Beery
Derived from the Middle High German word "bier," referring to a brewer or someone who sells beer.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,976 Americans carry the last name Beery. That puts it at #9,501 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.16 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 86,206 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Beery 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
4.0K
1 in 86,206
Census rank
#9,501
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,421 bearers of the surname Beery in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.16 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9501st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Beery, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Black (2.7%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Beery
The surname Beery has its origins in England and is believed to have originated from the Old English words "bere" meaning barley and "ærn" meaning a place or house. This suggests that the name may have referred to a place where barley was grown or stored.
The earliest known record of the name Beery dates back to the 13th century in the county of Somerset, England. In the Pipe Rolls of 1230, a Richard de la Berye is mentioned, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name.
By the 14th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, with records indicating a John Bery in Cambridgeshire in 1327 and a William Bery in Oxfordshire in 1379. These variations in spelling were common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.
The name Beery can also be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landholders in England after the Norman Conquest. An entry for a place called "Berie" in Gloucestershire is believed to be related to the surname.
One notable figure with the surname Beery was Sir John Beery (1530-1601), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his philanthropic work and endowed several charitable institutions.
Another prominent individual was Reverend Josiah Beery (1678-1743), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Waltham St. Lawrence in Berkshire. He published several religious works during his lifetime.
In the 19th century, the surname Beery was also found in Scotland, with records indicating a William Beery born in Glasgow in 1823. This may suggest that some branches of the Beery family had migrated from England to Scotland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Beery in the United States was that of Jacob Beery, who arrived in Pennsylvania from Germany in 1749. This could indicate that the name may have had some German roots or that it was adopted by German immigrants.
William Beery (1838-1914), a Union Army veteran of the American Civil War and later a prominent businessman in Ohio, is another noteworthy figure with this surname.
While the surname Beery is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, with possible connections to places associated with barley cultivation and storage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Beery
Among Census respondents with the surname Beery, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Black (2.7%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Beery 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 Beery surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.4%
- Black or African American2.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Beery 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 | #9,501 | #9,501 | 0.0% |
| Count | 3,421 | 3,421 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.16 | 1.16 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Beery bearers went from 3,421 to 3,421 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #9,501 to #9,501.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Beery
FAQ
Beery surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Beery?
The surname Beery holds position #9,501 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,976 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.16 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Beery surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Beery, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Black (2.7%) and Hispanic (1.9%). 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.