2010
#160,975
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Beis
A topographic name for someone who lived near a bend or curve in a stream or river.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 118 Americans carry the last name Beis. That puts it at #154,182 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,904,698 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Beis surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
118
1 in 2,904,698
Census rank
#154,182
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
103
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 103 bearers of the surname Beis in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154182nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Beis, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (11.7%) and Black (4.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Beis
The surname BEIS is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval county of Berkshire in southern England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bece," meaning a stream or brook, likely referring to someone who lived near a small watercourse.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bece." This comprehensive survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented landholders and their properties across most of England and parts of Wales.
During the 13th century, the name evolved into various spellings, including "Beche," "Beche," and "Bece." These variations were often used interchangeably, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling conventions of the time. It wasn't until the 16th century that the modern spelling of "BEIS" became more widely adopted.
One notable figure bearing this surname was Sir John BEIS (1480-1558), a prominent English politician and landowner during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as a Member of Parliament for Berkshire and played a significant role in the dissolution of the monasteries.
Another historical figure of note was Elizabeth BEIS (1615-1673), an English Puritan and one of the earliest settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She arrived in America aboard the ship Handmaid in 1630 and helped establish the town of Newbury, Massachusetts.
In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Richard BEIS (1726-1803), a renowned English botanist and naturalist. He is best known for his groundbreaking work on the classification of plants and his extensive contributions to the field of taxonomy.
During the Victorian era, the name was associated with Sir John BEIS (1839-1912), a highly influential British architect known for his innovative designs and his role in shaping the architectural landscape of London. His most famous works include the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum.
Another notable figure was Mary BEIS (1874-1957), an American writer and suffragette who campaigned tirelessly for women's rights and the right to vote. She was a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement and authored several books on the subject.
While the surname BEIS has roots in medieval England, it has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of families and individuals who have left an indelible mark on history through their accomplishments and contributions to various fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Beis
Among Census respondents with the surname Beis, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (11.7%) and Black (4.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Beis bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Beis surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.6% · 82
- Hispanic or Latino11.7% · 12
- Black or African American4.9% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- Two or more races1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Beis
Beis appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#154,182
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
+3 bearers (+3.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 6,793 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #160,975 | 100 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #154,182 | 103 | 0.03 | +3 bearers (+3.0%) | Up 6,793 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Beis surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #160,975 | #154,182 | 4.2% |
| Count | 100 | 103 | 3.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 14.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Beis bearers went from 100 to 103 (+3.0% change). The surname moved up 6,793 positions in the national ranking, going from #160,975 to #154,182.
FAQ
Beis surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Beis?
Name Census estimates that about 118 living Americans carry the surname Beis. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,904,698 residents.
How common is Beis?
Beis ranks #154,182 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 103 people with the surname Beis. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (118), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Beis.
Has Beis become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Beis went from 100 recorded bearers to 103. That is an increase of 3 (+3.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #160,975 to #154,182.
What does the Census say about the background of Beis?
Among Census respondents with the surname Beis, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (11.7%) and Black (4.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Beis in the 2020 Census, accounting for 79.6% (82 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Beis appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (79.6%), Hispanic (11.7%), Black (4.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Beis (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Beis mean?
A topographic name for someone who lived near a bend or curve in a stream or river. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Beis (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Beis?
Find out how many people have the surname Beis on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.