Beswick
A surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller at the bent-ridge meadow" in Old English.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,542 Americans carry the last name Beswick. That puts it at #20,248 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.45 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 222,279 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Beswick 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
1.5K
1 in 222,279
Census rank
#20,248
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,314 bearers of the surname Beswick in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.45 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 20248th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Beswick, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Black (8.3%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Beswick
The surname Beswick has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Beswick, which itself comes from the Old English words "besc" meaning "a bush" and "wic" meaning "a dwelling" or "village." This suggests that the name originated from people who hailed from a settlement or village surrounded by bushes or thickets.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Beswick can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and property values commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this record, the name appears as "Beswic," referring to a place in Staffordshire.
Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, including Beswyke, Besewyke, and Beswicke, before settling into its modern form of Beswick. Some of these variants were influenced by regional dialects and the personal preferences of scribes who recorded the name.
One notable individual bearing the Beswick name was John Beswick (c. 1501–1567), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk. Another was Sir William Beswick (1588–1646), a prominent English soldier and landowner who fought in the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, Thomas Beswick (1740–1832) founded the renowned Beswick Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. This company became renowned for its high-quality ceramics and figurines, particularly those depicting animals and horses.
Moving into the 19th century, we encounter Samuel Beswick (1807–1876), an English industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Manchester.
Finally, in the 20th century, there was Walter Beswick (1900–1988), a British artist known for his landscape paintings and depictions of rural life in England.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the surname Beswick throughout history, showcasing the name's longevity and its deep roots in English heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Beswick
Among Census respondents with the surname Beswick, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Black (8.3%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Beswick 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 Beswick surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.8%
- Black or African American8.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Two or more races1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Beswick 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 | #20,248 | #20,248 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,314 | 1,314 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.45 | 0.45 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Beswick bearers went from 1,314 to 1,314 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #20,248 to #20,248.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Beswick
FAQ
Beswick surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Beswick?
The surname Beswick holds position #20,248 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,542 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.45 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Beswick surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Beswick, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Black (8.3%) and Hispanic (1.8%). 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.