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

Beattie, 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 Beattie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beattie in America

Beattie is the 3955th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beattie surname appeared 8,993 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Beattie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beattie 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 Beattie

The surname Beattie is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Bèathaidh" or "Bèataidh," which means "life" or "lively." This name can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Ayrshire, Scotland.

The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after the Scottish Wars of Independence. This record lists a person named "Johannes de Bety."

Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, including Bety, Batie, and Beattie. The latter spelling became the most common variation and is believed to have emerged in the 15th century.

One notable historical figure with this surname was John Beattie (1616-1653), a Scottish minister and theologian who was a member of the Westminster Assembly, a influential body that shaped the doctrine and practices of the Church of Scotland.

In the 17th century, the Beattie family held lands in the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire. A prominent member from this time was Robert Beattie (1642-1708), a Scottish minister and writer who authored several theological works.

During the 18th century, the Beatties were well-established landowners in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. James Beattie (1735-1803), a renowned Scottish poet and philosopher, was born in Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire. His works, such as "The Minstrel," gained him widespread recognition.

Another notable figure with this surname was William Beattie (1793-1875), a Scottish physician and writer who served as the personal physician to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. He wrote several medical treatises and was appointed the Queen's Household Physician.

In the 19th century, James Beattie (1810-1890) was a renowned Scottish architect responsible for designing numerous churches, schools, and public buildings throughout Scotland, including the United Presbyterian Church in Edinburgh.

The Beattie surname has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. Over time, it has been associated with various notable individuals, including ministers, writers, philosophers, physicians, and architects, reflecting the diverse contributions of those bearing this name to Scottish society and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beattie

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

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

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

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