Findings are based on information from the 1851 census: selecting only men who were born 1740-1820, and who were living in Bedfordshire in 1851. Total number of individuals included is 20 066.

The five most common names were:

William 19.6% John 16.8% Thomas 12.0% James 10.1% George 6.3%

Over half of the men were called William, John, Thomas or James.

Over two-thirds of the men were called William, John, Thomas, James, George or Joseph.

3.0% (597) of the men had unusual names--those which were shared by 5 or fewer individuals. A handful of these appeared to be foreign immigrant names (Johannes, Francois), or women who had accidently been marked as male on the census return (Catherine, Fanny).

<table a, b, c> a/10: b: Names c: Percentage b: William c: 19.6% b: John c: 16.8% b: Thomas c: 12.0% b: James c: 10.1% b: George; Joseph c: 12.1% b: Samuel; Richard; Charles; Robert; Henry c: 12.8% b: Edward; Daniel; David; Benjamin; Jonathan; Francis; Isaac; Matthew; Mary; Abraham; Frederick; Elizabeth; Ann c: 8.0% b: Peter; Steven; Phillip; Edmund; Jeremiah; Jesse; Jacob; Sarah; Ebenezer; Alfred; Mark; Michael; Nathanial; Joel; Joshua; Job; Levi; Stephen; Soloman; Eli; Timothy; Christopher; Reuben; Jabez; Abel; Alexander; Amos; Jaspar; Hugh; Luke; Josiah; Martha; Hannah; Ambrose; Simon; Lewis; Walter; Barnard; Jane; Jonas; Ephraim; Laurence; Edwin; Andrew; Rebecca; Humphrey; Eliza; Sophia; Bartholomew; Leonard; Caleb; Allen; Ezekiel; Anthony; Norman; Aaron; Martin; Ruben; Gabriel; Oliver; Cornelius; Maria; Moses; Sam; Arthur; Dennis; Elijha; Simeon; Elisha; Enoch c: 5.6% b: shared by 5 people or fewer c: 3.0% ----

All names, ranked with the most popular first.

<table a, b, c, d, e, f/tot> a: Names \ year born b: 1740-1759 c: 1760-1779 d: 1780-1799 e: 1800-1820 f: Total a: William b: 2 c: 272 d: 1199 e: 2467 f: 3940 a: John b: 1 c: 240 d: 1078 e: 2046 f: 3365 a: Thomas b: 1 c: 184 d: 749 e: 1472 f: 2406 a: James b: 1 c: 104 d: 575 e: 1352 f: 2032 a: George b: 1 c: 43 d: 307 e: 914 f: 1265 a: Joseph b: - c: 58 d: 343 e: 769 f: 1170 a: Samuel b: - c: 37 d: 232 e: 465 f: 734 a: Richard b: - c: 44 d: 163 e: 301 f: 508 a: Charles b: - c: 11 d: 90 e: 368 f: 469 a: Robert b: - c: 27 d: 129 e: 284 f: 440 a: Henry b: - c: 12 d: 105 e: 299 f: 416 a: Edward b: 1 c: 33 d: 108 e: 224 f: 366 a: Daniel b: 1 c: 13 d: 52 e: 104 f: 170 a: David b: - c: 9 d: 37 e: 122 f: 168 a: Benjamin b: - c: 9 d: 50 e: 108 f: 167 a: Jonathan b: 1 c: 8 d: 34 e: 77 f: 120 a: Francis b: - c: 6 d: 40 e: 71 f: 117 a: Isaac b: - c: 5 d: 23 e: 66 f: 94 a: Matthew b: - c: 4 d: 20 e: 57 f: 81 a: Mary b: - c: 8 d: 33 e: 30 f: 71 a: Abraham b: 1 c: 4 d: 14 e: 48 f: 67 a: Frederick b: - c: 2 d: 6 e: 59 f: 67 a: Elizabeth b: - c: 10 d: 33 e: 23 f: 66 a: Ann b: - c: 8 d: 25 e: 17 f: 50 a: Peter b: - c: 2 d: 9 e: 35 f: 46 a: Steven b: - c: 8 d: - e: 37 f: 45 a: Phillip b: - c: 2 d: 19 e: 23 f: 44 a: Edmund b: - c: - d: 11 e: 32 f: 43 a: Jeremiah b: - c: 1 d: 15 e: 24 f: 40 a: Jesse b: - c: - d: 9 e: 29 f: 38 a: Jacob b: - c: 1 d: 13 e: 23 f: 37 a: Sarah b: - c: 3 d: 16 e: 14 f: 33 a: Ebenezer b: - c: - d: 3 e: 26 f: 29 a: Alfred b: - c: - d: 2 e: 25 f: 27 a: Mark b: - c: - d: 9 e: 16 f: 25 a: Michael b: - c: 3 d: 10 e: 11 f: 24 a: Nathanial b: - c: 2 d: 7 e: 14 f: 23 a: Joel b: - c: - d: 3 e: 19 f: 22 a: Joshua b: - c: 1 d: 5 e: 15 f: 21 a: Job b: - c: 3 d: 1 e: 16 f: 20 a: Levi b: - c: - d: 2 e: 18 f: 20 a: Stephen b: - c: - d: 20 e: - f: 20 a: Soloman b: - c: 1 d: 9 e: 9 f: 19 a: Eli b: - c: - d: 4 e: 15 f: 19 a: Timothy b: - c: 3 d: 6 e: 9 f: 18 a: Christopher b: - c: 1 d: 4 e: 13 f: 18 a: Reuben b: - c: - d: 5 e: 13 f: 18 a: Jabez b: - c: - d: 3 e: 15 f: 18 a: Abel b: - c: - d: 2 e: 16 f: 18 a: Alexander b: - c: 1 d: 2 e: 14 f: 17 a: Amos b: 1 c: 1 d: 1 e: 14 f: 17 a: Jaspar b: - c: 1 d: - e: 15 f: 16 a: Hugh b: - c: - d: 9 e: 6 f: 15 a: Luke b: - c: - d: 6 e: 9 f: 15 a: Josiah b: - c: - d: 2 e: 12 f: 14 a: Martha b: - c: 2 d: 6 e: 5 f: 13 a: Hannah b: - c: - d: 6 e: 7 f: 13 a: Ambrose b: - c: 3 d: 2 e: 8 f: 13 a: Simon b: - c: 1 d: 4 e: 8 f: 13 a: Lewis b: - c: 1 d: 3 e: 9 f: 13 a: Walter b: - c: - d: 2 e: 11 f: 13 a: Jane; Jonas b: - c: 2 d: 1 e: 9 f: 2 x 12 a: Barnard b: - c: 1 d: 3 e: 8 f: 12 a: Ephraim b: - c: - d: 1 e: 11 f: 12 a: Laurence b: - c: - d: 5 e: 6 f: 11 a: Edwin b: - c: - d: 2 e: 9 f: 11 a: Andrew b: - c: - d: 5 e: 5 f: 10 a: Rebecca b: - c: 3 d: 2 e: 4 f: 9 a: Humphrey b: - c: 2 d: - e: 7 f: 9 a: Eliza b: - c: 1 d: - e: 8 f: 9 a: Sophia b: - c: 1 d: 4 e: 3 f: 8 a: Bartholomew b: - c: 1 d: 3 e: 4 f: 8 a: Leonard b: - c: 2 d: 1 e: 5 f: 8 a: Caleb b: - c: 1 d: 1 e: 6 f: 8 a: Allen b: - c: - d: 1 e: 7 f: 8 a: Martin; Ruben b: - c: - d: 2 e: 5 f: 2 x 7 a: Oliver b: - c: - d: - e: 7 f: 7 a: Gabriel b: - c: - d: 1 e: 6 f: 7 a: Aaron b: - c: 1 d: 1 e: 5 f: 7 a: Anthony b: - c: - d: 3 e: 4 f: 7 a: Norman b: - c: 1 d: 2 e: 4 f: 7 a: Ezekiel b: - c: 1 d: 3 e: 3 f: 7 a: Cornelius; Maria; Sam b: - c: - d: 3 e: 3 f: 3 x 6 a: Dennis; Elijha; Simeon b: - c: - d: 1 e: 5 f: 3 x 6 a: Elisha; Enoch b: - c: - d: - e: 6 f: 2 x 6 a: Arthur b: - c: 1 d: 1 e: 4 f: 6 a: Moses b: - c: 1 d: 2 e: 3 f: 6 a: Adam; Catherine; Janes b: - c: - d: 2 e: 3 f: 3 x 5 a: Elias; Jeffery; Owen b: - c: - d: 1 e: 4 f: 3 x 5 a: Fred; Titus b: - c: - d: - e: 5 f: 2 x 5 a: Giles; Roger b: - c: 1 d: 1 e: 3 f: 2 x 5 a: Nicholas b: - c: 2 d: 1 e: 2 f: 5 a: Patrick b: - c: 1 d: - e: 4 f: 5 a: Josh b: - c: - d: 5 e: - f: 5 a: Ezra; Harry; Shadrack;Vincent b: - c: - d: - e: 4 f: 4 x 4 a: Bennet; Noah; Valentine b: - c: 1 d: - e: 3 f: 3 x 4 a: Austin; Caroline b: - c: - d: 2 e: 2 f: 2 x 4 a: Fanny; Jonah b: - c: - d: 1 e: 3 f: 2 x 4 a: Lucy; Tom b: - c: 1 d: 1 e: 2 f: 2 x 4 a: Emanuel b: - c: - d: - e: 5 f: 4 a: Felix b: - c: 2 d: 1 e: 1 f: 4 a: Esau b: - c: 1 d: 1 e: 1 f: 3 a: Charlotte; Clark; Dann; Ellis; Harriett; Jose b: - c: - d: 1 e: 2 f: 6 x 3 a: Ekins; Esther; Paul; Susan b: - c: - d: 2 e: 1 f: 4 x 3 a: Archibald; Emery; Gilbert b: - c: - d: - e: 3 f: 3 x 3 a: Oliver b: - c: - d: 3 e: - f: 3 a: Alice; Amelia; Amran; Ben; Bernard; Brook; Fairy; Frank; Griffith; Lydia; Manning; Nathan; Newland; Ralph; Silas; Zachariah b: - c: - d: 1 e: 1 f: 16 x 2 a: Dane; Denbigh; Eben; Emma; Evan; Hezekiah; Johnson; Miles; Rowland; Sherman; Summer; Tamer; Theomas; Will b: - c: - d: - e: 2 f: 14 x 2 a: Anna; Gregory; Henning; Ruddy; Uriah b: - c: - d: 2 e: - f: 5 x 2 a: Absolem; Maximilian; Semon; Susannah b: - c: 1 d: 1 e: - f: 4 x 2 a: Boston; Godfrey; Jan b: - c: 1 d: - e: 1 f: 3 x 2 a: Adelphia; Ablion; Alcah; Ambridge; Amon; Aniaziak; Anrell; Baaz; Barllet; Barnet; Beaumont; Belford; Bletsoe; Bonner; Bradford; Brice; Burges; Burnis; Cabeb; Calder; Carrington; Celia; Coats; Cornculia; Couelhus; Dale; Dancan; Dank; Darrel; Daw; Dawid; Dollier; Dorcas; Eden; Edith; Eduard; Egbert; Egram; Elenozer; Elgar; Eliab; Eliezer; Elipherz; Ellen; Elmezar; Esay; Essye; Eston; Faber; Fallie; Favell; Feilding; Feremiah; Franas; Francois; Frannie; Fredick; Freeman; Gawel; Gerge; German; Gibon; Gill; Glaston; Gresham; Gustarris; Gustavas; Hamlet; Hampden; Hanomt; Harvey; Hawkins; Hay; Heiey; Heltu; Hemmam; Heny; Herbert; Hermes; Hervey; Hillyard; Hing; Honor; Horatis; Horaton; Hosheb; Houghton; Ind; Iola; Irarath; Jaliez; Jameel; Jancsi; Jasse; Jerome; Jessa; Jethro; Johannes; Joll; Jovry; Julia; Karbon; Kashabnah; Keich; Keren; Kezia; Kippist; Krontague; Kurada; Laban; Lammuel; Lavinia; Leke; Lemuel; Len; Lenny; Leomia; Levia; Levit; Levy; Lionel; Litchfield; Lomas; Lot; Louisa; Love; Lovell; Lowman; Marcus; Marvell; Maurice; May; Mercer; Mercy; Miller; Mitten; Mois; Morris; Naomi; Newman; Nimrod; Obed; Octarins; Offspring; Olney; Paris; Pearson; Peilard; Pepe; Peregrine; Peremiah; Phares; Phelps; Pho; Powell; Quarton; Ramond; Reelord; Refford; Rehobson; Retcharce; Rheda; Rherban; Rhoda; Rickard; Rico; Righases; Rubeon; Ruth; Salsae; Sami; Sammie; Sampson; Sandefer; Sanderson; Sasha; Saud; Sheabe; Sherebiah; Sherrack; Sibley; Sichert; Silbop; Silvester; Soppia; Spencer; Steff; Swiffia; Tapthab; Thad; Theophilus; Timmy; Toel; Tower; Uezekiah; Ulysses; Uriah; Vere; Warlow; Warner; Webb; Wellm; West; Westly; Wilkin; Winefred; Wood; Woodwood; Wright; Wyant; Wyles; Zebulon b: - c: - d: - e: 1 f: 212 x 1 a: Abbert; Alex; Ammiel; Anbrode; Anselm; Barnaby; Bartlett; Betsy; Bias; Blyth; Chaes; Christian; Clayton; Crowden; Cuin; Danie; Danzie; Dinah; Eagram; Edgar; Elisha; Elsannal; Ezekit; Farnel; Florence; Flower; Flowkins; Folgar; Fosberry; Frak; Franklin; Geary; Grace; Guy; Hamilton; Hampson; Haton; Hephizabah; Hollingworth; Holton; Hores; Howard; Ireland; Isabella; Jackarea; Jeremy; Judith; Jules; Key; King; Kitty; Lacriah; Lamuen; Lancelot; Lannie; Lavender; Lechariah; Lefbus; Lemon; Letitia; Loe; Lonathan; Lounds; Lynwood; Mack; Mank; Marianne; Marshall; Mathias; Maydwell; Mayey; Millard; Mother; Moulford; Nehemiah; Norfolk; Norris; Odila; Powles; Rachel; Rage; Reed; Reoc; Reod; Rosaline; Sally; Sames; Sannie; Sear; Seward; Simpson; St John; Sussel; Sydney; Temperance; Theed; Thimas; Thoman; Tillson; Tingey; Tula; Walker; Wallas; Whitbread; Wilder; Wilkinson; Willis; Wray; Zilpah b: - c: - d: 1 e: - f: 109 x 1 a: Aurea; Author; Bryan; Crawley; Donell; Downam; Eusebius; Hanble; Ive; Jod; Justius; Manhua; Mannister; Norbert; Phillis; Rucker; Salome; Siah; Ursbey; Ustis; Warner; Yarrob b: - c: 1 d: - e: - f: 22 x 1 a: Total b: 11 c: 1255 d: 5917 e: 12883 f: 20066 ----