Bedingfield
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the open field of a man named Beda."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,337 Americans carry the last name Bedingfield. That puts it at #22,592 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.39 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 256,361 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bedingfield surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.3K
1 in 256,361
Census rank
#22,592
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,137 bearers of the surname Bedingfield in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.39 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 22592nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bedingfield, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Black (2.9%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bedingfield
The surname Bedingfield has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the villages of Bedingfield in Suffolk and Norfolk. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "bede," meaning prayer or petition, and "feld," meaning field, suggesting a connection to a field where religious services or prayers were held.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bedingefella." This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.
The Bedingfield family held significant influence and land in Suffolk during the Middle Ages. One notable member was Sir Thomas Bedingfield (c. 1420-1492), who served as a knight and member of Parliament during the Wars of the Roses. He was a staunch supporter of the House of York and fought alongside Edward IV at the Battle of Towton in 1461.
Another prominent figure was Sir Henry Bedingfield (c. 1517-1583), who served as a courtier and jailer to Mary, Queen of Scots during her imprisonment. He was tasked with guarding the Scottish queen at various locations, including Tutbury Castle and Chartley Hall.
In the 17th century, Sir Thomas Bedingfield (c. 1620-1692) was a Catholic loyalist who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War. He was eventually captured and imprisoned for his allegiance to the royalist cause.
The name Bedingfield also has links to the village of Oxborough in Norfolk, where the Bedingfeld family constructed the impressive Oxburgh Hall in the 15th century. This moated manor house remains one of the finest examples of late medieval architecture in England.
Another notable figure was Sir Robert Bedingfeld (c. 1600-1662), a Member of Parliament and ardent supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. He was a member of the High Court of Justice that tried and convicted King Charles I.
Throughout its history, the Bedingfield surname has been associated with various spellings, including Bedingfeld, Bedingfelde, and Bedingfild, reflecting regional variations and changes in orthography over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bedingfield
Among Census respondents with the surname Bedingfield, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Black (2.9%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Bedingfield bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bedingfield surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.0%
- Black or African American2.9%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
- Two or more races1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bedingfield surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,592 | #22,592 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,137 | 1,137 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.39 | 0.39 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bedingfield bearers went from 1,137 to 1,137 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #22,592 to #22,592.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bedingfield
FAQ
Bedingfield surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bedingfield?
The surname Bedingfield holds position #22,592 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,337 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.39 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bedingfield surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bedingfield, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Black (2.9%) and Hispanic (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.