NameCensus.

UK surname

Bewley

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "bee wood" or "bee clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 800 people recorded with the Bewley surname, ranking it #4,654 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,138, ranked #5,177, down from #4,654 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Carlisle St Cuthbert. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Barrow-in-Furness and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bewley is 1,251 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.3%.

1881 census count

800

Ranked #4,654

Modern count

1,138

2016, ranked #5,177

Peak year

2000

1,251 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bewley had 800 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,654 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,138 in 2016, ranked #5,177.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,094 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bewley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bewley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bewley 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 542 #4,654
1861 historical 463 #5,613
1881 historical 800 #4,654
1891 historical 904 #4,558
1901 historical 1,007 #4,733
1911 historical 1,094 #4,240
1997 modern 1,178 #4,788
1998 modern 1,226 #4,792
1999 modern 1,247 #4,758
2000 modern 1,251 #4,734
2001 modern 1,198 #4,803
2002 modern 1,225 #4,816
2003 modern 1,172 #4,903
2004 modern 1,170 #4,916
2005 modern 1,139 #4,982
2006 modern 1,120 #5,061
2007 modern 1,131 #5,065
2008 modern 1,141 #5,058
2009 modern 1,149 #5,144
2010 modern 1,196 #5,057
2011 modern 1,155 #5,165
2012 modern 1,128 #5,173
2013 modern 1,152 #5,176
2014 modern 1,147 #5,217
2015 modern 1,144 #5,183
2016 modern 1,138 #5,177

Geography

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Where Bewleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Penrith 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 Wiltshire, Barrow-in-Furness, Copeland, Denholm and Hermitage and Carlisle. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
4 Penrith Cumberland
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 022 Wiltshire
2 Barrow-in-Furness 008 Barrow-in-Furness
3 Copeland 004 Copeland
4 Denholm and Hermitage Scottish Borders
5 Carlisle 008 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bewley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bewley

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Bewley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bewley 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

Bewley falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bewley

The surname Bewley is an English name derived from the Old English word 'byewlic', meaning a dwelling place or a pasture. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, England, in the early medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Beverlac'. This entry refers to a place in the East Riding of Yorkshire, which was later known as Beverley.

In the 13th century, the name was spelled as 'Beulay' and 'Beuley', and it was often associated with various locations in Yorkshire, such as Bewley Hill and Bewley Moor.

One notable historical figure with the surname Bewley was John Bewley (1653-1728), an English Quaker and merchant who established the Bewley's Cafe chain in Dublin, Ireland, in 1835. The cafe became a renowned institution and is still in operation today.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Thomas Bewley (1805-1892), an Irish businessman and philanthropist who founded the Bewley's Oriental Cafes in Dublin. He was also involved in various charitable initiatives and was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers).

In the late 18th century, a branch of the Bewley family emigrated from England to the United States, where they settled in Pennsylvania. One notable American with this surname was Humphrey Bewley (1790-1868), a farmer and politician who served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Ernest Bewley (1837-1904), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Courts of Justice.

Lastly, Veronica Bewley (1927-2021) was a British actress who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career, including the popular series "Upstairs, Downstairs" in the 1970s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bewley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bewley 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. Cumberland leads with 239 Bewleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.66x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 239 35.66x
Lancashire 145 1.57x
Durham 80 3.45x
Middlesex 62 0.80x
Cheshire 50 2.91x
Wiltshire 27 3.92x
Yorkshire 27 0.35x
Somerset 23 1.84x
Northumberland 22 1.90x
Surrey 21 0.55x
Kent 17 0.64x
Gloucestershire 16 1.05x
Westmorland 12 7.01x
Cambridgeshire 8 1.62x
Derbyshire 8 0.66x
Flintshire 7 3.35x
Staffordshire 6 0.23x
Suffolk 6 0.63x
Hertfordshire 4 0.75x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.38x
Worcestershire 4 0.39x
Essex 3 0.20x
Norfolk 2 0.17x
Devon 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 27 Bewleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.81x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 27 4.81x
Penrith 24 96.93x
Caldewgate 23 62.64x
Cockermouth 23 163.01x
St Marylebone London 18 4.33x
Brandon Byshottles 16 55.15x
Calne 14 98.80x
Everton 14 4.76x
Crosscanonby 13 58.66x
Great Boughton 13 219.59x
Toxteth Park 13 4.16x
Whitehaven 13 36.39x
Helmington Row 12 111.21x
Rickergate 12 84.63x
Preston 11 4.45x
Winlaton 11 49.51x
Blennerhasset Kirkland 10 769.23x
Cleator 10 35.84x
St Pancras London 10 1.60x
Tranmere 10 15.84x
Birkenhead 9 6.57x
Great Stanney 9 4736.84x
Mosser 9 4500.00x
Workington 9 23.46x
Bedminster 8 6.79x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 5.57x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 5.45x
Hyde 8 15.78x
Staplehurst 8 183.49x
Wetheral 8 90.09x
Windle 8 15.39x
Barrow In Furness 7 5.57x
Hackney London 7 1.60x
Holme Low 7 378.38x
Langwathby 7 769.23x
Limehouse London 7 8.19x
Oldham 7 2.35x
Ormesby 7 33.77x
Southwark St Saviour 7 17.50x
Westgate 7 9.76x
Bristol St Paul In 6 14.75x
Easington 6 1463.41x
Egremont 6 37.55x
Gateshead 6 3.46x
Hutton Roof 6 1363.64x
Mold Hendrebiffa 6 600.00x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 8.67x
Rotherham 6 13.80x
Ryton 6 73.71x
St Andrewthe Less 6 10.65x
Westward 6 214.29x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.52x
Bolton 5 467.29x
Derby St Werburgh 5 7.11x
Kensington London 5 1.16x
Lambeth 5 0.74x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 15.24x
Openshaw 5 11.56x
Sowerby Castle 5 909.09x
St Cuthbert W O 5 15.30x
St George Hanover Square 5 3.65x
Tanfield 5 18.16x
Walton On Hill 5 9.99x
Wolsingham 5 23.69x
Ardwick 4 4.80x
Cheetham 4 5.81x
Combe Hay 4 800.00x
Crook Billy Row 4 13.49x
Gorton 4 4.61x
Kington Langley 4 263.16x
Muggleswick 4 178.57x
Paddington London 4 1.40x
Preston Quarter 4 21.30x
St Martin In Fields 4 8.58x
St Mary Within 4 47.79x
Thornham 4 80.00x
Uttoxeter 4 29.74x
Ware 4 26.01x
Wayford 4 666.67x
Winton 4 597.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 58
Jane 38
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 27
Ann 25
Margaret 18
Annie 14
Hannah 11
Eliza 7
Esther 7
Isabella 7
Ada 6
Alice 6
Eleanor 6
Ellen 6
Agnes 5
Edith 5
Emma 5
Margt. 5
Martha 5
Emily 4
Frances 4
Louisa 4
Ruth 4
Adelaide 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Anne 2
Bridget 2
Georgina 2
Gertrude 2
Julia 2
Lilly 2
Rachael 2
Susannah 2
Bernai 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Cordelia 1
Debrah 1
Elenar 1
Eliz. 1
Francy 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 70
William 45
Thomas 30
Joseph 28
Edward 21
George 21
James 16
Robert 16
Arthur 11
Henry 10
Isaac 10
Alfred 7
Charles 6
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Jacob 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Frank 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Matthew 3
Wm. 3
Elias 2
Glaister 2
Herbert 2
Wilson 2
Alf. 1
Andrew 1
Bowman 1
Chas.A. 1
Chas.H. 1
Daniel 1
Emily 1
Eugene 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Freeman 1
G.W. 1
Geo. 1
Job 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Marston 1
Miles 1
Nicholson 1
Pearcy 1
Percy 1
Wm.Ed. 1

FAQ

Bewley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bewley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 800 people were recorded with the Bewley surname. That placed it at #4,654 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bewley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,138 in 2016. That gives Bewley a modern rank of #5,177.

What does the Bewley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "bee wood" or "bee clearing."

What does the Bewley map show?

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