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

Beasley, 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 Beasley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beasley in America

Beasley is the 732nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beasley surname appeared 47,693 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 16 people would have the surname Beasley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beasley 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 Beasley

The surname Beasley originated in England, specifically in the county of Derbyshire, during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bæcc" meaning "stream" or "brook" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream in a meadow or clearing.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Beasley dates back to the late 12th century, when it was spelled as "Beckeslea." Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of Beasley. The name can also be found in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Derbyshire from 1273, where it appears as "Bekkesley."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Beasley was John Beasley, who was born around 1450 in Derbyshire. He was mentioned in local records as a landowner and farmer. Another notable figure was William Beasley (1529-1593), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the name Beasley gained recognition through the work of Henry Beasley (1613-1668), an English Puritan minister and author known for his religious writings. His son, also named Henry Beasley (1637-1702), followed in his footsteps and became a Puritan minister as well.

During the 18th century, the Beasley family established themselves as landowners and gentry in various parts of England. One notable member was Sir Jonathan Beasley (1720-1789), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark.

In the 19th century, the name Beasley spread beyond England, with individuals bearing the surname migrating to other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada. One notable figure from this period was Samuel Beasley (1811-1876), an American politician who served as the Mayor of Philadelphia from 1858 to 1859.

Throughout its history, the surname Beasley has been associated with numerous individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, clergymen, merchants, and landowners. While the name originated in a specific region of England, it has since spread globally, reflecting the migration patterns and diverse backgrounds of those who carry it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beasley

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

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

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

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