16 59.90x
St Pancras London 16 0.65x
Stevenston 16 26.97x
Chester Le Street 15 21.60x
Fossoway 15 113.55x
Kilwinning 15 20.41x
Liff Benvie 15 3.51x
Torryburn 15 193.30x
Edinburgh Canongate 14 13.51x
Abbey 13 3.62x
Aberdalgie 13 418.01x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 13 9.29x
Carluke 12 13.44x
Kinglassie 12 87.53x
New Monkland 12 4.13x
Southwark St George Martyr 12 1.96x
Whickham 12 14.42x
Dollar 11 42.28x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 11 11.42x
Hamilton 11 4.01x
Kensington London 11 0.65x
Newton 11 80.29x
Clapham 10 2.63x
Kilmarnock 10 3.69x
North Leith 10 5.31x
Row 10 9.46x
Scoonie 10 25.65x
Burnley 9 2.96x
Cadder 9 12.39x
Cockpen 9 18.90x
Gillingham 9 4.21x
Kilmany 9 136.36x
Nesbit In Glendale 9 1058.82x
Slains 9 68.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 27
Mary 21
Jane 19
Sarah 15
Ellen 11
Isabella 11
Margaret 11
Annie 10
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Ann 6
Emma 6
Ada 5
Hannah 5
Caroline 4
Helen 4
Jessie 4
Julia 4
Anne 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Euphemia 3
Fanny 3
Janet 3
Matilda 3
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Georgina 2
Henrietta 2
Isabell 2
Johnston 2
Lydia 2
Rebecca 2
Agness 1
Annabella 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Dorothy 1
Elenoar 1
Ernestine 1
Ethel 1
Hanna 1
Harriet 1
Jannet 1
Lizzie 1
Whellemina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 34
Thomas 30
John 27
William 26
George 19
Robert 13
Charles 8
David 7
Henry 6
Peter 6
Andrew 4
Harry 4
Nathaniel 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Joseph 2
Malcolm 2
Michael 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Chas.Alfred 1
Chas.Stanley 1
D. 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Edward 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Finlay 1
Frank 1
Gerald 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Matthew 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Robt.John 1
Sam 1
Stanley 1
Stuart 1

FAQ

Beveridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beveridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,121 people were recorded with the Beveridge surname. That placed it at #1,442 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beveridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,864 in 2016. That gives Beveridge a modern rank of #1,750.

What does the Beveridge surname mean?

From a place name derived from Old English, meaning "beaver stream" or "stream populated by beavers."

What does the Beveridge map show?

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