Explore the Family Name Beacon
The meaning of Beacon
English (mainly Kent): either from a Middle English female personal name Bekin, a pet form of Beatrice, or a habitational name from one or other of the places described by, or with names deriving from, Middle English beken ‘beacon, signal’ (Old English bēacun), for example Beacon Hill in Bishopstone (Sussex) or Beacon End in Stanway (Essex).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Beacon in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Beacon has been decreasing over time. In 2000, it was ranked as the 80,812th most common surname, with a total count of 218 individuals. However, by 2010, its ranking had fallen to 106,096, and the number of people with this surname had decreased to 168. This represents a decrease in popularity of 31.29% and a reduction in the total count of 22.94%. The proportion of people with the Beacon surname per 100,000 population also fell from 0.08 to 0.06, marking a 25% decrease.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #80,812 | #106,096 | -31.29% |
| Count | 218 | 168 | -22.94% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.08 | 0.06 | -25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Beacon
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the majority of individuals with the Beacon surname identify as White. In both 2000 and 2010, this group made up around 79% of all Beacons. There was a slight decrease from 79.82% in 2000 to 79.17% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Black decreased significantly from 15.14% in 2000 to 11.90% in 2010, a decline of 21.40%. On the other hand, there was an increase in the proportion of Beacons identifying as Hispanic, from 3.67% in 2000 to 5.95% in 2010, which is a substantial increase of 62.13%. There were no recorded Beacons who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79.82% | 79.17% | -0.81% |
| Black | 15.14% | 11.9% | -21.4% |
| Hispanic | 3.67% | 5.95% | 62.13% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |