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

Beckett, 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 Beckett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beckett in America

Beckett is the 3045th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beckett surname appeared 11,763 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 Beckett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beckett 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 Beckett

The surname Beckett originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bec" meaning a stream or brook, and "hett" meaning a hunting area or wood. This suggests the name may have referred to someone who lived near a stream in a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mention a William Becket. The name also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Becchet" and "Becchett", which were early spellings used in various regions.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various forms such as Becket, Bequet, and Beket in various parts of England, including Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and spelling differences at the time.

One notable figure with the surname Beckett was Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered in 1170 after a dispute with King Henry II. This event brought significant attention to the name and may have contributed to its spread and popularity in subsequent centuries.

Other historical figures with the surname Beckett include Samuel Beckett (1906-1989), the Nobel Prize-winning Irish playwright and novelist known for works such as "Waiting for Godot" and "Endgame". William Beckett (1684-1738) was an English surgeon and anatomist who made significant contributions to the study of embryology.

In the 16th century, the name was also associated with places like Becketts Park in Shropshire and Beckett Street in Bedford, further reinforcing its connection to geographic locations.

Throughout history, the Beckett surname has been found across various regions of England and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including writers, clergymen, and scholars.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beckett

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

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

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

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