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

Beckles, 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 Beckles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beckles in America

Beckles is the 17111th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beckles surname appeared 1,658 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Beckles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beckles 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 Beckles

The surname Beckles is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "bece," meaning a stream or brook, and the suffix "-ley," which means a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the name likely referred to a person who lived near a small stream or brook in a clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded the name as "de Beckeleg." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that time, as they were often adapted based on local dialects or individual preferences.

The Beckles name has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in the counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire, where the name is believed to have originated. Some notable early bearers of the name include John de Beckeles, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292, and William de Beckeleye, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Beckles surname gained prominence, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was Richard Beckles, a renowned English author and clergyman who lived from 1579 to 1661. He is best known for his work "A Discourse of the Philosophy of the Ancients" published in 1620.

Another notable bearer of the Beckles surname was Sir Reginald Beckles, a prominent English politician and landowner who lived from 1616 to 1676. He served as a Member of Parliament and played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Royalist cause.

In the 18th century, the Beckles surname continued to be associated with influential individuals. Sir Thomas Beckles, born in 1726 and died in 1809, was a British naval officer who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most notable figures with the Beckles surname was Samuel Husbands Beckles, born in 1789 and died in 1854. He was a renowned English historian and author who wrote extensively about the history of Devon and Cornwall, where he lived and worked.

Throughout its history, the Beckles surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including authors, politicians, military officers, and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the global reach of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beckles

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

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

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

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