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

Beakley, 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 Beakley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beakley in America

Beakley is the 67747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beakley surname appeared 291 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 Beakley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beakley 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 Beakley

The surname Beakley is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "beak" or "becc," referring to a prominent facial feature or a ridge of land resembling a beak. The name was likely initially a descriptive nickname or a locational name for someone living near such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where it appears as "Bekky." This historical record was a survey of landowners in England, suggesting the Beakley family may have held property during that era.

In the late 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Bekley" and "Bekeleye," in records from Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. These variations demonstrate the fluid nature of surnames during that time, with spelling often reflecting regional dialects and the scribe's interpretation.

The earliest recorded individual with the Beakley surname is John Bekley, who lived in Oxfordshire in the late 1300s. Another notable figure was William Beakley, born in 1578 in Buckinghamshire, who served as a yeoman farmer and is mentioned in parish records of the time.

The Beakley name also has connections to place names, such as the village of Beckley in Oxfordshire, which may have influenced the surname's evolution. This village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, further emphasizing the name's ancient roots.

Throughout history, several individuals with the Beakley surname have left their mark. One such person was Thomas Beakley, born in 1612 in Gloucestershire, who was a prominent merchant and landowner. Another notable figure was Mary Beakley (1642-1718), a respected midwife and herbalist from Warwickshire.

In the 18th century, John Beakley (1723-1798) gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker in London, while his contemporary, Samuel Beakley (1728-1805), was a well-known engraver and illustrator whose works adorned many literary publications of the time.

The 19th century saw the birth of Elizabeth Beakley (1815-1897), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, who established one of the first schools for girls in Yorkshire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beakley

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

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 Beakley 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 Beakley 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 Beakley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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