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

Beda, 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 Beda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beda in America

Beda is the 66553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beda surname appeared 297 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 Beda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beda 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 Beda

The surname BEDA has its origins in medieval England, with records dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "bede," which means prayer or prayer-book. It was likely initially given as a descriptive surname to someone associated with prayer books or religious services.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BEDA surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, where a person named Robert Bede is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list individuals with the surname BEDA, such as Roger Bede from Oxfordshire.

Interestingly, the BEDA surname has a connection to the famous Venerable Bede, an English monk and scholar who lived from 672 to 735 AD. Although not directly related, it is possible that some individuals with the BEDA surname may have adopted it as a way to honor or associate themselves with the renowned scholar.

In the 13th century, the BEDA surname can be found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. Records from this period also show variations in spelling, such as Bede, Bedde, and Beade.

One notable individual bearing the BEDA surname was John Bede, a 14th-century English theologian and philosopher who was born in Hartlepool around 1290. He is known for his works on logic and metaphysics.

Another prominent figure with the BEDA surname was Nicholas Beda, a 16th-century French theologian and humanist who lived from 1470 to 1537. He was a staunch opponent of the Protestant Reformation and played a role in the condemnation of Martin Luther.

In the 17th century, the BEDA surname can be found in various records, including the Essex Parish Registers, which mention individuals such as William Beda, who was baptized in 1611 in Halstead, Essex.

During the 18th century, the BEDA surname spread to other parts of the world, including North America, where individuals like Joseph Beda, born in 1762 in Pennsylvania, can be found in historical records.

Throughout history, the BEDA surname has been associated with various professions, including religious scholars, philosophers, and theologians, reflecting its roots in the religious and scholarly realms of medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beda

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

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

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

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