BEVERIDGE
Beveridge is an English and Scottish surname that appears in historical documents from the early twelfth century onwards. It is a locational name, originally applied to those who resided near a place called Beverege in the county of Fife, Scotland, and later came to be adopted by families throughout the British Isles.
The earliest known derivation of the name links it to the Old English words beofor meaning *beaver* and ecg meaning *edge* or *ridge*. Consequently the name is thought to describe a person dwelling near a beaver's habitat or a beaver dam. Alternative theories, documented in medieval rolls, identify the surname as a nickname for one who habitually concluded contracts by the traditional drink known as a beivre in Norman French. A third possibility is a locational origin from an island called Beverege in the Severn, which was noted by Florence of Worcester as a Danish retreat in the tenth century.
Evidence of the surname appears as early as 1212 in the Curia Regis Rolls of Buckinghamshire, where a Wido Beverage is recorded. In Scotland the first recognizable spelling is that of Roger Bevedric, who witnessed a charter at Frendraught, Aberdeenshire, in 1296. Additional early witnesses include a William Bevridge christened in 1630 at St. Botolph King’s Gate, London, and a Robert Beuerish listed in the Feet of Fines of Huntingdonshire in 1315.
Over the centuries the name has adopted many spellings, including Baveridge, Beverage, Beverige, Beveridgee, Biverage, Biveridge, Bevierge, Beverydge, Bevridge, Bevridg, and Biverdge. These variants have survived largely unchanged into the present day, testifying to the persistent nature of the surname.
Geographically, the surname remains most common in Scotland, where it is found in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and the Borders town of Jedburgh. The name has also established a significant presence in England, particularly in the north-east, and outside the United Kingdom in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Recent census data indicate concentrations along the east coast of the United States, especially in cities such as Philadelphia, New York, Washington, and Los Angeles, as well as on the Canadian east coast in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.
Notable historical figures bearing the surname include Walter Beverage, a juror at St. Andrews in 1302; David Beverage, cup bearer to King James V in 1530; and Henry Beveridge, a sheriff of Aberdeen recorded in 1368. These individuals demonstrate that the name has long been associated with positions of civic responsibility and in some cases, royal service.
Typical given names associated with the Beveridge surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Robert
- William
Female
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Janet
- Jean
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nikki
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Beveridge in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Beveridge are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Ginger Nut.
There are approximately 4,924 people named Beveridge in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,918th most common surname in Britain. Around 76 in a million people in Britain are named Beveridge.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Beveridge
- William Beveridge - Economist and social reformer (1879 to 1963)
- Graeme Beveridge - Scottish rugby union football player and coach
- Henry Beveridge - Linguist and Indian Civil Service officer (1837 to 1929)
- David Beveridge - Scottish football player (1871 to 1952)
- William Beveridge - Scottish football player (1858 to 1941)
- Bob Beveridge - Cricketer (1909 to 1998)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.