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

Beight, 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 Beight surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beight in America

Beight is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beight surname appeared 179 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 Beight.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beight 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 Beight

The surname Beight is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the Old English word "bealu" or "balu," which means "evil" or "misery." This surname was likely given to someone who lived near a place associated with hardship or difficult conditions.

The earliest known record of the name Beight can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire from the year 1198, where it appears as "Ricard de Bealue." This suggests that the name was initially spelled differently and evolved over time.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire as "Bealu," further indicating its connection to the Old English word "bealu." This spelling variation highlights the name's evolution throughout history.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Beight was Sir Thomas Beight, a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry from Yorkshire, who lived during the 16th century. He played a significant role in the local community and left a lasting legacy through his philanthropic efforts.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Beight, born in 1625 in Gloucestershire. She was a prominent figure in the local parish and is recorded in the parish registers for her contributions to the community.

In the 18th century, a man named John Beight made his mark as a successful merchant in London. Records from the period mention his involvement in international trade and his significant wealth.

The surname Beight also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which is a valuable historical record of landowners and tenants in Norman England. This early mention further solidifies the name's English origins and its presence in the country during the Middle Ages.

Additionally, the name Beight has connections to various place names in England, such as Beighton in Derbyshire and Beighton in Norfolk. These place names likely influenced the formation of the surname or were influenced by individuals bearing the name who resided in those areas.

Throughout its history, the surname Beight has had several spelling variations, including Beight, Bight, Beight, and Beyght, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the influence of regional dialects.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beight

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!