Find out how popular the last name Beacon is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Beacon.

Beacon, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Beacon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beacon in America

Beacon is the 106096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beacon surname appeared 168 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Beacon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beacon to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Beacon

The surname BEACON is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "bēacen," meaning a signal fire or a guiding light. It likely originated in the Middle Ages, when beacons were used as a communication system along the coastlines and hilltops of England.

The name BEACON is believed to have first appeared in areas where beacons were commonly used, such as coastal regions or strategic hilltops. Some early records suggest that the name may have been adopted by families responsible for maintaining or operating these beacons, or those who lived near prominent beacons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BEACON can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from 1230, where a person named William Beacon is mentioned. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a John Beacon.

In the 14th century, the surname BEACON appears in various manorial records and tax rolls, indicating its gradual spread across different parts of England. For example, the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1348 mention a Thomas Beacon.

Interestingly, the surname BEACON is sometimes found with slight variations in spelling, such as Bekon, Bekyn, or Beacham, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations in record-keeping.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname BEACON include:

1. John Beacon (c. 1520 - c. 1590), an English composer and organist during the Renaissance period.
2. William Beacon (c. 1610 - 1675), a Puritan minister and one of the founders of Stratford, Connecticut.
3. Richard Beacon (1630 - 1711), a prominent merchant and landowner in colonial Virginia.
4. Mary Beacon (1749 - 1810), an English diarist and writer known for her detailed accounts of life in the 18th century.
5. James Beacon (1826 - 1891), a British entrepreneur and industrialist who contributed significantly to the development of the textile industry in Lancashire.

The surname BEACON has persisted through the centuries, and its origins are deeply rooted in the historical significance of beacons as a means of communication and guidance in times of need.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beacon

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Beacon.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Beacon was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Beacon has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Beacon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Beacon, please contact us.

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