Beachy
Derived from a place name referring to someone living near a beach or on a shingle embankment.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,930 Americans carry the last name Beachy. That puts it at #6,636 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.73 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 57,800 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Beachy surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.9K
1 in 57,800
Census rank
#6,636
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,102 bearers of the surname Beachy in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.73 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6636th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Beachy, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.7%) and Two or More Races (0.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Beachy
The surname "Beachy" is believed to have originated in England, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "bece," meaning "stream" or "brook," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to individuals who lived near a small watercourse.
One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1195, where it appears as "de Beche." This early spelling variation indicates that the name may have evolved from a place name, possibly a location near a stream or brook.
As the name spread across England, it underwent various transformations in spelling and pronunciation. Records from the 13th and 14th centuries reveal alternate spellings such as "Bechey," "Bechy," and "Beachey," reflecting the regional dialects and scribal interpretations of the time.
In the 16th century, the surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, where a John Beachy is listed as a landowner in 1524. This record provides evidence of the name's continued presence and its gradual evolution towards the modern spelling.
Notable historical figures bearing the surname "Beachy" include:
1. Sir William Beachy (c. 1620-1670), an English naval officer who served during the Anglo-Dutch Wars and was knighted for his service.
2. Robert Beachy (1642-1720), a Quaker preacher and writer from Pennsylvania, known for his religious works and advocacy for pacifism.
3. Theodosia Beachy (1785-1867), an abolitionist and women's rights activist from Massachusetts, who campaigned against slavery and supported equal rights for women.
4. Ephraim Beachy (1803-1872), a farmer and community leader in Ohio, who helped establish one of the first Amish settlements in the state.
5. Susannah Beachy (1832-1911), a prominent educator and advocate for women's education in Indiana, who founded several schools for girls in the late 19th century.
While the surname "Beachy" is not among the most common in historical records, its presence can be traced back several centuries, with its origins linked to the English countryside and the naming conventions related to geographic features such as streams and brooks.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Beachy
Among Census respondents with the surname Beachy, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.7%) and Two or More Races (0.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Beachy bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Beachy surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.1%
- Hispanic or Latino0.7%
- Two or more races0.6%
- Black or African American0.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Beachy surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,538 | #6,636 | 12.0% |
| Count | 4,069 | 5,102 | 25.4% |
| Per 100K | 1.51 | 1.73 | 14.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Beachy bearers went from 4,069 to 5,102 (+25.4% change). The surname moved up 902 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,538 to #6,636.
FAQ
Beachy surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Beachy?
The surname Beachy holds position #6,636 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,930 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.73 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Beachy surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Beachy, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.7%) and Two or More Races (0.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.