The Betts surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 19,983 people carried this name — #1,799 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 14,800 people counted. That is up 4% from 19,209 in 2000.

See Betts on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Betts surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Beatrice’.

An early record he cites: Johannes Beteson, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Betts, Bett and Betson.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 98 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

20 people named Betts live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Vaud.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Vaud 8
Bern 5
Basel-Stadt 4
Basel-Landschaft 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

49 people named Betts is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 49

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Betts was found among the farmers of 4 counties.

It was most frequent in Norfolk: 42 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 238. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Norfolk 42
Kent 15
Suffolk 10
Lincolnshire 7

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Betts was recorded 10 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1929th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

126 families named Betts, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 674 people lived in those households, 5.3 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Connecticut 47
New York 32
Pennsylvania 24
Virginia 11
Massachusetts 5
North Carolina 4
Maryland 2
South Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 229 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Betts in American newspapers,
1869–1902.

Newspaper page from Santa Fe New Mexican carrying the name Betts
Santa Fe New Mexican 1899-11-02
Newspaper page from Prescott Journal carrying the name Betts
Prescott Journal 1869-08-13
Newspaper page from Wausau Pilot carrying the name Betts
Wausau Pilot 1902-07-01

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Betts in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

49,858 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Betts. The most, 9,414, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in New South Wales, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 28,025
Queensland 7,522
Victoria 5,755
Tasmania 2,961
Western Australia 2,653
South Australia 2,624
ACT (Canberra) 239
Northern Territory 15

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Betts.

Who carried it

People named Betts,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Torben Betts
    Torben Betts 1289– · actor
  • William Betts d. 1738 · politician
  • Anna Freelove Betts d. 1944 · author
  • Sarah Betts d. 1821
  • Arabella Maria Betts d. 1931
  • Clara Betts d. 1925

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Betts,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,215 records

2,215 records of the Betts name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 732
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 613
  • Other U.S. records 870
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James O. Betts

    Born 1915 in Texas. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Bliss El Paso; route man. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Donald W. Betts

    Born 1920 in New York. Enlisted 1942 at New York City; stock clerk from Queens County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1976, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Albert Leon Betts

    Born 1942; from Baltimore, Maryland. U.S. Army, tactical microwave systems repairer; killed in action 1968 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 2,215 records for Betts in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,364 records

1,364 records of the Betts name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 455
  • Tasmanian Names Index 433
  • Other Australian records 476
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Betts

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Duncan, sailing from Sheerness in 1840. Native of Birmingham, Warwickshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850. Married 1850 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Charlotte Betts

    Died 1882 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 67. Will registered in Tasmania in 1883.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thos G. Betts

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Duke of Bedford, aged 24; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,364 records for Betts in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada513 records

513 records of the Betts name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 441
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 26
  • Other Canadian records 46
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Richard Betts

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Mars, bound for Port Roseway, aged 22.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jas Betts

    Came to Ontario in 1875 aboard the Prussian, bound for Woodstock, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Lesley John Betts

    Buried in 1974 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 24.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 513 records for Betts in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom49 records

49 records of the Betts name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 42
  • Stirling Council burial records 3
  • Other British records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Janet Betts

    Buried in 1878 at Valley Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 42.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Emily Sophia Betts

    Will proved in 1924; of Llandudno, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record E. Betts

    Dorsetshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 49 records for Betts in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand24 records

24 records of the Betts name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 23
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Reuben Henry Betts

    Died 1988, aged 93; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frederick James Betts

    Died 1972, aged 49; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Annie Lovat Grerson Betts

    Died 1974, aged 70; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 24 records for Betts in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands13 records

13 records of the Betts name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 7
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 5
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Irene Koehler Betts

    Married in 1929 in Utrecht. Died 1930 in Terneuzen, aged 25.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Evelijn Page Sarah Betts

    Married in 1896 in Bergen op Zoom; born in Castle Hills Bungay (Verenigd Koninkrijk). Died 1904 in Medemblik, aged 31.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Bengo Collyer Betts

    Married in 1885 in Amsterdam; merchant.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 13 records for Betts in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France3 records

3 records of the Betts name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Edwin Jean Marie Betts

    Born 1895 in Paris; died 1977 in Besançon (Doubs).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jennifer Mary Betts

    Born 1934 in Great Britain; died 2001 in Périgueux (Dordogne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Betts in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Betts.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Betts is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Betts volume
Scroll to Top