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

Beatty, 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 Beatty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beatty in America

Beatty is the 1389th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beatty surname appeared 25,510 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Beatty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beatty 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 Beatty

The surname Beatty has its origins in the French language and is believed to have been derived from the word "beau," meaning beautiful or handsome. It is thought to have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was considered particularly good-looking.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century in northern France, where it appeared in various forms such as Beau, Beaut, and Beaty. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Beatty.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert le Beau, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. His name is mentioned in the famous Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William I in 1086.

In the 13th century, the name Beatty was associated with several place names in France, such as Beaumont (beautiful mountain) and Beauvoir (beautiful view). This suggests that some individuals with the surname may have taken their name from the location where they lived or held land.

As the name spread across Europe, it gained prominence in Scotland, where it was introduced by Norman settlers during the Middle Ages. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was James Beatty, a 16th-century clergyman and reformer who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation.

In the 17th century, the Beatty family established themselves in County Antrim, Ireland, and became prominent landowners and industrialists. Sir Samuel Beatty (1686-1766) was a successful linen merchant and politician who served as the High Sheriff of Antrim.

Other notable individuals with the surname Beatty include:

1. David Beatty (1871-1936), a British admiral who commanded the British battlecruisers at the Battle of Jutland during World War I.
2. Clyde Beatty (1903-1965), an American animal trainer and circus performer known for his daring acts with lions and tigers.
3. Warren Beatty (born 1937), an acclaimed American actor, director, and writer best known for films such as "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Reds."
4. Ned Beatty (1937-2021), an American actor renowned for his roles in films like "Deliverance," "Network," and "Superman."
5. Talbert O. Beatty (1913-1992), an American lawyer and civil rights activist who played a pivotal role in the desegregation of public schools in the United States.

The surname Beatty has a rich history spanning centuries and multiple countries, reflecting its French origins and the migration of its bearers across Europe and beyond. Despite its diverse geographic spread, the name has maintained a connection to its roots, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beatty

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!