NameCensus.

UK surname

Birkbeck

A place name from a location near a birch tree or birch forest.

In the 1881 census there were 446 people recorded with the Birkbeck surname, ranking it #7,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 684, ranked #7,836, down from #7,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bongate or Appleby St Michael, Halifax and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Annandale West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birkbeck is 684 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.4%.

1881 census count

446

Ranked #7,361

Modern count

684

2016, ranked #7,836

Peak year

2016

684 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birkbeck had 446 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 684 in 2016, ranked #7,836.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 668 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Birkbeck surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birkbeck surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Birkbeck 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 262 #8,456
1861 historical 373 #6,841
1881 historical 446 #7,361
1891 historical 511 #7,296
1901 historical 599 #7,081
1911 historical 668 #6,301
1997 modern 624 #7,925
1998 modern 654 #7,865
1999 modern 640 #8,060
2000 modern 653 #7,913
2001 modern 638 #7,901
2002 modern 666 #7,805
2003 modern 629 #8,020
2004 modern 627 #8,061
2005 modern 633 #7,947
2006 modern 639 #7,911
2007 modern 655 #7,815
2008 modern 632 #8,085
2009 modern 650 #8,073
2010 modern 680 #7,956
2011 modern 664 #8,021
2012 modern 638 #8,175
2013 modern 671 #7,997
2014 modern 666 #8,096
2015 modern 668 #8,009
2016 modern 684 #7,836

Geography

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Where Birkbecks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bongate or Appleby St Michael, Halifax, Bradford, Blackburn and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Annandale West. 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 Bongate or Appleby St Michael Westmorland
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 006 Eden
2 Eden 007 Eden
3 Eden 004 Eden
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 012 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Annandale West Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Birkbeck

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Birkbeck

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Birkbeck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Birkbeck household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Birkbeck is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Birkbeck 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

Birkbeck falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Birkbeck

The surname Birkbeck has its origins in the northern counties of England, specifically Yorkshire and Lancashire, dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from Old English words "birce" meaning birch tree and "bece" meaning a stream or brook, indicating that the name likely originated from someone who lived near a birch tree by a brook.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Willelmus de Birkebec is mentioned. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lancashire in 1212, with a person named Richard de Byrkebeck.

The Birkbeck surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Birckbeck, Birkbeke, Birkbecke, and Birkbecke. The name is believed to have been initially associated with specific locations in Yorkshire and Lancashire, such as Birkbeck Fells and Birkbeck Bank, which were likely named after the family or vice versa.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Birkbeck was Sir William Birkbeck, a prominent landowner and knight from Yorkshire, who lived from 1310 to 1379. Another notable person was John Birkbeck (1460-1523), a wealthy merchant and alderman from Lancashire.

During the 16th century, the Birkbeck family gained prominence in the textile industry, with members such as Thomas Birkbeck (1505-1563) and his son, also named Thomas Birkbeck (1540-1612), establishing successful wool and cloth businesses in Yorkshire.

In the 17th century, George Birkbeck (1615-1684) was a notable figure who served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1665. Another prominent individual was Morris Birkbeck (1652-1724), a Quaker minister and writer from Yorkshire.

The 18th century saw the rise of Dr. George Birkbeck (1776-1841), a pioneering educator who founded the Mechanics' Institute in London, which later became Birkbeck, University of London. He played a significant role in promoting adult education and the dissemination of knowledge among the working classes.

Throughout history, the Birkbeck surname has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, textile manufacturers, educators, and religious figures, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Birkbeck families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birkbeck 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. Yorkshire leads with 196 Birkbecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.62x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 196 4.62x
Durham 62 4.87x
Lancashire 40 0.79x
Westmorland 37 39.32x
Middlesex 18 0.42x
Cheshire 11 1.16x
Norfolk 9 1.37x
Northumberland 8 1.26x
Bedfordshire 7 3.16x
Cumberland 7 1.90x
Monmouthshire 7 2.26x
Suffolk 7 1.34x
Lincolnshire 6 0.88x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.04x
Derbyshire 5 0.75x
Devon 5 0.56x
Hampshire 4 0.46x
Berkshire 1 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.37x
Northamptonshire 1 0.25x
Surrey 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. Horton In Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 29 Birkbecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.76x.

Place Total Index
Horton In Bradford 29 43.76x
North Bierley 25 109.12x
Reeth 16 1523.81x
Sedburgh 11 621.47x
Northowram 10 33.61x
Broughton In Salford 9 19.37x
Melbecks 9 526.32x
Salford 9 6.02x
Stockton On Tees 9 14.66x
Wigglesworth 9 2903.23x
Appleby St Lawrence 8 373.83x
Gateshead 8 8.39x
Higher Bebington 8 132.23x
Newcastle On Tyne St 8 24.22x
Clayton 7 67.37x
Coundon Grange 7 250.00x
Crosby Garrett 7 2121.21x
Hartlepool 7 38.65x
Low Abbotside 7 3684.21x
Shipley 7 31.79x
Trevethin 7 23.95x
Barrow In Furness 6 8.68x
Bedford St Paul 6 39.45x
Bowling 6 14.28x
Brightside Bierlow 6 7.21x
Giggleswick 6 419.58x
Ipswich St Clement 6 45.25x
Liverpool 6 1.94x
Nottingham St Mary 6 4.02x
Shap 6 288.46x
St Giles 6 75.47x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 6 62.31x
Appleby St Michael 5 235.85x
Batley 5 12.40x
Bowes 5 505.05x
Brandon Byshottles 5 31.33x
Cliburn 5 1219.51x
Halifax 5 8.03x
Islington London 5 1.20x
Morton In Keighley 5 150.15x
Southowram 5 38.61x
Stoke Holy Cross 5 819.67x
Helmington Row 4 67.45x
Middlesbrough 4 7.24x
Newbottle 4 57.47x
Poplar London 4 4.95x
Preston 4 2.94x
Tormoham 4 10.60x
Whittington 4 43.10x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.61x
Bradford 3 2.92x
Dovenby 3 909.09x
Hawes 3 108.30x
Holdenhurst 3 13.03x
Kirkby Stephen 3 122.95x
Ormesby 3 26.32x
Penrith 3 22.03x
Skipton 3 22.47x
Clifton 2 344.83x
Crook Billy Row 2 12.26x
Denton 2 17.76x
Houghton Le Spring 2 22.70x
Latchford 2 31.85x
Manningham 2 3.83x
Middlestone 2 78.43x
Pittington 2 55.87x
Runham 2 152.67x
Settle 2 61.54x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.65x
St Marylebone London 2 0.87x
Arkengarthdale 1 68.03x
Bosden 1 34.48x
Catton 1 90.91x
Clerkenwell London 1 0.99x
Denton 1 833.33x
Newchurch 1 2.41x
Reeth Healaugh 1 243.90x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 65.36x
Thornton In Fylde 1 8.99x
Woodbridge 1 14.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 16
Jane 16
Margaret 15
Sarah 15
Ann 11
Martha 10
Isabella 7
Hannah 6
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Alice 4
Catherine 4
Annie 3
Lydia 3
Agnes 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Jesse 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Margt. 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betty 1
Carline 1
Celina 1
Clarinda 1
Cora 1
E. 1
Edna 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
J. 1
Louisa 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
Thomas 27
William 26
George 13
James 13
Joseph 13
Henry 8
Robert 8
Alexander 4
Peter 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Edward 2
Emanuel 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Irving 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Turner 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Allen 1
Anthony 1
C. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Ellis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Geoffrey 1
H.W.J. 1
Herbert 1
Hylbert 1
Jessie 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Martin 1
Miles 1
Nathan 1
Naylor 1
Percy 1
Phineas 1
Richd. 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Birkbeck surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birkbeck surname in 1881?

In 1881, 446 people were recorded with the Birkbeck surname. That placed it at #7,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birkbeck surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 684 in 2016. That gives Birkbeck a modern rank of #7,836.

What does the Birkbeck surname mean?

A place name from a location near a birch tree or birch forest.

What does the Birkbeck map show?

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