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

Beaty, 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 Beaty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beaty in America

Beaty is the 2800th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beaty surname appeared 12,869 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Beaty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beaty 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 Beaty

The surname Beaty has its roots in medieval England, originating from the Anglo-Norman French word "beau," meaning "beautiful" or "fair." This name likely referred to an individual with a particularly attractive or striking appearance, reflecting the importance placed on physical beauty during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Beaty can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I. This document mentions a certain Robert le Beau, which is believed to be an early variant of the modern spelling.

Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Beaw, Beaue, and Beau. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

A notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir John Beaty (c. 1390-1458), a prominent English military commander who served during the latter stages of the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his valor and leadership on the battlefield and is mentioned in several contemporary chronicles.

Another individual of note was William Beaty (c. 1510-1583), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and is believed to have been acquainted with the famous playwright's family.

In the 16th century, the surname Beaty began to appear in parish records and other official documents across various regions of England, indicating its widespread distribution. One such example is the baptismal record of Elizabeth Beaty in the village of Wootton, Oxfordshire, in 1587.

As the surname spread and evolved over the centuries, it also developed localized variations and associations with specific geographic areas. For instance, in the Scottish Borders region, the variant spelling "Beatty" became more prevalent, reflecting the influence of local dialects and pronunciations.

Other notable individuals bearing the Beaty surname include Sir William Beaty (1784-1868), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars, and Sir Hugh Beatty (1855-1934), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to healthcare and education in his native Glasgow.

While the surname Beaty has its roots in medieval England, it has since become a global name, with descendants and bearers found in various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and beyond. Its journey through history reflects the rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped the evolution of surnames over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beaty

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

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

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

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