NameCensus.

UK surname

Byan

A surname derived from the French word 'beau', meaning handsome or beautiful.

In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Byan surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #30,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Byan is 108 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.0%.

1881 census count

25

Ranked #30,077

Modern count

2

2016, ranked #38,825

Peak year

1851

108 bearers

Map years

1

1851 to 1851

Key insights

  • Byan had 25 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016, ranked #38,825.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 108 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

Byan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Byan surname density by area, 1851 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Byan 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 108 #16,308
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 25 #30,077
1891 historical 33 #31,681
1901 historical 49 #28,696
1911 historical 32 #29,838
1997 modern 20 #35,809
1998 modern 12 #36,790
1999 modern 13 #36,693
2000 modern 10 #37,001
2001 modern 5 #37,652
2002 modern 4 #37,921
2003 modern 3 #38,198
2004 modern 1 #38,771
2005 modern 4 #38,078
2006 modern 2 #38,590
2007 modern 2 #38,617
2008 modern 3 #38,396
2009 modern 3 #38,494
2010 modern 4 #38,371
2011 modern 4 #38,338
2012 modern 2 #38,754
2013 modern 2 #38,761
2014 modern 2 #38,791
2015 modern 2 #38,793
2016 modern 2 #38,825

Geography

Back to top

Where Byans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Edinburgh, Manchester, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. 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.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Byan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Byan

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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the Byan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Byan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Byan 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

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Byan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Unknown

This describes the area pattern most associated with Byan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Byan

The surname BYAN is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have originated in the Yorkshire region of England, where it was likely derived from the Old English byge, meaning "to buy or purchase." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have been involved in trade or commerce.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BYAN surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dating back to 1179, where a William Byan is mentioned. This suggests that the surname had already become established in the region by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the BYAN name appears to have spread to other parts of England. The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, compiled in 1273, include a reference to a Richard Byan, indicating that the surname had reached the southern parts of the country by that time.

The BYAN surname is also found in various historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries. For instance, the Patent Rolls of 1372 mention a John Byan, while the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1428 include a record of a Thomas Byan.

One notable figure with the BYAN surname was Sir John Byan, a 15th-century English knight and landowner. Born around 1420, he served as a member of Parliament for Lincolnshire and was knighted by King Henry VI in 1445.

Another individual of historical significance was William Byan, a 16th-century clergyman and author. Born in 1540, he served as the Rector of Wiston in Sussex and published several religious works, including a treatise on the Lord's Prayer in 1583.

In the 17th century, the BYAN surname continued to be present in various records. The Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674 mention a Robert Byan residing in Yorkshire, while the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire include entries for the baptisms and marriages of several individuals with the BYAN surname in the late 1600s.

The 18th century saw the BYAN name appearing in various parish records and census documents across England. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Byan, a prominent merchant and landowner born in 1725 in Oxfordshire.

In the 19th century, the BYAN surname remained prevalent in England, with several individuals bearing the name achieving notable accomplishments. Among them was John Byan, a renowned architect born in 1810 in London, who designed several churches and public buildings in the city.

Throughout its history, the BYAN surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Byan, Byen, Biene, and Bine. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the spelling preferences of clerks and scribes who recorded the name in official documents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Byan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Byan 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. Durham leads with 6 Byans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.28x.

County Total Index
Durham 6 8.28x
Middlesex 6 2.46x
Surrey 6 5.05x
Worcestershire 2 6.29x
Cheshire 1 1.86x
Glamorgan 1 2.36x
Gloucestershire 1 2.09x
Midlothian 1 3.06x
Yorkshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crook Billy Row in Durham leads with 6 Byans recorded in 1881 and an index of 645.16x.

Place Total Index
Crook Billy Row 6 645.16x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 122.45x
Westminster St Margaret 3 254.24x
Dudley 2 51.68x
Acton 1 69.93x
Cardiff St John 1 71.94x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 7.62x
Greasby 1 5000.00x
Hornsey 1 32.47x
Middlesbrough 1 31.85x
St Marylebone London 1 7.69x
Stratton 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Elizth. 1
Jane 1
Margaret 1
Sabina 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 3
Charles 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Byan households.

FAQ

Byan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Byan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Byan surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Byan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Byan a modern rank of #38,825.

What does the Byan surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word 'beau', meaning handsome or beautiful.

What does the Byan map show?

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