UK surname
A surname derived from the Dutch word bever, meaning beaver.
In the 1881 census there were 121 people recorded with the Bevers surname, ranking it #17,671 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 55, ranked #34,627, down from #17,671 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Clee, Batley and Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bevers is 159 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.5%.
1881 census count
121
Ranked #17,671
Modern count
55
2016, ranked #34,627
Peak year
1861
159 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bevers surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bevers surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 128 | #14,474 |
| 1861 | historical | 159 | #14,553 |
| 1881 | historical | 121 | #17,671 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 102 | #22,596 |
| 1911 | historical | 121 | #20,336 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 57 | #32,275 |
| 2002 | modern | 58 | #32,564 |
| 2003 | modern | 58 | #32,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 55 | #33,154 |
| 2005 | modern | 52 | #33,619 |
| 2006 | modern | 55 | #33,688 |
| 2007 | modern | 55 | #33,965 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 61 | #34,143 |
| 2011 | modern | 54 | #34,563 |
| 2012 | modern | 46 | #35,053 |
| 2013 | modern | 52 | #34,780 |
| 2014 | modern | 55 | #34,649 |
| 2015 | modern | 55 | #34,620 |
| 2016 | modern | 55 | #34,627 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Clee, Batley, Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar, Huddersfield and Dewsbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clee | Lincolnshire |
| 2 | Batley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar | Essex |
| 4 | Huddersfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Dewsbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bevers surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bevers, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bevers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bevers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bevers is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bevers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bevers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BEVERS has its origins in England and dates back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "beofor," which means "beaver." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who lived near a beaver colony or had some association with the animal.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Beure" and "Bevere." These spellings are thought to be early variations of the modern surname BEVERS. The Domesday Book was a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror, which recorded landholdings and populations across England.
During the medieval period, the name BEVERS was primarily found in the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire. It is believed to have originated in these regions, where beaver populations were more prevalent along the rivers and streams.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname BEVERS was William Bever, who lived in Nottinghamshire in the 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was John Bever, a landowner from Derbyshire who was mentioned in court records from the 14th century.
In the 16th century, the name BEVERS appeared in various spelling variations, such as "Bever," "Bevere," and "Beavers." This was due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that time period.
A prominent figure with the surname BEVERS was Sir Thomas Bever, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed significantly to the development of his local community.
Another individual of note was Robert Bevers, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the 17th century. He was born in Nottinghamshire and became a fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he made significant contributions to the study of divinity and philosophy.
In the 18th century, the name BEVERS was also found in various parts of England, including London and the surrounding counties. One notable bearer of the name was William Bevers, a successful businessman and philanthropist from London, who left a substantial portion of his wealth to charitable causes upon his death in 1782.
As the centuries passed, the surname BEVERS spread beyond England, with many bearers of the name migrating to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bevers surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 38 Bevers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 38 | 3.33x |
| Essex | 19 | 8.36x |
| Lincolnshire | 18 | 9.78x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 0.81x |
| Oxfordshire | 11 | 15.48x |
| Kent | 9 | 2.29x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.52x |
| Durham | 3 | 0.88x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.36x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.57x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hartshead in Yorkshire leads with 19 Bevers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3725.49x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hartshead | 19 | 3725.49x |
| Heybridge | 19 | 2878.79x |
| Great Grimsby | 18 | 154.11x |
| Kirkdale | 7 | 30.46x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 7 | 118.85x |
| Oxford St Mary Magdalen | 6 | 714.29x |
| Huddersfield | 5 | 30.08x |
| Oxford St Giles | 5 | 147.49x |
| Holbeck | 4 | 52.91x |
| Islington London | 3 | 2.69x |
| Stanhope | 3 | 84.75x |
| Batley | 2 | 18.45x |
| Hulme | 2 | 7.02x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 1.99x |
| North Meols | 2 | 14.96x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.16x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 1 | 4.47x |
| Calverley Cum Farsley | 1 | 30.86x |
| Cheriton | 1 | 62.50x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 5.58x |
| Hatfield In Thorne | 1 | 140.85x |
| Monk Frystone | 1 | 500.00x |
| Old Malton | 1 | 138.89x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 5.53x |
| Skelton In Howden | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe | 1 | 18.87x |
| West Rainham | 1 | 769.23x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 6.89x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bevers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Sarah | 7 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Lydia | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Christiana | 1 |
| Dora | 1 |
| Eda | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Hellen | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Leah | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lusia | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Priscilla | 1 |
| Roseller | 1 |
| Sara | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Susanna | 1 |
| Sussanah | 1 |
| Violet | 1 |
| Winifred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bevers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bevers households.
FAQ
In 1881, 121 people were recorded with the Bevers surname. That placed it at #17,671 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 55 in 2016. That gives Bevers a modern rank of #34,627.
A surname derived from the Dutch word bever, meaning beaver.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bevers bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.