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

Beckam, 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 Beckam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beckam in America

Beckam is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beckam surname appeared 113 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Beckam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beckam 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 Beckam

The surname Beckam is of English origin, originating from the medieval times around the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "beocc" and "ham," meaning "stream" and "homestead" or "village," respectively. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or brook.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Beckam can be traced back to various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Some of the earliest known bearers of the surname include John de Beckham, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1202, and Walter de Bekham, recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1240.

Over time, the surname underwent various spelling variations, including Beckham, Beckem, and Beckom, reflecting the regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during the Middle Ages. It's worth noting that the name Beckam shares similarities with the place name Beckenham, a town in Kent, which may have influenced the surname's evolution.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Beckam was Sir Richard Beckam (1512-1577), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was John Beckam (1633-1701), a Puritan minister and author from Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In the 17th century, the Beckam family had a presence in the Virginia Colony, with records indicating that John Beckam arrived in the colony in 1635. This branch of the family later settled in various parts of the American colonies and contributed to the spread of the surname across the United States.

Other notable bearers of the surname Beckam include:

1. William Beckam (1786-1864), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.
2. Mary Beckam (1845-1922), an American educator and advocate for women's rights, known for her work in establishing educational opportunities for women in the Midwest.
3. Thomas Beckam (1871-1949), a Scottish-born American industrialist and philanthropist, who co-founded the Beckam Steel Company in Pittsburgh.
4. Ethel Beckam (1892-1972), a British author and poet, renowned for her works exploring the themes of nature and rural life.
5. Arthur Beckam (1920-2005), a Canadian artist and sculptor, known for his abstract and modernist works, many of which are displayed in public spaces across Canada.

The surname Beckam has a rich history, tracing its roots back to medieval England and spanning across various regions and continents, leaving a lasting legacy in diverse fields such as politics, religion, literature, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beckam

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

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

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

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