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

Bealer, 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 Bealer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bealer in America

Bealer is the 16087th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bealer surname appeared 1,800 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bealer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bealer 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 Bealer

The surname Bealer is believed to have originated in Germany, derived from the Old German word "bihil," meaning "a pear tree." It is thought to have initially been used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a pear orchard or a prominent pear tree.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the German town of Worms, where a certain Hermann Bihelaere is mentioned in a document from the year 1285. This early spelling variation further supports the connection to the German word "bihil."

In the 14th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of Europe, including England, where it was anglicized to its current spelling of "Bealer." The earliest known record of the name in England dates back to 1327, when a Robert Belere is listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire.

During the Middle Ages, the Bealer name was also associated with several place names in England, such as Bealer's Green in Hertfordshire and Bealer's Farm in Surrey. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Bealer who owned or resided in those areas.

One notable individual bearing the Bealer surname was Sir John Bealer (1545-1628), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in the early 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Johann Bealer (1623-1697), a German composer and organist who was renowned for his contributions to the development of Protestant church music in the late Baroque period.

In the 18th century, the Bealer name gained prominence in America, where several individuals with this surname played important roles in the American Revolutionary War. Benjamin Bealer (1734-1818), a Pennsylvania militia officer, fought in the Battle of Germantown and later served as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Other notable individuals include John Bealer (1768-1846), an American painter and engraver who was known for his portraits of prominent figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and William Bealer (1810-1892), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War who received the brevet rank of Brigadier General for his service.

Throughout its history, the surname Bealer has maintained a connection to its German roots, even as it spread across various regions and countries over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bealer

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

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

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

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