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

Beigh, 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 Beigh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beigh in America

Beigh is the 95115th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beigh surname appeared 192 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 Beigh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beigh 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 Beigh

The surname Beigh is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bece," which means "stream" or "brook," indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a small watercourse.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Beigh can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1379, where a certain John de Beke is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Beke," further supports the theory that the name originated from the Old English word for a small stream.

In the 15th century, the Beigh surname appeared in various historical records, including the Court Rolls of Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable example is William Beigh, who was listed as a landowner in the village of Clitheroe, Lancashire, in 1482.

The surname Beigh has also been associated with several place names in the northern counties of England. For instance, the village of Beighton in Derbyshire is believed to have derived its name from the Old English words "bece" and "tun," meaning "brook settlement."

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Beigh. One such person was Sir John Beigh (1548-1625), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was Reverend Thomas Beigh (1672-1741), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Southill, Bedfordshire. His literary works included religious pamphlets and sermons published in the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, Joseph Beigh (1806-1878) was a well-known English industrialist and engineer who played a significant role in the development of the railway system in Yorkshire. He was also involved in the construction of several bridges and viaducts in the region.

Moving into the 20th century, Sir Edward Beigh (1901-1983) was a distinguished British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to France from 1958 to 1962. He was knighted for his contributions to international relations and diplomacy.

Finally, one cannot overlook the legacy of Robert Beigh (1920-2005), a renowned English architect who was responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London, including the Barbican Centre and the National Theatre.

While the surname Beigh may not be as widely known as some other English surnames, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the northern counties of England, with connections to various historical figures and places throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beigh

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

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

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

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